Monthly Archives: March 2016

Wednesday miscellany

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Denise

Progress report on Rudbeckia maxima. Snails love this rudbeckia, so I’ve been cutting out a lot of chewed-up lower leaves. Believe it or not, it seems to be forming bloom stalks already. Zone 10 can be a topsy-turvy home for … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, Plant Portraits | Tagged Abutilon venosum, Cupressus macrocarpa 'Citriodora', Graptopetalum pentandrum ssp. superbum, Leymus 'Canyon Prince', Rudbeckia maxima, Strobilanthes gossypinus | 5 Comments

a garden with Irish wolfhounds

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Denise

In Georgina Reid’s piece on Michael Cooke I found my antipodal soul-mate garden. Georgina (The Planthunter) visited the garden designer at his home on the Central Coast in New South Wales, Australia for The Design Files this March. Reading Michael’s … Continue reading →

Posted in garden visit | Tagged Central Coast, Doryanthes excelsa, Doryanthes palmeri, garden designer Michael Cooke, Georgina Reid, NSW Australia, the design files, The Planthunter | 2 Comments

I think I can grow these

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Denise

Not sure what goes with your new AstroTurf lawn? Since 2004 Czech artist Veronika Richterova’s has cultivated a playful love affair with repurposing polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) “Since 2004 she has devoted herself systematically to serious artistic work with PET bottles. … Continue reading →

Posted in artists, design, science | Tagged PET-ART, polyethylene teraphthalate, recycling, Veronika Richterova | 3 Comments

in a hothouse

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Denise

…or a greenhouse, hoop house. Located on Long Island, NY, visited in June 2013. What I remember most was the all-engulfing moistness of the environment. Evapotranspiration so intense as to make one giddy. Which is undoubtedly why I lingered for … Continue reading →

Posted in garden travel, Plant Portraits, pots and containers | Tagged greenhouse, tender perennials | 6 Comments

Claire Basler’s flowers

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Denise

In an office yesterday was a Japanese four-panel painting on wood of chrysanthemums, goldenrod and wisps of flowering miscanthus. The stark white of the mums popped against the tawny background, but the panels’ overall effect was of a soothing, subtle … Continue reading →

Posted in artists | Tagged Claire Basler | 8 Comments

Wednesday poppies

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Denise

Through the dancing poppies stole a breeze most softly lulling to my soul. — John Keats

Posted in Occasional Daily Photo | Tagged poppies | 4 Comments

this is my brain on spring (April 2014 repost)

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Denise

It’s so balmy and chirpy outdoors that, once again, it’s getting hard to stay focused on anything but plants and gardens. I’ve updated the Dates to Remember so I don’t kick myself for letting something slip by unnoticed, even if … Continue reading →

Posted in plant nurseries | 8 Comments

Bloom Day March 2016

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Denise

No flowers open yet, but the long-awaited beschorneria bloom stalk itself is stare-worthy. Parrot colors of vivid red with buds tipped in green. Improbably taller every day, with new subtle twists and angles to admire It passed by the Euphorbia … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bloom Day | Tagged Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea', Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue', Agave vilmoriniana, Aloe 'Johnson's Hybrid', Anisodontea 'Strybing Beauty', Beschorneria X 'Martin Grantham Hybrids', Chionanthus retusus, Euphorbia, Gerbera 'Drakensberg Gold', Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon', Papaver setigerum, Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara' | 14 Comments

Senecio glastifolius

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Denise

I posted this photo Mitch took back in April 2010 under the title “Unidentified Giant Composite.” Garden designer Kelly Kilpatrick (Floradora Garden Design) helpfully provided its true name. Annie’s Annuals & Perennials has been an off-and-on source for this giant … Continue reading →

Posted in MB Maher, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | Tagged Annie's Annuals & Perennials Nursery, Floradora Garden Design, San Francisco Botanical Garden, Senecio glastifolius | 5 Comments

Occasional Daily Weather report 3/7/16 (palms on fire!)

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Denise

from The Los Angeles Times Marty, both parakeets, and I were jolted awake a little after 6 a.m., when the predicted storm slammed into town, escorted by raucous thunder, lightning, and high winds. (Nothing wakes increasingly deaf Ein.) In a … Continue reading →

Posted in Occasional Daily Weather Report, Plant Portraits | Tagged Asian citrus psyllid, Ballota acetabulosa, Ballota pseudodictamnus, Echeveria agavoides, Leucadendron galpinii | 13 Comments