This is the original GROW MORE illustration …

Both posters can be found in my Zazzle shop in two sizes: a perfect-for-the-office 10″ x 16″, and a twice-as-large 21″ x 33″; either lends themselves to framing. Customizable options: Different paper weights and finishes, including canvas, and framing …  Affordable already, Zazzle’s having a 15% off sale; shop now!

Click to order small GROW MORE FLOWERS poster.

Click to order large GROW MORE FLOWERS poster.

Click to order small GROW MORE VEGETABLES poster.

Click to order large GROW MORE VEGETABLES poster.

Coming soon: a GROW MORE SUCCULENTS poster featuring Frito and Inky!

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!

Irresistible

 I’m not alone in finding Mr. Big irresistible, either … He’s a total bee magnet … Although it may not seem like it in this photo, the flowered part of the stalk was humming with intent little buzzers …

I’m not sure how long a run he’ll have, but I plan to follow Mr. Big’s progress until his eventual decline … And when that day comes I’ll take down the dried stalk and use it in a project. Suggestions, anyone?

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 …

Heat

Emerging from within giant spiked rosettes, torch flames swirl toward the clear blueness …

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Curved

Hot-heads of bright red-orange curve out from the shadows to get their share of the winter sun …

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Gaggle

Like a mob of villagers tearing down the hill, this clump of flame-wielding aloes is truly in-your-face …

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Golden

Incendiary gold spikes flicker from within the blue-gray leaves of a cracked-trunk tree aloe …

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Towering

Standing high atop a hill, several wizened aloe sentries wave their firebrands threateningly …

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Sparklers

Lower to the ground, but no less hot, these yellow blossom spikes seem like freshly lit fuses …

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Licks

Like ground-fire, these delicate-leafed, low-growing aloes burn vividly yellow …

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Illuminating

Even in full shade these fiery orange blossom-spikes are flame-throwers …

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Sizzle

Vermillion-tipped yellow spikes blaze and sizzle in the open sun …

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Silhouetted

The UCR aloes are South African natives, which explains why in their presence I feel transported to somewhere else … Aloes may flourish here and are familiar parts of our landscapes now, but they definitely retain a sense of their exotic, foreign origins … And I love them all the more for it …

Height

Leaving the garden we look back and notice what are probably the tallest aloe trees we’ve ever seen. The Rancho’s aloe trees seem tall in their setting but compared to these giants they’re stunted! Maybe one of our UCRBG chums can tell me how long they’ve been growing here. The UCR aloes in bloom are truly hot stuff!

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BLOG TIP: Recently, I was searching around the web for pictures of South African aloe trees and came across a terrific blog devoted to these terrific succulents. Called My Aloe Garden, it’s full of photos and information about the most amazing aloes, many of which I’ve never seen before. Blogger Eurica, and husband Rudi, cultivate and grow aloes, hybrids, and other succulents from their home in Moorreesburg, a small town 100km north of Cape Town … they even sell the seeds and export plants! Click here for Eurica’s Aloe Garden. It’s a fascinating look at aloes growing in the land of their origin.

]]> http://ranchoreubidoux.com/2012/01/21/sun-torches/feed/ 6 reubix1 torchesbig torcheswaving torchcurves torchesgaggle torchesyellowtree torchwizened torchyellow torchesmallyellow torchesorangedown torchorangeyellow torchesshadow torchestall http://ranchoreubidoux.com/2012/01/18/an-opportune-moment/ http://ranchoreubidoux.com/2012/01/18/an-opportune-moment/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:09:38 +0000 reubix1 http://ranchoreubidoux.com/?p=12559 ]]>

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:

In the beginning

At this point the tents had been up a week, well before the ultimate boom in protestor population that would take over every square foot of ground with all manner of tent and shelter. Eventually bad weather and overcrowding ensured the worse conditions for the lawn’s survival as the protest dragged on …

Sad result

Once the protestors were forced to leave, the full scope of their effect on the grounds was clear: the lawn was no more, and talk of restoration began. This was followed by calls for the lawn to be downplayed, if not done away with; native and low-water needs plants were cited as much better replacements for drought-ignorant turf … While it seemed like it took the powers-that-be forever to decide, I’m happy to report that three City Hall landscape plans have been released publicly by the Department of Recreation and Parks. One restores the lawn, but two of them do away with it — one by more than half and one by more than 80 percent! I think this is real progress, not to mention a great opportunity for city leaders to lead by example and show homeowners how to be water-wise.

Below are links to the three restoration options on the table, with their degree of turf reduction. A report in The Times today noted that Plan No. 2 was most-favored … I’m a Plan 3 guy myself, but if we have to settle for Plan 2 so be it. Either one would be a game changer … have a look:

OPTION 1, with a 25% turf reduction

OPTION 2, with a 58% turf reduction

OPTION 3, with an 80% reduction

Click here for the official website for the restoration, including other information and a comments box. Weigh-in on the plan you think will be best for Los Angeles … Changing the grounds surrounding City Hall to a water-wise landscape might just be the Occupy protests’ true positive legacy.

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!

Graphic

1. Succulent pillow cover by Skinny LaMinx: Handscreened on cotton/linen, I love the MCM good-looks of this original design. And, even with shipping from South Africa, the $40 price is a bargain. So, I bought two, one in the dark brown and one in orange (they’ll look great at a summertime outdoor party). Click here for the seller’s Etsy shop and be sure to peruse her other designs; she’s got a knack for stylized depictions of natural subjects.

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Mystical

2. Succulent mandala by Carr Studio: Capturing the mystical colorations and amazing symmetry of a variety of succulents, this printed tile would make an awesome gift … Professionally screened, this small (5″x5″) aluminum tile has a convenient hanger built-in. And, at $38, it wouldn’t break the bank to buy more than one of this seller’s pieces and create a group … NOTE: there’s a sale going on at this shop until January 28th; everything’s 25% off! Click to shop the sale.

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Manly

3: Green succulent men’s t-shirt by Javier Martinez and Esmeralda Padilla at ziasf: There are more opportunities for women to purchase succulent-related clothing and accessories at Etsy than there are for men. So I was happy to find this cool t-shirt emblazoned with an artfully rendered aeonium rosette. I like the downbeat color combination of teal on olive drab and the unusual placement of the artwork. It’s $25 and I gotta have it! Find more striking wearable art by this pair at their shop here.

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Fantastic

4. 1909 German color lithographic print from Beats 925 Books: Touted as an original print, this colorful piece features fantastical illustrations of various cacti in their natural setting. From Meyer’s Gross Konversations Lexikon, the framable bookplate is a lot of look for not a lot of money: $22, 9.5″ x 12″. Click to the shop here, and be sure to enlarge the detail pics; they’re pretty awesome!

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Rainbows!

5. Blanche DuBois succulent planter, feminist art, reclaimed rhinestone high heel; eco-friendly from Giddy Spinster: Finally — the circle has been closed between stripper footwear and succulents! Expounding on the “rainbows” that will be produced by the rhinestones on the heel of this “upcycled” lucite platform, seller Giddy Spinster also explains that she uses only organic soils and fertilizers! Blanche DuBois herself offers the piece’s raison d’etre: “I don’t want realism. I want magic!” Get your own for $70. Find the shop, with lots more, here.

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Aliens

6. Large Hanging AirPlant Pod by Mud Puppy: Tillandsias — air plants — can look like ETs or undersea dwellers as it is, but suspend them upside down and give them handcrafted ceramic heads and they become alien octopus invaders … and I love them! This seller’s trademarked AirPlant pods are really beautiful, and are available in white as shown, or glossy black. And, check out his baby head vase, creepy-cool! See the smooth goodness at his shop here.

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SIDEBAR: Spend any time at Etsy and you’ll quickly come to understand that it’s a world all its own … a world full of interesting, creative offerings by artists and designers, much of them handmade. This is the good Etsy. You may also come to the realization that Etsy’s full of fringe-y no-talent hipsters and wannabes with dubious taste levels, offering dubious goods, some of which are actually mass-produced and available elsewhere at much lower prices. This is the bad, often maddening and hilarious, Etsy. And, no one skewers the bad Etsy better than April Winchell, aka Helen Killer, at regretsy.com! She’s been responsible for public transpo guffaws and at-the-office spit-takes with her acid take on Etsy’s dreck. Stop by for a snark attack here.

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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 …

We are now: ranchoreubidoux.com!

Not only was our old url — ranchoreubidoux.wordpress.com — the longest in history, but it was agony to dictate to interested parties and they get it right … It will still “work” however: search engines will redirect queries here, and typing the old url into browsers will do the same. Although we’re working with less url up top I plan to add more, content-wise: more cooking posts, more project how-tos and more visits to interesting people and places … 2012 at the Rancho’s gonna be about more — with less!

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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.

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These I found at Anzen Hardware in LA’s Little Tokyo, a sweet little store that offers traditional Japanese garden and household tools and other items. I went there with a friend on an errand, saw these, and fell hard. These packets not only featured plump, shiny,  veggie perfection, they also had a retro graphic punch I couldn’t say no to. The Japanese typography, the overly saturated colors, the little fruit shape for the price, were delightful … So, I bought them all, and told myself I’d share them here. I can’t commit to them beyond this, though, and that’s where you come in. If you live in a climate where these vegetables will grow and thrive, send me your address and I’ll mail you the seed packet. Just tell me which one(s) you’d like, at reubix1@yahoo.com. I’ll feel better knowing that they’ve gone on to someone willing to commit to them; someone who’ll give them what they need to fulfill the promises on their faces.

Snap!

UPDATE: The lovely (and always charmingly bespectacled) Ruth Handel sends along this snap of herself with seed packets for squash and eggplant she requested.  The seeds will take root at a Mar Vista elementary school and we can’t wait to see those pics, too!

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ANZEN HARDWARE, 309 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; (213) 628-2068

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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 …

Basic kit

Four major components go into this project: a palm scoop, metal mesh screening (an idea I cribbed from succulent-container maven, Vickie Perez; thanks, VP!), coconut fiber hanging plant liner and an array of small, colorful succulents. Everything but the scoop came from a big-box hardware store. Additional items used, that I already had on-hand: wire; wire cutting pliers; hammer; rust-colored, large permanent marker, textured, spray paint; staple gun, cactus mix soil, leather cord. Nothing fancy or pricey.

First steps

I began by cutting the metal mesh with wire-cutting pliers to an approximate size and rolling it into a cone-like shape (use gloves while doing this step). Holding it up to the scoop, I adjusted the cone’s size to fit snugly against it. Happy with the fit, I anchored where the cone overlapped at the bottom, and used small lengths of wire threaded through and twisted to secure them. Way too long, I held the cone up to the scoop, and used a marker to roughly mark where the plant pocket’s top should end. Using the pliers again, I cut along the line.

Rust, stapled

The mesh’s silvery finish was too jarring; spray paint in a rust-tone quickly took care of that. I made sure to cover the pocket inside and out with several coats. This particular spray paint features a rough-textured finish that looked perfect once dried. I placed the cone on the scoop and using a staple gun secured each side with several staples. Some of them didn’t go in fully; I used a small hammer to drive them all the way home.

Filling, planting

I took the coconut fabric and cut a length that would fit into the mesh cone; I pushed it firmly down its entire length. I trimmed the excess fabric at top, making sure to leave enough to push onto the raw edge of the metal mesh, securing it. I knew I didn’t want the plants to just stick out of the top of the pocket, so, using the pliers again, I cut an opening down the front vertically and rolled it back. I then filled the bottom of the cone with cactus mix soil and added the first succulent. Firmly planted, I add more soil and then the next plant. Eventually the pocket filled with layers of plants and soil. The succulents I used were chosen for their contrasting shapes and colorful foliage … some black aeonium rosettes from the yard add dark spice to the mix.

Hole, hanger

Once everything was planted, I marked and drilled a hole for a hanger. A small length of leather cord pushed through the hole from behind, then knotted, provided the simple and effective solution.

Natural beauty

The wall pocket-sconce is a picture of loveliness, up-front or in profile. I hope you’ll try this project, or some variation of your own devising … if you do, please email me photographs and I’ll post them here!

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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 …

Star

… then just steps away, across the street, I caught sight of this amazing soon-t0-be-in-bloom aloe. I’m loving all of my aloes right now as they’re either blooming or about to; I really liked this one’s tightly bunched flower head. It’ll be a sure-fire star in its space next to the street. Okay, walking, walking …

Torches

… what do you know? Our friends Bonnie-and-Bruce’s aloe is in full bloom, too. Spectacularly so! … I remember when this plant was in bloom last winter; this year seems even more showy. A quick glance at my counter and I notice my steps are a bit low … gotta pick up the pace …

Symmetry

A thousand steps on and I have to stop again: This tropical plant’s symmetrical game of peek-a-boo from behind this vintage lamppost was too weird to pass. Especially with the two odd-colored leaves at bottom … and … I’m walking, walking …

Columnar

Until this solid column of nasturtiums makes me gawk — it reminds me of Jeff Koon’s famous puppy sculpture. Smile – snap! … Must. Keep. Walking …

Urned

Up the hill and rounding the corner near a neighborhood of large historic homes, I see some of my favorite classic concrete urns. Planted with fetching black aeoniums, I think they’re amazing … I tell myself this is my last photo of the day (I’ve only done about 2,500 steps at this point), turn up the music loud and get to steppin’ … the dark is coming.

I arrived home just over an hour later: 9,400 steps. I guess the other 600 were lost playing plant photog. I’ll make ‘em up tomorrow …

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 …

There’s been lots of interest expressed in the huge terra-cotta strawberry pot, same with the face pots, so in the interest of fairness I will take all full-price bids, put them in a hat and pull a winner for each at exactly 9:30am … Get here early;  all other pots are for sale on a strictly first come, first served basis! Plus: Keep in mind that most of these are really heavy … super-heavy, in some cases, so bring muscle, a big sturdy dolly, and a truck. Additional pot measurements and prices follow:

RR POTS SALE!

SATURDAY ONLY, Jan. 7th, 9am to all-gone; 4380 Isabella St., Riverside CA 92501

NO EARLYBIRDS; NO ONE ALLOWED IN UNTIL 9AM! 

Parking is prohibited on 14th St.; avoid a ticket and park on Isabella St.

Pot particulars, including prices: