Monthly Archives: December 2011

here’s to 2012

The usual quiet of my little garden was broken by lots of chatter and laughter in 2011. Thank you! I’ve been entertained, educated, enthralled, and enchanted by our garden blogging community in 2011 and can’t wait to read what you’re … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, creatures, Occasional Daily Photo, Plant Portraits, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

gentlemen, stop your motors

The Los Angeles Times ran this piece in their Pro Portfolio section on Monday, December 26, and it really deserves another look. The article profiles the home garden of Katherine Spitz, of Katherine Spitz Associates, Inc., Landscape Architecture. The Pro … Continue reading

Posted in design, garden visit | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

poinsettia hangover

I was up early with the possums this morning after Christmas. Seconds before we startled each other, my attentions had been directed at the Euphorbia milii, or Crown of Thorns, on the other side of the hedge. A couple neighbors … Continue reading

Posted in Plant Portraits, pots and containers, The Hortorialist | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Occasional Daily Weather Report: Hailstorm damage

There’s really nothing else I can think of that could cause this mysterious pitting: Last week a very local weather system kicked up, causing a tremendous downpour and hail. The rainfall was that rare, torrential, deafening kind that always makes … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Occasional Daily Weather Report | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Growing Dragon Fruit

Yesterday, 12/20/11, The Los Angeles Times ran a well-informed piece on the cultivation and propagation of pitahaya, or dragon fruit, written by Jeff Spurrier of the The Global Garden, which you can read here. I wrote about my neighbor’s dragon … Continue reading

Posted in edibles | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

holiday cheer

the garden has started a holiday party of its own, in a very traditional palette

Posted in Plant Portraits, succulents | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

fountain with fishnet and text

The matted, black material at the base of this fountain merited closer inspection. Was it trash? Or perhaps something had gone terribly wrong with the water chemistry. Not at all, just fishing net. A wonderful touch which brought a smile … Continue reading

Posted in design, The Hortorialist | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Foliage Followup December 2011

400 South Hope Street, Los Angeles Mellon Bank Center An enormous agave (A. weberi?) in a sea of Senecio mandraliscae, ribboning out into massed plantings of dwarf phormium, then masses of a smaller agave, replaced by blocks of feather grass. … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Plant Portraits, succulents, The Hortorialist | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Bloom Day December 2011

An unexpected afternoon cloudburst visited the garden this Bloom Day. In five minutes it was over, leaving enough time to collect some photos before sunset. Self-sown Orlaya grandiflora, the Minoan Lace. Rose ‘Bouquet d’Or still in a flush of blooms. … Continue reading

Posted in Bloom Day, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Rolling Greens Nursery

I had a job just down the street from Rolling Greens Nursery yesterday, but the sun was already set by the time I paid them a visit. The store is a big, roomy, open air space (formerly a tire shop) … Continue reading

Posted in design, plant nurseries | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment