Monthly Archives: May 2016
beyond the lawn; part 2
“Leave, my friend (for it is high time), the low and sordid pursuits of life to others, and in this safe and snug retreat emancipate yourself for your studies.” — Pliny the Younger Another house on the Garden Conservancy Open … Continue reading
Posted in design, garden visit
Tagged dry gardens, Garden Conservancy Open Days, Joseph Marek, landscape architect, pergola, rill
9 Comments
potted@lazybones: the start of a beautiful relationship
If you jump out of bed on weekends and race past the old, cat-clawed couch in the living room to head outside, scanning for the perfect spot for your shiny new Fermob table and chairs, then you probably already know … Continue reading
Posted in design, garden ornament, plant nurseries, plant sales, pots and containers, succulents
Tagged potted@lazybones, Santa Monica
4 Comments
beyond the lawn; notes on 2016 LA Garden Conservancy Open Days
Since the 5/7/16 tour, Gov. Jerry Brown surprised us all by announcing that mandatory water restrictions are now suspended except for agriculture. Water use policies will revert back to the local level. So pat yourself on the back for enduring … Continue reading
the exacting requirements of pitcher plants
Growing sarracenia in a sink, as seen at Flora Grubb Gardens, is a not-too-subtle reminder of the one thing you must never forget to grow them successfully. Water, of course. These are bog plants after all. But there’s something else… … Continue reading
busy, busy
It’s spring. Feeling a little pressed for time yet? Join the club. Some of what I’ve been up to the past few weeks include: Cutting sweet peas from my mom’s vines. Buckets and buckets. Mine planted at the community garden … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, cut flowers, Plant Portraits, plant sales, pots and containers, succulents
Tagged Achillea millefolium 'Sunrise', Agave macroacantha 'Blue Ribbon', Buddleia 'Cranrazz', Cotyledon orbiculata, Linaria 'Licilia Peach', Merrihew's Sunset Gardens, Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis', Sweet peas
8 Comments
an abbreviated look at the 4/17/2016 Los Angeles APLD tour
Of the eight gardens on the tour, divided into four in the morning, four in the afternoon, I visited six and drove by all of them. I’m including photos of just three gardens from this tour themed “The Watershed Approach … Continue reading
a garden by Urbafloria
It’s a rare opportunity for me to be able to provide before-after photos of a dramatic garden transformation Garden designer Jacky Surber of Urbafloria sent me this “before” photo after touring this garden on the Greater Los Angeles APLD Garden … Continue reading
status update Rudbeckia maxima 5/2/16
Another example of the odd juxtapositions that occur in my garden from year to year, due to an unremitting curiosity about plants I just don’t get to see locally: Lights, laundry shed, giant coneflower! The cabbage coneflower, Rudbeckia maxima, known … Continue reading