Category Archives: journal
an overgrown corner
When my boys were 5 and 10, respectively, I would have gladly had that moment last about 10 more years. And I knew it at the time. Just stop the clock, please. Gardens are all about change, too, and I … Continue reading
last of the poppies
I’m just now starting to see photos of poppies in bloom showing up in gardens in colder climates, but by June the annual poppies are usually finished here. In my garden, as June continues the mild, overcast weather of May, … Continue reading
Wednesday miscellany
Progress report on Rudbeckia maxima. Snails love this rudbeckia, so I’ve been cutting out a lot of chewed-up lower leaves. Believe it or not, it seems to be forming bloom stalks already. Zone 10 can be a topsy-turvy home for … Continue reading
Happy Val Day
Interesting, isn’t it, that one of America’s most notorious authors of books banned under then-existing obscenity laws had the middle name Valentine? All true. Henry Valentine Miller. “The publication of Miller’s Tropic of Cancer in the United States in 1961 … Continue reading
Thursday clippings 2/4/16 (love letters to trees)
Not my street. Our parkways are a hodge-podge of palms and jacarandas, magnolias, overgrown oleanders and scheffleras. The City recently sent out crews to work on our street trees, and the snarl of power tools and episodic rise and fall … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, journal
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it’s oh so quiet
The house has emptied out, and I can’t help thinking how oh so quiet it’s become after the holidays. Yes, I do have a tendency to privately editorialize on circumstances using song titles. (I thought Bjork wrote the song, but … Continue reading
Posted in journal, succulents
Tagged Aloe 'Safari Sunrise', Aloe cameronii, Aloe conifera, Lotus jacobaeus, Wikipedia
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I wish I had a river I could skate away on (reprise december 2013)
This post from 2013 holds remarkably true for for this holiday, except yesterday at the flea market it was chilly enough for an extra sweater. And I did start a couple batches of cookies about 4 a.m. this morning:: Digging … Continue reading
summer camp state of mind
I never attended summer camp as a kid, but family camping trips always included my grandmother, a kitchen’s worth of pots and pans, and her sturdy army cot. Thus equipped, my formidable grandmother was ready for anything and wanted nothing … Continue reading
potted plants on the move
The summer containers in nondrought-stricken gardens can become quite a virtuoso display. I’ve understandably pared things down the past few years but am always amazed at how even a relatively small group of pots can exclaim “Summer!” All the pots … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, climate, journal, pots and containers
Tagged Aeonium 'Cyclops', Agave 'Blue Flame', Chionanthus retusus, Corokia virgata 'Sunsplash', Cussonia spicata, Euphorbia ammak, Fortnam Gardens, Homecrest chairs, Los Angeles Harbor, Manihot esculenta 'Variegata', marine salvage, Maurizio Zucchi, MB Maher, Mina lobata, Potted's City Planter, Schefflera 'Amate Soleil', Shirley Watts, Streptosolen jamesonii, Warehouse No. 1, Xanthosoma 'Lime Zinger'
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more on the east fence
I might as well continue with the east fence, the dark blue/black of which can be seen in the distance looking under the pergola. The pots shown yesterday are on the brick patio to the left of the cypresses, and … Continue reading