Author Archives: Denise

a garden visit with bixbybotanicals

It all started with a very sweet and generous offer of some foliage for vases. Via bixbybotanicals Instagram, I learned that his Leucadendron ‘Wilson’s Wonder’ was in full winter dress, and he was willing to share some of the largesse … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, creatures, garden visit, MB Maher, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

a succulent garden in February

On the way to picking up a family member’s weekly box at the CSA Growing Experience in North Long Beach last week, I took the opportunity to drive slowly through the surrounding neighborhood of mostly Spanish-style homes. It was drizzling … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, design, driveby gardens, succulents | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Tillandsia Tuesday

* Tillandsia duratii has the most fragrant flower over the longest period of time. There is currently more demand than supply. * Tillandsia xerographica’s inflorescence can last up to a year. It has been overcollected in its home of Guatemala. … Continue reading

Posted in Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Point Pot

If you’re an Instagram fan of garden designer/ceramicist Dustin Gimbel and/or Potted, LA’s premiere source for stylish plant containers and garden furniture, you’ll know that they’ve been collaborating for some time on the first mass-produced offering of one of Dustin’s … Continue reading

Posted in artists, design, pots and containers | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

chasing agaves

Last Saturday, while millions marched their way into the history books, I was driving south to San Diego to meet agave expert Greg Starr. I had been looking forward to this 2-hour road trip for some time, as a beacon … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, garden travel, plant nurseries, plant sales, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Long Beach’s illustrious architect Edward Killingsworth

New Year’s Resolution No. 22: Check my hometown newspaper out more often. Included in the Los Angeles Times end-of-year roundup on “The 11 most popular home and garden stories of 2016,” was a piece I had missed that contained some … Continue reading

Posted in design, driveby gardens | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

eat your dahlias

I’m halfway convinced to fill my vegetable garden this summer with dahlias. Beans and tomatoes were an epic fail last summer, and though zucchini were OK, I can find them cheap and local. But these beauties, however, will never be … Continue reading

Posted in cut flowers | Tagged | 10 Comments

a holiday visit with Dustin Gimbel

Now that garden designer Dustin Gimbel has branched off into ceramics, I can buy a few holiday presents and visit his incredibly inspiring garden. Coming in the little side gate, there’s this silvery vision of Acacia pendula, faced down by … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, artists, design, garden visit, pots and containers | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

friday clippings 12/9/16

There. How’s that for proof of some holiday spirit stirring? You can keep the poinsettias. I’ll take my holiday colors in the form of Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras.’ And then there was that very festive plant swap meetup this past week … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

rainy day clippings 11/27/16

I’ve been up in my rainy “fort,” the open air, half-roofed lookout over the laundry shed, piles of soggy New Yorkers and Gardens Illustrated at my side, overindulging in a reading feast this blessedly stormy weekend. A copy of conversations … Continue reading

Posted in clippings | 7 Comments