GROWsters
This GROW MORE FLOWERS poster is based on an illustration I did for the cover of the LATimes HOME section a while back. My inspiration was posters from ’30s WPA, and ’40s Victory Garden, programs. My brief: Create an appealing garden-geared image, in energetic colors, to go with the simple slogan. This is the second in a suite of three posters that will include GROW MORE VEGETABLES and GROW MORE SUCCULENTS versions …
Mr. Big’s Progress
Big stuff
The last time we were schwingin’ with my bloomin’ agave attenuata, Mr. Big, it was late December (click here) and the flower stalk was over 7-feet long. An amazing measurement at the time, it’s been blown out of the water by today’s size-up … it’s now over 10-feet long! Arching up and up, then over and down, it’s an illustration of a flower stalk’s progression: Tight buds at the end up to the center, open blossoms just past the apex, spent soldiers closest to the host. Just when I thought Mr. Big couldn’t possibly be any sexier, he gives me major curve!
Sun Torches
Torches
This weekend’s weather forecast promises chilly temps, even rain, for Riverside. But last weekend was a different story: While very chilly morning and night, it was warm and bright during the day … So, we took advantage of this with a visit to the UCR Botanic Garden, our mission to view their collection of aloes while they’re in full bloom. My love for aloes is all-encompassing, no matter the time of year. But the sight of them in bloom — in the heart of winter — never fails to amaze and delight me, stirring thoughts of primeval or otherworldy landscapes. This day is no different: with the sun blazing and the air still chilly mid-morning, we’re treated to the gorgeous sight of aloes of every shape and size thrusting torches of hot color skyward. It’s strange but I feel like I have to rush to take these pictures, for fear the blooms will fade and disappear if I don’t hurry … So, clambering up hillsides and veering off DG paths, I catch the fire …
An Opportune Moment
Devastated
People have differing opinions on whether the Occupy LA protestors accomplished their goals during their months-long encampment at LA’s City Hall. What is indisputable is the fact that the grounds surrounding City Hall were trashed by them … leaving barren devastation in place of verdant lawn. The photo above was taken this morning; contrast it with the following photo taken in mid-October:
e-Shop Sunday: 6 Etsy finds
Etsy, the web’s e-commerce clearinghouse for artists, crafters, designers, vintage goods sellers and their suppliers, is like the world’s biggest crafts fair. And, as such it quickly overwhelms the casual visitor, namely me. But today I’m going there and doing a narrowed search for five items inspired by, or incorporating, succulents … Because succulents are still riding the crest of a major moment, I found dozens of pages filled with items that fit that criteria, although most were redundant and commonplace … Of course, I did find some things with Reuben-appeal; here are my 5 succulent-related Etsy faves, as well as a nice bromeliad item. None are very expensive, but all are good looking and do justice to their juicy-leafed inspirations, check ‘em out!
RR: Now With Less.
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Framed above is one of modern design’s most hallowed dogmas. So simple, yet so hard to live by … at least at the Rancho. But no more! With the ongoing deletion of literally tons of stuff from the grounds, 2012 is the year we begin anew. Announcing the next phase in this our design downsizing …
Promises, Promises — Updated
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Seed packets are promises of a brighter future. Hold one in your hand and shake it gently: That quiet shhhh-shhhh is the sound of the seeds making promises to you … That if you’re diligent and follow all the rules (conveniently printed on the reverse) you’ll be rewarded with bushels of gorgeous flowers, fruit, or, as in this case, vegetables. Seed packets bring out the commitment-phobe in me. It’s not that I can’t commit because they cost too much, they don’t. It’s that I know I can’t live up to their expectations and I’ll let them down. I won’t water them enough; I’ll plant them in a too-sunny, or not-sunny-enough spot; I won’t spend enough time with them as they grow; I won’t have noticed that I live in the wrong climate zone and sentenced them to a burning death come summer … And, I just can’t do that to them. Oh, I always fall for their cheery faces, so pretty and colorful. And, I love to hold them and hear their whispered promises. But I never buy them. Until these.
How-To: Windy Day Hang-Up
Palm pocket
Weirdly, Saturday’s balmy weather became gusty to the point of tree-toppling by Sunday morning … Leaving the house at 5:30am for my walk, I was struck by the amount of tree stuff that clogged the streets, especially from the palm trees in the neighborhood. As I walked I wondered why no one was doing anything with all these fronds and other palm parts … especially the attractive scoop-like bit that reminds me of the basket jai alai players use, the cesta. Long and gracefully tapered, I’d used one of these dried palm fragments in a centerpiece project for The Times in 2009 (see post here). More recently, The Times’ Home section had run a short piece on a gardener who’d used hers as a succulent planter/centerpiece to beautiful effect (see that post here). I decided to play off both ideas and do something that would hang vertically from the wall. The result is above, and I think it’s very successful: It combines the appeal of a wall sconce with a pocket vase, and really showcases the plants within. I chose the elements that form the structure — metal mesh painted a textured rust color and coconut fabric liner — because they’d match the frond’s tones and provide a neutral background for a variety of succulents. I think this piece would look great in a garden room or on a front door … Best of all, putting it together didn’t take a huge amount of time or money, and was not difficult. Here’s how I did it …
Stepshots
Cascade
It’s early January and we’re still enjoying our collective Christmas gift: Mild temperatures that are more late-Summer than wintry. Perfect walking weather! I slept-in this morning, but I’d mentally scheduled a late-afternoon walk; determined to rack up the day’s 10,000 steps. So, iPhone treadmill app tallying, house music pumping, I set out at 4:00 p.m. … and was stopped in my tracks by this cascade of buttery trumpets pouring over a neighbor’s fence. Beauty. I felt bad for stopping the counter to snap this hipstamatic shot, but told myself I’d now keep it moving …
Saturday Pots Dealin’: Updated Again
SATURDAY UPDATE: The strawberry pot and face pots are sold, as well as some of the smaller planters … but there’re still plenty left. Ignore the posted prices; my goal is clearing out, so come by and help me open up space.
SUNDAY UPDATE: All pots are spoken for. Thanks everyone, I know they’ve gone to good homes!
Oh-kay … my recent attempt at auctioning off my collection of large terra-cotta pots was a bust. I received a single bid and it was bogus *le sigh* … So, in the interest of moving on and achieving my goal of full garden decor divestment, I’ll be selling the terra-cotta singly, on-site, this Saturday only, 9am to whenever they’re all gone …
Also: I’m adding in some other large-ish earthenware pots (white, glazed) and — wait for it — the face pots that have flanked the Rancho’s back gate forever! I’d noticed an inordinate amount of attention being paid to them by passers-by, so they’ve been chained in place from the beginning; but now I’m ready to let them go … Here’re some tips …
