Category Archives: pots and containers

garden notes 3/20/19

Yesterday I removed the diseased carcass of Agave ovatifolia ‘Frosty Blue’ which lived its brief but spectacular life – until this rainy winter – under the acacia tree in the far southeast corner. You’d think having to battle for resources … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, journal, Plant Portraits, pots and containers, succulents | 6 Comments

miscellany from the Modernism Week Garden Tour 2019

On the recent Palm Springs Modernism Week self-guided garden tour, it was impossible to confine one’s attention to houses solely on the tour, so I’m including some other swivel-headed discoveries. No, I didn’t find #thatpinkdoor, but there were plenty of … Continue reading

Posted in design, driveby gardens, garden travel, pots and containers | Tagged | 11 Comments

scenes from Modernism Week garden tour

I’m going to leave you this Friday with a few images from the self-guided Modern Garden Tour put on by Modernism Week in Palm Springs this past Wednesday. Leaving Long Beach at 7:30 a.m., I arrived just before 10 a.m. … Continue reading

Posted in garden travel, garden visit, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged | 6 Comments

how to declutter your garden

Since the new year, I keep coming across the word “declutter.” I find the phenomenon of cultural obsessions fascinating, more so than the obsession du jour itself. How does everybody get on board with any one idea in such a … Continue reading

Posted in pots and containers, succulents | 11 Comments

holiday backyard boutique 12/1/18

You’re motivated and ready to tackle this holiday business head on and get an early jump on shopping, but you’re shying away from all that mousey click, click, clicking and maybe more interested in combining shopping with some fresh air, … Continue reading

Posted in artists, commerce, design, MB Maher, pop-up, pots and containers | 3 Comments

nerines for November

What is up with the lack of interest in nerines in the U.S.? They have long, cuttable stems, the blooms last much longer than tulips, as in weeks rather than days, and they flower at a time of year when … Continue reading

Posted in Bloom Day, Bulbs, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

the many and varied forms of Echeveria agavoides

‘Lipstick,’ ‘Red Edge,’ ‘Maria,’ ‘Romeo’ — browsing nurseries and plant sales I’ve come across lots of named forms of this most agave-like of echeverias. This page from the World of Succulents has descriptions and photos of these varieties and many … Continue reading

Posted in pots and containers, succulents | 12 Comments

garden journal 11/3/18

The salvia order from Flowers by the Sea arrived early in the week in exceptional condition and has been potted up. Included in the order were the two above, Salvia discolor ‘Purple Bracts’ in the foreground, Salvia patens ‘Guanajuato’ in … Continue reading

Posted in edibles, journal, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Willy Guhl Spindle Planter

There’s really no other Mid Century Modern planter quite like the Spindle by Swiss designer Willy Guhl, made with his student Anton Bee in collaboration with Eternit in 1951. Mitch showed me some photos from an interior shoot he did … Continue reading

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

touring gardens in Newport Beach

The Southern California Branch of the Mediterranean Garden Society led a tour of some Newport Beach, Calif. gardens last weekend. My assumption that there would be large succulent gardens in the Fallbrook style was no doubt due to my ignorance … Continue reading

Posted in garden travel, garden visit, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments