Category Archives: Plant Portraits

sacred geometry of the spiral aloe

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Denise

June 2015 Dave’s spiral aloe is sporting some fine sacred geometry. He sent me these photos to show the progress his aloe has made since I photographed it in July 2012: “I came across your Bloom Day July 2012 posting … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits, succulents | Tagged Aloe polyphylla, MB Maher, sacred geometry, spiral aloe, Terra Sol Garden Center, things that spiral | 10 Comments

traditional with a twist

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Denise

Here’s another house nearby that warrants a second look and always brings a smile. It’s the traditional front lawn setup with a bit of a twist. All the supporting plants are exclusively dry garden plants, some rare like the cycads. … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, driveby gardens, Plant Portraits, pots and containers | Tagged cycads, dry gardens, lawns | 10 Comments

the Leonotis leonurus down the street

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Denise

This Lion’s Tail is thriving in the front garden of a neighbor who took advantage of the first wave of lawn removal rebates offered a few years ago by our local water department. I”ve been personally characterizing the latest round … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits | Tagged California 2015 water restrictions, dry gardens, Lawn to Garden Incentive Program, Leonotis leonurus, Long Beach Water Department | 8 Comments

low and green

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Denise

I’ve got to say it’s been a long time coming, but it’s still just a tiny bit surreal to wake up every day to more MSM coverage on lawns, and by extension, the plants that will have to replace lawns. … Continue reading →

Posted in design, Plant Portraits | Tagged artificial turf, California water restrictions, dry gardens, Las Pilitas Nursery, lawn removal rebates, Myoporum parviflorum, nurseryman/garden designer John Greenlee, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, San Marcos Growers | 8 Comments

repotting Cussonia spicata

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Denise

Cussonia spicata, June 2014. Cussonias are also known as Cabbage Trees, all from South Africa, and I want every one I’ve ever seen. In my zone 10 they can be grown outdoors, where they will fulfill their ultimate destiny as … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits, pots and containers | Tagged Cabbage Trees, Cussonia spicata, Flora Grubb Gardens, repotting plants | 7 Comments

orange and blue

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Denise

I love garden surprises. Sure, there is some planning involved, but because the garden supports a collecting habit, the big picture is usually uncertain and often a mixed bag. What the collecting id of my psyche is up to all … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, Plant Portraits, succulents | Tagged Agapanthus 'Gold Strike', Agave 'Dragon Toes', Aloe cameronii, Aloe elgonica, Arctotis 'Opera', Australian Plants Nursery, Eucalyptus 'Moon Lagoon', Glaucium grandiflorum, Isoplexis isabelliana, Osteospermum 'Zion Orange', Phygelius 'Diablo', Plectranthus neochilus, Sphaeralcea 'Newleaze Coral', Stachys 'Bella Grigio' | 6 Comments

Wednesday clippings 4/15/15 (water on the brain)

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Denise

Finally, a chance to spend some time with the blog again. There’s been lots of reading to catch up on, after the guv dropped that bombshell. (Pass the almonds.*) One of the best sources of information I’ve found was right … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, books, Bulbs, climate, clippings, Plant Portraits, pots and containers | Tagged Agave franzosinii, and Bart O’Brien, Australia, Berkheya purpurea, Beth Chatto's The Dry Garden, Bob Perry, Caesalpinia gilliesii, California drought, Carol Bornstein, Cistus Nursery, David Fross, dry garden, Dustin Gimbel Second Nature Garden Design, Emily Green Chance of Rain, Emily Green's After the Lawn, Hymenolepis parviflora, KCET In-Ground Gardens, Lambley Nursery, Landscape Plants for California Gardens, lawn rebate programs, Long Beach City College Dept of Horticulture, Mark Bittman, Pacific Horticulture, Reimagining the California Lawn, Sphaeralcea 'Newleaze Coral', Verbascum undulatum | 7 Comments

poppy days

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Denise

The Dwarf Breadseed Poppy is carrying the banner for spring here. Quite silky banners too. No stranger to the blog, posts on this poppy go back to 2010. The above photo is from 2011. And no disrespect intended for California’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits | Tagged Cirsium occidentale, Papaver setigerum, spring wildflowers | 7 Comments

Echeveria ‘Opal Moon’

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Denise

I’ve been passing this echeveria around all over town (Gail, Kris), so it’s a good time to discuss what it is and what it isn’t. It is not one of those tight, amazingly concentric echeverias like imbricata that draw you … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Portraits, succulents | Tagged Echeveria 'Opal Moon' | 5 Comments

this week in plants

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Denise

My Portland friend Loree at Danger Garden collects impressions of favorite plants at the end of the month, so I put together a contribution of what’s catching my eye this week. I’m enjoying how the Verbascum bombyciferum echoes the rosette … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Plant Portraits, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged Abutilon venosum, Agave 'Dragon Toes', Agave celsii var. albicans 'UCB', Albuca maxima, Canna indica, Cistus 'Snow Fire', Crambe maritima, dyckia, Echium simplex, Hymenolepis parviflora, Manihot grahamii, Phlomis lanata, Solanum pyracanthum, Sonchus congestus, Verbascum bombyciferum | 4 Comments