Let me help you find a nursery in the Southern California & Los Angeles areas.
Liz Reed’s not-so-still lifes!
July Tapestry
Isn’t this incredible? I found this on Etsy (www.etsy.com) a while back and ordered it immediately. This piece was created on a scanner by photographer, artist and landscape designer Liz Reed. She is also that rarest of human beings, a master gardener. The above image consists of platycodon, asclepsias, blueberries and nicotinia. I love the colors and textures Liz has created but it is not surprising — Liz is a photographer, fine artist and garden designer. She resides in Pittsburgh. To find out more about her process go to this blog by Melissa Clark, another terrific photographer: http://melissaclarkphotography.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/capturing-beauty-from-the-garden/.
Liz’s website: www.elizabethreedfineart.com. To see or purchase more of Liz’s still lifes, go to www.etsy.com and search: Liz Reed.
Upcoming events:
- Anytime: City Farmers in San Diego is offering the first of a video series on “Grow your own food 101″ on their newsletter website. (newsletter@cityfarmers.com)
- Now thru July 4: Paul Ecke Jr. Flower and Garden Show/Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego County (www.sdfair.com)
- Saturday, June 18, Plant Depot of San Juan Capistrano will be presenting Cristin Fusano on soil preparation and plants selection for low water usage. (www.plantdepotnews.com)
- Saturday, June 18 classes at Theodore Payne in Sun Valley include: Creating an exciting parkway, Easy native plants and Native plant horticulture. (www.theodorepayne.org)
- June 19 is Fathers Day. Descanso Gardens in La Canada/Flintridge is offering a BBQ starting at 11am and a concert starting at 1pm. call for details:(818)949‑4200.
A California Bungalow Garden
Kate and Len in front of the cymbidium house Len built.
Kate and Len Scott have lived with design their entire married lives. Len, an Art Center graduate, managed some of the most prestigious interior design firms in the country, and Kate is an art consultant. So it was natural that they should combine two of their loves, design and gardening, in the long, narrow backyard of their 1900’s California bungalow. Perched above the Silverlake reservoir, this home has been a labor of love since they moved in 40 years ago, first as students renting the 2nd floor and then as owners. The backyard in particular shows the TLC lavished on it in the past 4 decades. “First Len built my orchid house when my cymbidium collection threatened to take over the house, and then collecting succulents seemed a natural fit. We are very involved with our family and would rather spend time on the soccer field with our grandkids than planting perennials every season,” said Kate. ” And then of course there is the water issue.….”
A refuge from the city.
Their sound reasoning and hard work has translated into an extensive outdoor room that is well used all year around. “We love to have parties out here, especially since our home is somewhat small. Having moved here from Montana in the 60’s we have always appreciated the outdoor living aspect of Southern California. We can accomodate a lot of people, especially for our annual Easter party and egg hunt!” enthused Kate. Over the years their house and garden has been a constant inspiration and presence in their friends’ lives, including yours truly. Len now works on his own designing residences, interiors and furniture. It could be argued that he and Kate live in his finest creation.
scottassociatesdesign.com
The shade comes in handy on hot summer days.
On the web:
Thursday, January 20:
- Recycling in the Garden with Yvonne Savio, 9:30 am — noon /Los Angeles Arboretum /$20.00 per class /pay at door or call Jill Berry (626) 821‑4623 or jill.berry@arboretum.org.
Saturday, January 22:
- Discussion of native grasses with Barbara Eisenstein, 9:30 — 11:30 am /Nopalito Native Plant Nursery, 4107 E. Main St, Ventura, California (805) 844‑7449 /www.nopalitonursery.com /$10.00
- Winter Pruning by Lora Hall, 9:30 — 11:30pm /Huntington Library, 1151 Oxford St., San Marino /$35.00 — 45.00 /(626) 406‑2123 /www.huntington.org
- Gardening Basics, 10am /Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge /2 part class /$10.00 — 20.00 for both classes /(818) 949‑4200 /www.descansogardens.org
- Site Analysis with landscape architects Anna Armstrong and Richard Walker /bring location photos and, if possible, a plan /1:30 — 3:30 /Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants, 10459 Tuxford Street, Sun Valley /(818) 768‑1802/www.theodorepayne.org
A Perfect Day
“Press Two Callas” by Imogen Cunningham, circa 1929
When I was a kid my perfect day was going horseback riding followed by a movie. As an adult things have changed considerably. For instance, there was an article in the Los Angeles Times recently about an exhibit at the Oceanside Museum of Art of the photographs of Imogen Cunningham. Entitled “Botanicals: The Photography of Imogen Cunningham”, it runs from January 8 — May 22. I started thinking about how much I would love to see it; that led to other thoughts, like nurseries I could visit near the museum, and of course good places for lunch and dinner!
The museum is south of Camp Pendleton; the nurseries in close proximity include:
- Anderson’s La Costa Nursery in Encinitas, a 50 year old family owned nursery specializing in drought tolerant plants.
- Barrels and Branches Nursery in Encinitas, owned by 2 young women, with unusual plants, pottery and gifts.
- Jungle Music in Encinitas, a palm collectors mecca.
- Weidners Gardens in Encinitas, owned by local gardening expert Evelyn Weidner and specializing in begonias and fuschias.
- Cedros Gardens in Solana Beach, a stunning location in a vibrant commercial area.
- Solana Succulents in Solana Beach, devoted to succulents and cacti.
- Evergreen Nursery in Oceanside, a large operation.
- Bamboo Headquarters in Vista, specializing in bamboo and drought tolerant and unusual plants.
All these nurseries are listed alphabetically under the San Diego Nurseries section to the left on my website.
Now, for breakfast or lunch, there is a great little place in Del Mar with a quaint outdoor patio. The Stratford Court Café is located on a leafy side street; the patio dining there is very comfy. They have lots of great breakfast, sandwich and soup choices. For dinner, I would go to The Fish Market in Del Mar, a bustling rustic restaurant specializing in mequite grilled fresh fish. I have enjoyed eating at both.
Now, not that it can get any better, but if you time it right, you can attend a San Diego Horticultural Society meeting, held @ 6:30 pm on the second Monday of each month. They routinely draw crowds of 400 to 500 because of the great programs and speakers on tap.
- Stratford Court Café, 1307 Stratford Court, Del Mar, (858) 792‑7433
- The Fish Market, 640 Via de la Valle, Del Mar, (858) 755‑2277
- The Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside 92054, (760) 435‑3720 /www.oma-online.org/
- San Diego Horticultural Society, www.sdhortsoc.org/
- Imogen Cunningham article in the Los Angeles Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/12/imogen-cunningham-botanicals-at-oceanside-museum-of-art.html
On the Web:
Sheridan Gardens in Burbank is holding a free rose and fruit tree pruning class on Saturday January 15 hosted by Deborah Fox. Call (818) 841‑8845 for the time.
LA County Arboretum:
- 90 minute docent led walking tours on Wednesdays, 10:30 am — 11:30 am/free with admission
- Family bird walk: First Saturday of the month/10am/free with admission: Join Arcadia Naturalist/recreation leader Ray Jillson on a 2 hour walk through the Arboretum — children welcome.
- Saturday, Jan. 8: Wildlife Exploration /10am — noon /free with admission
- Saturday, Jan. 8: Rose Pruning /9am — 12 am/hands on workshop about pruning and care of roses/bring gloves and pruning shears. $28.00 non-members. 626−821−4623
- Thursday, Jan. 13: The Native Flower Garden with Susan Van Atta/9:30 am — noon/profiles colorful native plants based on Susan’s new book “The Southern California Native Flower garden”. $20.00 at door /626−821−4623
A Fresh New Year!
Produce calendar from Krank Press
No one is going to be sorry to see the back of 2010! What better way to welcome the New Year than with a new calendar with a gardening theme. For instance, the produce/planting calendar by Krank Press in Silverlake. This little gem gives planting recommendations for each month and tells what is in season at the Farmers Markets. The letterpress calendar, a tidy 5 1/2″ X 8 1/2″, are available for Southern and Northern California, and the Pacific Northwest. They are not dated and are reusable year after year. It doubles as a great birthday/anniversary calendar. Order through www.reformschoolrules.com at $23.00 each.
Another interesting site is www.gardeningbythemoon.com. As you might have guessed, the authors espouse gardening by the phases of the moon, a technique that can speed the germination of seeds. Tests have proven that seeds will absorb the most water at the time of the full moon.
A site with dozens of garden related calendars, www.zazzle.com/2011+flowers+calendars has over 1200 theme calendars devoted to gardening including Van Gogh’s flowers, koi, New England wild flowers, dahlias and carnivorous plants.
However you choose to keep track of the days, I wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2011!
On The Web:
Jan. 3/Monday: Choice California Native Plants for the Home Garden/Speaker: Gene Radcliff of the Tree of Life Nursery and Horticulture instructor at Saddleback College/
Pacific Palisades Garden Club, 7:30 PM @ the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford Avenue, Pacific Palisades 90272
