Tag Archives: Shirley Watts

potted plants on the move

The summer containers in nondrought-stricken gardens can become quite a virtuoso display. I’ve understandably pared things down the past few years but am always amazed at how even a relatively small group of pots can exclaim “Summer!” All the pots … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, journal, pots and containers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

a Shirley Watts’ garden

Monday features two long-time friends (and family) of AGO. Oldest son Mitch took these photos of a Shirley Watts-designed garden a few years back and kindly agreed to let me share them here. The garden had a lot of formal, … Continue reading

Posted in artists, design, MB Maher, photography | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

“The Artful Garden” featuring Shirley Watts, Portland, Oregon 2/15/15

Detail of mural in the new reception hall at Rancho Los Alamitos. I don’t suppose there’s the smallest chance we’ll ever see a “bullet train” built that runs to Portland, Oregon, since the voter-approved Los Angeles-to-San Francisco high-speed train has … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, artists, design, garden travel, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Natural Discourse: Light & Image 2014, an epilogue

Ever wonder when our buildings are going to have the photosensitivity and photoreactivity of plants? Dale Clifford, with his focus on biomimetics applied to architecture, is on the case, investigating the possibility of designing a photoreactive brick inspired by the … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, artists, Department of Instruction, MB Maher, photography, science, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Natural Discourse at Los Angeles Co. Arboretum 10/18/14

The drive will be considerably shorter for me to this year’s Natural Discourse, which will be held close to home at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden: “A symposium presented by the Garden Conservancy and the Arboretum that … Continue reading

Posted in artists, garden visit, MB Maher, science | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Friday clippings 8/22/14

At first sight I became enthralled by artist James Griffith’s exquisite, painterly ripostes to the “drill, baby, drill” set — my words, not his. James is much more polite. By way of a secret alchemy, he utilizes that precious resource … Continue reading

Posted in artists, clippings, MB Maher, photography, plant nurseries, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Shirley Watts in “Curbed”

The Garden Bloggers Fling hostess for the 2013 meetup, garden designer Shirley Watts, got a nice writeup in the Bay Area’s Curbed today. Very gratifying to see a primarily real estate magazine throw some love at landscapes and gardens too. … Continue reading

Posted in artists, design, garden travel, MB Maher | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Stanford’s New Guinea Sculpture Garden

More updates from the Bay Area, this one from occasional AGO photographer and contributor MB Maher. I’ll let him tell this adventure in his own words: “Shirley Watts messaged me to keep my Wednesday evening open. And per her instructions, … Continue reading

Posted in artists, garden visit, MB Maher, photography | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Natural Discourse: Culture & Cultivation 10/10/13

What to make of this impulse to create gardens? Most of my ruminations are done leaning on a shovel, or moving a pot inches to the left and wondering why in the world it matters. One of the few constants … Continue reading

Posted in artists, creatures, design, photography, science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“Gardens: An Essay” by Robert Pogue Harrison (reposted from 10/7/11)

I’m more than a little overexcited at the prospect of hearing Professor Harrison speak at the latest iteration of Natural Discourse entitled “Culture & Cultivation,” to be held October 10, 2013, in Berkeley, California. The previous Natural Discourse programs were … Continue reading

Posted in artists, books, Department of Instruction, design, garden travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments