Category Archives: design

postscript to Natural Discourse; Flora & Fauna

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Denise

It’s been such a pleasure to see what shape and expression each successive Natural Discourse has taken. Developed by Shirley Watts and Mary Anne Friel for the Berkeley Botanic Garden, a group of artists were invited to make site-specific work … Continue reading →

Posted in artists, design, MB Maher, science | Tagged "Late Harvest", Craig Krull Gallery, Desert Garden Conservatory, Folly Bowl, James Corner, James Griffith, Jim Folsom, JoAnne Northrup, La Brea Tar Pits, Maura C. Flannery, Mia Lehrer, Mitch Maher, Natania Meeker & Antonia Szabari, Natural Discourse; Flora & Fauna 10/17/15, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, Nevada Museum of Art, New Presidio Parklands Project, Rania Reyes, Rosamond Purcell, Shirley Watts, Stapelia gigantea, Susanna Dadd, University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley | 9 Comments

planting details at the Reid garden

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Denise

I went through my Reid garden photos again, looking for clear examples of the subtly layered plant communities that rose up around my feet as I followed the paths, scanning the garden like a hungry predator, looking down then quickly … Continue reading →

Posted in books, climate, design, garden visit | Tagged "A Passionate Pursuit", American Conifer Society, Claudia West, dry garden planting, Leonotis leonurus, marthastewart.com, Mary and Lew Reid, Northern California, Pacific Horticulture, Planting in a Post-Wild World, Stipa gigantea, terraced gardens, Thomas Rainer, Tibouchina heteromala, Western Hills Nursery and Garden | 9 Comments

DIY therapy

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Denise

One of my boys is experiencing some painful romantic complications, which is frustrating for both of us because in grappling with the problem I necessarily have to accept the fact that my boys are now men. But he hurts, therefore … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged Agave bracteosa, Strobilanthes gossypinus | 13 Comments

CMU bench/planter at Manaow

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Denise

I finally found a moment when Manaow’s CMU bench/planter could be investigated minus the usual throngs of people. That window of quiet was around 7 a.m. in the morning, when the only activity at this east end of Broadway was … Continue reading →

Posted in design, driveby gardens, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged Agave victoriae-reginae, California, CMU concrete masonry unit, Long Beach, Manaow Restaurant | 15 Comments

terraced Spanish Colonial Revival house & garden

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Denise

For those of you who enjoy gawking at houses and their gardens as much as I do, here’s a look at the house that belongs with this post from September 2014. I don’t think I looked up much from the … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, driveby gardens, garden visit, pots and containers | Tagged Huntington Botanical Garden International Succulent Introductions, Sesleria 'Greenlee', Sesleria autumnalis 'Campo Verde' | 3 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

Pepper Tree courtyard

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Denise

Spotted locally around dusk, a front-house courtyard with Pepper Tree (Schinus molle), stone paving “grouted” with Dymondia margaretae. Planting includes euphorbias, agaves, phormiums (or dianella) a small Cercis ‘Forest Pansy,’ and purple irises in bloom near the side gate. There … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, driveby gardens, pots and containers | Tagged Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy', courtyards, Dymondia margaretae, lawn substitutes, Schinus molle | 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

small garden, tough choices

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Denise

“I reckon there are 5 seasons. There’s an early spring, which I call Sprinter…a Sprummer which comes after that for 2 months…There’s a long summer…a short autumn, a short winter – both just two months long, and then you’re back … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, design, journal, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea', Agapanthus 'Gold Strike', Agave sisalana ‘Variegata’, Aristida purpurea, Ballota pseudodictamnus, Brachysema praemorsum 'Bronze Butterfly', Cistus 'Snowfire', Cordyline banksii 'Electric Star', Glaucium grandiflorum, Gomphrena 'Fireworks', Hymenolepis parviflora, Lavandula minutoli, Leucadendron 'Safari Goldstrike', Lomandra 'Breeze', Lomandra 'Lime Tuff', Marrubium bourgaei ‘All Hallows Green’, Nepeta ‘Purple Haze’, Pedilanthus bracteatus, Verbascum bombyciferum | 4 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