Author Archives: Denise
Modernism Week with AGO 2/20/20
When: Modernism Week extends from February 13, 2020 to February 23, 2020 Where: CAMP Theater, 575 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California Why: Because…Palm Springs in February! Surrounded by like-minded, design-centric people also winter-starved for gardens, desert landscapes, and … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
8 Comments
new year resolutions are for travel plans
The Mediterranean Garden Society is holding its Annual General Meeting in Morocco in October 2020, with the General Assembly held in the Yves Saint Laurent Complex in Marrakech. There will be pre- and post-meeting tours, including a visit to Taroudant, … Continue reading
Posted in garden travel
7 Comments
clippings, holiday edition 12/11/19
The brick-red thunbergia vine that I was training up to the roof eaves was blown off its fishing line support during a Santa Ana wind event and collapsed on itself, losing about 4 feet of height in the bargain. With … Continue reading
Posted in books, clippings, commerce, garden ornament
5 Comments
November now and then
My rapturous opinion of November hasn’t changed much over the years (the cooler days, the slanted light, the chance of rain!), but certain patterns in the garden do escape my notice. Perusing past November entries, I find that Berkheya purpurea … Continue reading
the thoroughly modern tilly
Mitch has been tagging along with Josh Rosen (the airplantman) to check out some of his custom installation work to get a sense of how Josh’s tillandsia-specific designs work in situ. In this home in the Pacific Palisades, the classic … Continue reading
Posted in artists, design, inspire me, MB Maher, pots and containers
5 Comments
sweat it out
It’s great to see the garden “sweat” again. Whether glistening from morning dew or transpiration, it’s a sight for sore (dry) eyes. The leaves of the tree aloe ‘Goliath’ were a grimy, sooty mess just a few days ago. Hosespray … Continue reading
Posted in climate, Occasional Daily Weather Report, science, succulents
4 Comments
James Griffith @Craig Krull Gallery
Never mind Halloween, it’s been a scary week, and overnight more fires erupted, many much closer to home. Checking the Los Angeles Times for the grim wildfire updates brought some unexpected and sorely needed happy news: “La Brea tar is … Continue reading
Posted in artists, climate, science
3 Comments
channeling willy guhl
The firecracker plant (fountainbush, coral plant, among a plethora of common names) is an incredibly tough addition to a frost-free dry garden, attributes which also make it an excellent choice for flourishing in containers, which can be a rough life … Continue reading
Posted in artists, design, pots and containers
3 Comments
low humidity, high winds, pink houses
“The Santa Ana winds were blasting through the streets, bristling and smelling of desert, of white sunlight, of sharp, wiry plants and white rock…A hot madness was enclosing the city.” Kate Braverman, Lithium for Medea (February 5, 1949 – October … Continue reading
Posted in climate, MB Maher, science
6 Comments
Huntington’s Fall Plant Sale 10/25/19
One of those quirky associations that happens when looking for the perfect autumn light for an increasingly lanky potted euphorbia. Passiflora ‘Flying V’ handles its own light needs by threading itself through a grevillea, and so an improbable relationship is … Continue reading