Unexpected Gimbel

Succulents suspended

Visiting the Long Beach garden of fellow blogger Dustin Gimbel, (non-secateur) I’ve grown to expect some things. First, that Dustin will be a terrific host, tour guide and fount of information. Secondly, that his delightfully eclectic garden will reveal something new, maybe something I missed the last visit. And, third, that there will be things – yes, plants, too – that I wish I could take home with me. A for instance: the suspended succulent garden above. It’s actually contained in the end of a large propane-type tank, complementarily blue-green, and fashioned into a hanging planter. From the first time I laid eyes on it I’ve coveted it …  offered to buy it … and I was spurned. Still, I’m always happy to visit it … nice to see it looking so festive in Saturday’s midday sun …

Gimbel bits

Random shots of some of the amazing plant choices, and favorite elements, in Dustin’s garden. In no particular order: Succulents, and more exotic plants, occupy interesting pots and other containers;  hypertufa orbs at the edge of a small pond are joined by a mossy Buddha’s head, hand-made by Dustin; the rebar arbor’s connectors are revealed to be tightly wrapped balls of rusted wire; the world’s largest , and most perfectly formed, cabbages line a walkway along with other perfectly appetizing vegetables and greens. The vegetable garden was new to us and really lovely. Generously, Dustin gave us some cabbage starters for Paul to introduce into a new raised bed at the Rancho. We were also the glad recipients of deep green kale stalks, another cabbage half, homemade preserves and some rosemary with an even headier fragrance than normal. But that’s not all …

Gimbel gifts

Our purpose for stopping by was to pick up a handmade concrete garden ornament Dustin had offered. In the emailed picture, the piece looked like a small volcano; I figured it was maybe a foot tall. The actual piece, however, was much larger, almost 3 times larger … and delightfully, looked like not only a science project papier-mâché  volcano but  also a crypto-phallic primitive artifact — Which is to say I loved it! But that’s not all … nosy person that I am I asked about some textured pavers stacked under something  else. Dustin explained that he’d made those, too, using such diverse textural molds as vintage upholstery fabric and ostrich skin …  and he said I could have some of them. Holding myself back I took only six of them; I can’t wait to use them in my new project at the Rancho. Oh, one more thing: at the volcano’s base there’s a concrete sea urchin lookalike. Dustin made it using a kid’s toy that strayed into his yard as a mold. He gifted me that too … Thanks for everything, Dustin!

There’s one more thing I’ve grown to expect at Dustin’s: garden blogger extraordinaire, Denise, of A Growing Obsession. She’s been there every other visit so I missed her. Maybe it’s time to have a garden blogger get-together?