What I wanted to do tonight was attend an event I’ve been hearing about on NPR as I drove the freeways this week, Summer Nights in the Garden, hosted by the Natural History Museum. It’s free but RSVP is required, so I checked online this afternoon. No go, they’re already full up. There are a few spots set aside for walk-ins. Maybe another time. There’s a couple dates in August too.
I was really hoping to get an early evening, soft light opportunity to photograph the NHM garden designed by landscape architect Mia Lehrer. I stumbled into a Lehrer-led, mid-day tour of this garden at the last Natural Discourse symposium 10/17/15 and have been meaning to go back for another look. That’s Mia Lehrer on the far left. (I only wish my hair was still this short. It’s 95 degrees as I type at 5 p.m. today. The whole house fan has been a big help with this heat wave.) The Los Angeles Times recently announced her firm’s winning the design competition for the proposed 2-acre park downtown at 1st and Broadway. Along with the new design approval for Pershing Square, LA seems to have gone uncharacteristically park mad lately. It’s about time, I say. Christopher Hawthorne has done excellent reporting on the progress of both parks, see here. (To complete the trifecta, the progress on one of LA’s biggest environmental/design challenges, our beleaguered, concrete-bottomed LA River, was recently covered by Hawthorne here.)
Back to one of my favorite events of the year, Natural Discourse. This year Shirley Watts has chosen Fire! as the theme for the upcoming Natural Discourse to be held at the Huntington September 30 and October 1, 2016. Like much of the West, the foothills around LA burn regularly and fiercely, so we are no strangers to the immediate perils of uncontrolled fire. As usual, Shirley finds the most interesting minds to weigh in on her chosen subject, so you’ll want to check your calendar early to save the date for this one.
But that still leaves me without a plan for Friday night. Guess I’ll just hang out in the garden. The heat has transformed the solanum into a drapery of purply bloom.
Have a great weekend.
That Solanum is beautiful. Does it make berries like bittersweet nightshade (S. dulcamara) or tubers, like its potato cousins?
Good clippings! Off to look at the concrete river. Mr. Hawthorne’s articles are excellent.
I’m still marveling at your hair, short or longer (how long?) it’s that color!!!
Fire…that photo gives me the shivers, and not in a good way.
@Tim, this is its first year, so I’ll keep you posted on berries/tubers.
@Hoov, thank goodness longform journalism is still hanging in there.
@Loree, my hair is no longer than yours but it’s wild and woolly and needs taming. Currently it’s pinned up with a binder clip! Big fire this weekend just outside of LA — spectacular sunsets always a result.
Hi;
I have the same Solanum Jalisco, but mine is struggling and I don’t know why. It’s in full sun, with plenty of water. Any ideas? Thanks.
Halina, mine easily wilts if not watered every week, week and a half. I think it enjoys the humidity of all the plants that surround it. If yours is growing by its lonesome in full sun, that could be a problem. Strong reflected heat could also be a problem. Also, how old is your plant? It might still be settling in. I hope it straightens itself out!