Author Archives: Denise
While You Were Away
I swing between elation and despondency upon returning from an absence to be confronted by a garden that obviously carried on beautifully while I was away. Bravo, everyone is alive and thriving vs. sniffle, I am clearly superfluous. As usual, … Continue reading
Sky’s The Limit
It was recently calculated (but not by me) that my little back garden is all of 882 square feet. After 20 years of gardening here, methodically covering every inch of that 882 square feet, with moisture and light now robbed … Continue reading
Posted in design, Plant Portraits
Tagged Antigonon leptosus, asarina, Clematis cirrhosa, Cobaea scandens, Dicentra scandens, Dolichos lablab, Eccremocarpus scaber, Manettia cordifolia, Passiflora sanguinolenta, Pole beans Trionfo Violetto, Thunbergia alata, vines, Vitis vinifera 'Purpurea'
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Nerine sarniensis
(Followup to Nerinomania.)
Salvia ‘Limelight’
I certainly don’t have a garden large enough to include a 6×6 fall-bloomer like Salvia mexicana ‘Limelight.’ And I don’t think there’s an affordable pot in existence roomy enough for a mature plant, except maybe the humble trash can. (On … Continue reading
Nerinomania
I went on a treasure hunt for a half-forgotten bulb in the front gravel garden in early fall, Crinum ‘Sangria.’ I was certain it was in there somewhere. That’s when I noticed the new green tips of the nerines piercing … Continue reading
Dishing with the Girlfriends
You didn’t really expect we’d be discussing the latest Manolo Blahniks, did you? Below is the transcribed conversation of a group of cyber garden pals on the topic of various approaches to overwintering tropicals. All but me garden in a … Continue reading
Posted in Plant Portraits
Tagged alocasia, colocasia, overwintering tropicals, xanthosoma
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On the Evening of October 3, 2010
A single brugmansia bloom dangled while Evie groomed. The rest of the unopened buds were jettisoned in response to high temperatures. That same evening, the ‘Siam Ruby’ banana unfurled an enormous solar panel, daring the sun to do its worst. … Continue reading
Posted in garden visit
Tagged ' Brugmansia 'Charles Grimaldi, Evie the cat, Musa 'Siam Ruby'
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San Marcos Growers Field Day
Around town, wedged into narrow strips of land under gigantic transmission towers emitting EMF radiation, can be seen rows and rows of plant stock being grown. But I’ve never seen local plant stock approach the desirability displayed in the photos … Continue reading
Jeffrey Bale’s Permeable Road to Paradise
Is it just me, or has all subtlety been suddenly drained from the world? All sense of nuance seems lost. (In addition to lethargy, extreme heat occasionally brings on irritable, sweeping generalizations.) Here in Southern California, record cool temps all … Continue reading
Posted in garden ornament, MB Maher
Tagged ' Plant Delights Nursery, Arundo donax 'Golden Chain, Debra Prinzig, Geranium 'Salome', Jeffrey Bale, John Greenlee, Keeyla Meadows, Los Angeles Arboretum, Lucy Hardiman, Marcia Donahue, MB Maher, Pacific Horticulture, Plant Delights, Puya mirabilis
7 Comments
Not At Home
When home during summer (in our non-air-conditioned home), I hang out on the cool east side of the house, religiously sweeping this small patio clean and smooth to receive scorched, bare feet, occasionally laying down rugs for the corgi and … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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