{"id":93787,"date":"2019-12-11T19:23:38","date_gmt":"2019-12-11T23:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/agrowingobsession.com\/?p=93787"},"modified":"2019-12-11T19:28:29","modified_gmt":"2019-12-11T23:28:29","slug":"clippings-holiday-edition-12-11-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agrowingobsession.com\/?p=93787","title":{"rendered":"clippings, holiday edition 12\/11\/19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The brick-red thunbergia vine that I was training up to the roof eaves was blown off its fishing line support during a Santa Ana wind event and collapsed on itself, losing about 4 feet of height in the bargain. With my original plan laid waste by the winds, I subsequently gave the failed experiment little attention and only recently noted that it now resembles…a Christmas tree. How ’bout that? That about sums up my sideways, crab-walk approach to the holidays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"<\/a>
Hauser & Wirth Holiday Market<\/a>
Sat 14 Dec 2019, 11 am \u2013 Sun 15 Dec 2019, 6 pm
901 East 3rd Street
Los Angeles CA 90013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As we’ve done off and on in the past, the stand-in for a live tree is a tall, rusty garden tuteur which we call the “obelisk,” and instead of loading it up with lights and all the animal and pirate ornaments I’ve stockpiled since the boys could barely stand, it will have a large white paper snowflake at the top and very little else to blur its iron outline. Endurance will be the theme this year. For a holiday defined by timeless, immutable family traditions, as usual we’re winging it. This year, due to family health issues, geographic distance, and a generalized worrisome frame of mind, this holiday seems more imperiled than most by festive indifference. Lest the Grinch gain too much sway over me, I’m planning on hitting the Hauser & Wirth Holiday Market <\/a>this weekend — always a pleasure to visit H&W and check on Mia Lehrer’s landscape design handiwork. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"<\/a>
CobraHead\u00ae Mini Weeder & Cultivator Garden Tool<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So let’s turn our attention to gifts for friends and family, shall we? Because that’s where, I feel, the emphasis rightly falls during the winter holidays — little treats for our friends and family, homemade or otherwise. And here’s an undeniable treat: The CobraHead Mini Weeder pictured above is an unassuming-looking tool that will change your life. The CobraHead<\/a> company has long been loyal supporters of garden bloggers<\/a> (which is how I acquired mine), but I admit I took this little tool for granted until we decided to clear devil’s grass out of the parkway mid summer, always a thoroughly demoralizing task. I’ve never acquired a fetish for collecting garden tools. The CobraHead was still in its original packing when it was cynically recruited for the most difficult assignment imaginable of clearing hell strip weeds — which it handled with aplomb. It fits easily in the hand and bites into hard ground and recalcitrant weeds without mercy. Marty and I were both floored at its efficacy. Highly recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"<\/a>
the X3 watering can by Kontextur
as seen on Gardenista<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What I really need is a small, long-necked watering can for reaching hanging plants like rhipsalis without throwing out a shoulder as I’m nearly doing every time I lift my vintage Haws. Maybe you know someone who needs one as well. Gardenista featured this one recently that I wouldn’t mind finding under the Christmas tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And what gardeners do during winter is of course talk, dream and read about plants and gardens, and there’s lots of great new books to pile in stacks around your favorite armchair. Jeff Moore’s Spiny Succulents<\/a> is at the top of my list — you can read Gerhard’s thorough review here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"<\/a>
Read Pam Penick’s review here<\/a> — and Pam’s opinion of garden photography is one worth listening to.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n