Author Archives: Denise

Agave bovicornuta

The Cow Horn Agave. I can’t think of another agave with this translucent quality to its leaves. And the little “steer horns” (teeth) fire up in morning sun like burning coals heating a branding iron. Do I really know anything … Continue reading

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Sean Hogan at Flora Grubb Gardens

On Sunday, July 17, 2011, Sean Hogan of Cistus Nursery, Portland, Oregon, gave a talk at Flora Grubb Gardens in San Francisco, California, entitled “The Art of the Rosette.” I’ve visited Cistus Nursery twice, so I know first-hand that it’s … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bulbs, MB Maher, pots and containers, succulents, The Hortorialist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Bloom Day July 2011

We’re a tad overexposed and on the run… a day late for Bloom Day, the 15th of every month, hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens. More photos after the jump.

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Succulent Experiments

Crassula expansa subsp. fragilis was planted this past May in these car jack stands, using window screening to hold the soil in, first pictured here near the bottom of the post. Unlike my mossy experiments, this crassula is growing much … Continue reading

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Sunsleeves

I finally corraled someone (Mitch) into modeling the sunsleeves that were sent to me by Kool Dog. If you email them and inquire as I did, I’m sure they’ll send a sample to you too. The model’s unfortunate choice of … Continue reading

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Occasional Daily Photo 7/11/11

Brugmansia hybrid ‘Charles Grimaldi.’ Incredibly voluptuous, scented trumpets…on a plant that rivals the hybrid tea rose for awkward growth and ugly legs. Just haven’t found the right approach yet to placing these subtropical shrubs in a zone 10 landscape, where … Continue reading

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Big Daddy On The Move

“You know what I feel like? I feel all the time like a cat on a hot tin roof.” Maggie the Cat, daughter-in-law of Big Daddy, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Me, too, Maggie. It’s clearly going to be … Continue reading

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Mystery Mullein

Of all the old seed packets kept stuffed in cigar boxes and metal tins, this one wasn’t saved. Started from seed from Chiltern’s about two years ago. One central inflorescence branching into smaller spikes. Leaves are green, not grey and … Continue reading

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Occasional Daily Photo 7/7/11

Echeveria runyonii ‘Topsy Turvy’ in an urn at Big Daddy’s. (At the end of the month, Big Daddy’s will be moving from its Gardena location to Culver City and may possibly be more inclined to discount inventory rather than pack … Continue reading

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Journal July 6, 2011

The garden saw some frenetic activity over the long holiday weekend. Over the long, extremely hot holiday weekend. Not since Nixon has a face dripped such copious amounts of sweat. Under these sticky, squalid conditions, one reverts to a feral … Continue reading

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