A 5 foot baby!

I took this on my recent tour of the Low Country with my sister, Mary Lynn. Not a great photo, but I didn’t want to get any closer. As  per Wikipedia, since 1948 there have been more than 275 unprovoked attacks on humans in Florida, of which at least 17 resulted in death. There were only nine fatal attacks in the U.S. throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s, but alligators killed 12 people from 2001 to 2007. In May 2006, alligators killed three Floridians in less than a week. This photo was taken at Middleton Plantation outside Charleston, South Carolina. I was thrilled to see this guy out of the water as I had seen 3 in the water posing as floating logs — not very exciting. I think he (or she) might be more of teenager than a baby. There were all sorts of families standing around which didn’t phase him, but someone closed the top on their stroller and bam, he was out of there!

An interesting fact: the range of alligators is increasing northward along the Atlantic Coast towards Virginia.  Look out, Washington, DC! Our politicians may not be at the top of the food chain much longer!

And finally, I leave you with these words of wisdom from naturalist and TV personality Jack Hanna:  “The best thing to do is just leave them alone. Alligators want to be away from you just as much as you want to be away from them.”

On the web:

Sales:

• The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants Annual Native Plant Sale, October 14 — 15 in Sun Valley  (San Fernando Valley) (www.theodorepayne.org)
• San Diego Botanical Garden, Encinitas: 29th Annual Plant Sale, October 15 — 16 (www.sdbgarden.org)
• Jungle Music/ Encinitas: owner Phil Bergman has posted a “new arrivals” section on his website showcasing new palm trees, cycads and tropical plants (www.junglemusic.net)

Classes, etc:

• Huntington Gardens, San Marino: everything you wanted to know about Gingko, Oct. 11/ Iris: the Rainbow Flower Talk and plant sale, October 13/Flower Arranging: the Craftsman Esthetic, Oct. 15/ Orchid Sale and Show, October 14 — 15 (www.huntington.org)
• Descanso Gardens, Flintridge: In Praise of Grasses event and Paint your Garden with Wildflowers lecture, October 15 (www.descanso.org)
• Potted/ Atwater Village is sponsoring a weekly contest for best terrarium with a grand prize of $500.00 (www.pottedstore.com)
• Los Angeles Arboretum, Arcadia: lecture on Natural landscapes/Garden Spaces with Amy Nettleton, October 12 (www.arboretum.org)
• Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton: Eat the yard: Organic Edible Gardening Part I, October 15

The O’Keeffe compound, Abiquiu, New Mexico

I had a delicious experience visiting the Georgia O’Keeffe studio in Abiquiu, New Mexico this past weekend. Located about an hours’ drive northwest of  Santa Fe, the Spanish colonial-era compound was the painter’s personal home and studio; Ms. O’Keeffe also painted nearby at Ghost Ranch. As the brochure states: “ Touring her personal home and studio in Abiquiu gives you a remarkable, firsthand glimpse into the way she lived and views of the landscape she loved. She created some of her most famous and iconic works here.”

Georgia O’Keeffe’s studio

Georgia O’Keeffe, who died in Santa Fe in 1986 at the age of 99, was one of the most important artists in the 20th century, and a pioneer of American Modernism. I especially love her floral paintings and landscapes. She was courageous in her conviction that women could paint as well as men, a belief not widely held when she started painting.

The courtyard she painted so many times

A favorite quote of Ms. O’Keeffe’s:

When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else.

On the web:

• Sept. 1 — 11:  The Potted Store/Los Angeles:  Storewide Sale (www.pottedstore.com)
• Sept. 2 — 4:  City Farmers Nursery/San Diego: Master Chain Saw Carver George Kenny carving demo and auction (www.cityfarmersnursery.com)
• Sept. 3: Huntington Library and Gardens/ San Marino: 28th Annual Succulent Plants Symposium (www.huntington.org)
• Sept. 5: Descanso Gardens/la Canada: Rediscover the California Garden talk and tour (www.descanso.com)

Laguna Beach — design or happenstance?

Ahhhh, the coast. Most of us live within an hour or less of the ocean, but how often do we go? I grew up in St. Louis, and my favorite song in the 60’s was the Beach Boys California Girls. I have vowed never to take the ocean for granted!

The Sunset Magazine Western Garden Book has 24 climate zones; number 24 is designated “Marine influence along the Southern California Coast”. This is the most benevolent of climates. Never too hot or too cold, it is dominated by the mild Pacific Ocean in Southern California. The nurseries along the Coast tend to mirror the climate, carrying tender plants as well as succulents, Australians and tropicals. I have been told that tomatoes don’t care for the coast, although there are always exceptions. And who hasn’t cursed the mildew on their roses during “June gloom”? After all, it’s only fair that there be some disadvantages to living on the coast! Below is a list of truly coastal nurseries (all are listed to the left):

Ventura County:

• Island View Nursery (www.islandviewnursery.com)
• Rincon Gardens (805–658-1518)
• Seaside gardens (www.seaside-gardens.com)

Malibu:

• Cosentino’s Nursery (310–457-3981)
• Malibu Gardens Nursery (310–457-3981)
• Pacific View Nursery (310–457-8356)

Los Angeles

• Marina del Rey Garden Center (www.Marinagardencenter.com)
• Merrihews Sunset Gardens (310–452-1051)

South Bay/Long Beach

• Deep Roots Garden Center (www.deep-roots.net)
• Performance Garden Nursery (www.performancenursery.com)
• Peters Garden Center (310–372-2288)

Orange County

• Brita’s Old Town Gardens (www.britasgardens.com)
• Dana Point Nursery (949–496-5137)
• Laguna Nursery (www.lagunanursery.net)
• Laguna Gardens Nursery (949–497-4950)
• Rogers Gardens (www.rogersgardens.com)
• Seaside Growers (www.seasidegrowers.com)
• Shore Gardens (949–942-3526)

San Diego County

• Cedros Gardens (www.cedrosgardens.com)
• Jungle Music (www.junglemusic.net)
• Solana Succulents (www.solanasucculents.com)

Blooming in Laguna Beach

Esmeralda and newborn baby Gnat

What can one say about mothering and nurturing? Mothers aren’t always nurturers and nurturers aren’t always mothers. However I find that gardeners are always nurturing their plants and often the environment. Mothering a plant? Why not? My succulents are like my kids. They seem almost human to me because the different kinds have so much personality..brash, prickley, shy, cunning, gregarious, introverted and totally frustrating!

But getting back to Esmeralda and Gnat, they are mothered by Susan of  www.farmgirlfare.com. This wise and witty blog follows Susan’s unique perspective of going from city to farm. Go on and if you like what you see, subscribe…you will not be disappointed!

I lost my mom in June of 2005 but I’m blessed with my wonderful mother-in-law Ruth. I never thought I would be a mom but I lucked out with my wonderful daughter Holly.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who nurture!!

My succulent babies

On the Web:

Andersons La Costa Nursery, Encinitas: 20% off on all fruit trees thru May 12 / andersonslacostanursery.com

May 7:

Theodore Payne Foundation, Sun Valley: 8 am:  A birds eye view of native plants / 10 am: 3 part Native plant design / theodorepayne.org

Venice Garden and Home Tour, Los Angeles / Venicegardentour.org

City Farmers, San Diego: Raising Tilapia as simply as possible, 1:30 — cityfarmersnursery.com

Descanso Gardens, La Canada: Iris Walk and Talk 11 am.…..Flower Mart Tour 7am — 2pm.…..May 8 Various Mother’s Day events including brunch/descansogardens.org

May 7 & 8: Geranium Show at the Los Angeles Arboretum –arboretum.org

May 9: San Diego Horticultural Society meeting: The Alchemy of Plants and Gardens: Source of Life and Inspiration — sdhortsoc.org