Author Archives: Denise
Winter Whites
The gift of Solanum marginatum from Dustin opened a chilly-looking bloom yesterday. For a solanum from Abyssinia, the White-Edged Nightshade really knows how to dress for winter. (Labeled from the grower as S. marginata, but my trusty Hortus Third says … Continue reading
Posted in Plant Portraits
Tagged Dustin Gimbel, nightshade, noxious weed, Second Nature Garden Design, Solanum marginatum
3 Comments
Winter Sun ‘Variegata’
I never met a variegated leaf I didn’t like, which might be considered the equivalent of a horticulturalist recessive trait, a weakness of character, a penchant for the flashy. In other words, not in the best of taste. Variegated derives … Continue reading
The Great Corgi Caper
Maybe your local newspaper was following this story. Possibly the breaking Wikileaks news edged it off the front page. Now that Bunny and Peter have been rescued, I can exhale and indulge in some flippancy, but make no mistake, for … Continue reading
Posted in Ephemera, succulents
Tagged AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, Aloe peglerae, corgi, Cowboy Bebop, Ein, Pembroke Welsh corgi, Peter and Bunny
3 Comments
Extraordinary Pots for Extraordinary Plants
I was in the area for work-related business so decided to pay a late-afternoon visit to the California Cactus Center in Pasadena. I’ve had aloes on the brain since visiting the Huntington and wanted to check on the CCC’s aloe … Continue reading
Potting Up
Real estate may still not be improving much, but in the garden houses are always moving, as with this Agave americana var. medio-picta ‘Alba’ that has been upsized to a new home that can be comfortably inhabited for several years, … Continue reading
Some Agaves and Aloes
From a recent visit to the Huntington Desert Garden. I was quite excited to see the blue-leaved form of Agave attenuata. There’s some discussion on the nomenclature of this foxtail agave from San Marcos Growers, which indicates there’s varieties with … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden visit
Tagged Agave attenuata, Agave attenuata 'Huntington Blue', Agave schidigera 'Durango Delight', Agave victoriae-reginae, Aloe aculeata, Aloe berhana, Aloe bussei, Aloe sinkatana, foxtail agave, Gardenweb, Huntington Desert Garden, San Marcos Growers
4 Comments
Studies in Tetrapanax
Blooms in the classic rosette or composite shape would seem to be selected by many humans as the ideal flower, but gardens throughout the seasons reveal a much more complicated diversity of inflorescence. Though it may not cause one to … Continue reading
The Montezuma Cypress
Wandering a botanical garden such as the Huntington, one cannot but give thanks to rich industrialists for their interest in botany, whatever their sins. We can only hope the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, or George Soros will follow … Continue reading
Glasshouse Dreams
With the cold snap on in the western U.S., and the heat temporarily off in our home pending repairs, the Saturday after Thanksgiving found us heading for the warmth of conservatories. Last night’s temp inside the house was 57 (Fahrenheit), … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden visit, succulents
Tagged Henri Rousseau, Huntington Botanical Gardens
8 Comments
One Smooth Agave
Not just one but a regiment of smooth agaves, A. desmettiana in bloom, a dynamic but also hauntingly melancholy sight. As we agavephiles know all too well, flowering heralds their death, the definition of monocarpic. I wonder if the Museum … Continue reading