A magnificent grove of Dracaena Cinnabari

I have a soft heart for pointy plants. Especially succulents in all their fleshy sometimes spiny glory. As I flipped thru a Conde Nast Traveler magazine recently, an article came to my attention on the island of Socotra and Dracaena Cinnabari, or the Dragon’s Blood Tree. To my way of thinking this is a gorgeous tree, with its twisty sculptural trunks and spikey canopy. Unfortunately it is endangered in its habitat by the gradual warming and drying of Socatra, a United Nations World Heritage Site located near the Horn of Africa and Yemen. In ancient times the deep red resin derived from the tree was used as a dye, toothpaste, astringent and rheumatism medicine — this is a plant that could earn its keep. It still provides varnish for violins, among other uses. It would be perfectly suited to our SoCal climate but seems to be very hard to find. Wish I had known about this trees 3 months ago when I was in Egypt — that is probably as close as I’ll ever get to Socotra and its Dracaene Cinnabari.

For the article on Socotra: www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/503111

On the web:

Saturday, February 26:

• Bonsai-a-thon @ Huntington Gardens, 2/26 — 2/27, 10:30 — 4:30, Bonsai masters share their passion, live auction at 3 pm, included in admission; www.Huntington.org, (626) 405‑2100
• Theodore Payne Foundation:   Relief Printing Workshop, 10am — noon, $25/ 35 nonmembers, $15 for materials, and Let It Drip (drip irrigation seminar) 1:30–3:30, $20/30 nonmembers,  theodorepayne.org/818–768-1802
• Edible Natives for the Local Eater with Hank Kraus of Moosa Creek Nursery, 1:30, free @ City Farmers Nursery, San Diego, cityfarmersnursery.com
• Composting 101/11 am and Heritage Oak Walk/11 am — Descanso Gardens, both free with admission, Descanso Gardens, (818) 949‑7980
• From Seed to Skillet: A Garden Conservancy Talk with Jimmy Williams and Susan Heeger, Los Angeles Arboretum, 11:30–1:30 The Garden Conservancy and the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden are pleased to present Jimmy Williams and Susan Heeger, authors of the new book From Seed to Skillet: A Guide to Growing, Tending, Harvesting, and Cooking Up Fresh Healthy Food to Share with People You Love. Jimmy learned all about vegetable gardening at the knee of his grandmother, a South Carolina native from a traditional Gullah community. Susan, a garden writer and editor, has been growing vegetables at home for more than ten years. The two have created a personal, beautifully illustrated garden manual aimed at helping all gardeners, from beginners to experts, grow edibles more successfully. They will share some of the secrets to garden planning, creating healthy soil, raising strong, productive plants, saving seeds, and enjoying the harvest with family and friends. $20/25 non members incl. admission / optional lunch/jill.berry@arboretum.com /

On the Nile River at Aswan, Egypt

It’s 4 in the morning on my first night back from my trip to Egypt — can’t sleep so I may as well write. What a splendid, disturbing place Egypt is. It’s indescribably different from the USA — like being on another planet. I was privileged to be there for 2 weeks with my brother, his wife and our family friend. We covered Alexandria to Abu Simbel — that would be Lower Egypt in the North to Upper Egypt in the South (I know it sounds wrong, has to do with the Nile). I’m always looking for the garden angles when I travel but in this arid land they were few and far between — the desert and its dust always looms in the background. May be a portent of things to come in SoCal. I’ve wanted to go to Egypt for as long as I can remember but had no idea what it would be like. Lovers of art, architecture and history will adore it — lovers of human and animal rights will not. I am both, and had some difficulty on the trip. I’m so glad I went, though, and would recommend it to most travelers — the Egyptian people are wonderful. Just be prepared that it is not easy, but the good news is it will be worth it.

For more on the definition of Upper and Lower Egypt:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_and_Lower_Egypt

And on the Temple Complex at Karnak: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnak

A dog naps at the Great Temple Complex near Luxor

On the web:

Saturday, November 20: 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Eyes on the Harvest: part II : Eat the Yard! Organic Edible Gardening series, with Jonathan Davis, ethnobotanist, gardener, and passionate foodie

Fullerton Arboretum

1900 Associated Rd.
Fullerton, CA 92831
(714) 278‑8347

Fee $25.00; pre-registration required

Saturday, November 20: 10:00 am-12:30 pm

The Harvest Table and Wreath Workshop: featuring a culinary demonstration, sample menu tasting, and wreath construction

Rancho Los Alamitos
6400 Bixby Hill Road
Long Beach, CA 90815
562–431-3541

Fee $55.00; pre-registration required

Saturday, November 20, 2010

City Farmers Nursery/ San Diego Founders Day

If you need an extra excuse to visit, swing by this Saturday for Founders Day! Bill started City Farmers Nursery on October 20th, 1972–making this year our 38th Anniversary!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

WildWingsLA in Sherman Oaks

WildWingsLA is leading a fall morning bird walk  @ the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Area from 8 am — 10 am. For more info and to RSVP: WildwingsLA@gmail.com.

For SoCal event information: www.pacifichorticulture.org/calendar/SoCal/

Chihuly’s art at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Dale Chihuly’s art is executed in glass. His blown glass shapes are original and otherworldly. Chihuly pieces grace high rise buildings and casinos, theatres, museums and churches. But my favorites are the botanical garden installations, such as the New York Botanical Garden and the Missouri Botanical Garden. Chihuly’s generous practice of putting together teams of artists with excellent glass blowing skills has led to the development of unusually large, complex multipart sculptures of dramatic beauty. The integration of his art with plant materials shows respect for both his art and the gardens. My personal experience with his art is that it looks so alive!   www.chihuly.com

Dale Chihuly pieces

On the web:

11/20/Saturday: The Harvest Table and Wreath Workshop, $55.00, Rancho Los Alamitos, (562) 431‑3541

For SoCal event information: www.pacifichorticulture.org/calendar/SoCal/

People are raising chickens everywhere. Even on the rooftops of Brooklyn. Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in Brooklyn (www.rooftopfarms.org/) is home to a flock. Good soil is at a premium in NYC, and chicken manure is the answer. Annie Novak, co-founder of the high-rise poultry farm, says chickens are fairly self-sufficient, multifunctional and charming. Another happy chicken farmer is Orne Fox, 13 year old owneer of 23 chickens and author of the “Happy Chickens Lay Healthy Eggs” blog (www.Happychickenslayhealthyeggs.blogspot.com). He offers some expert advice. When my daughter was young we hatched chickens and ducks on our dining room table, using a styrofoam incubator and a spotlight. It was easy and fun and we had no trouble finding homes for them.

Los Angeles County, where I live, has lenient rules for keeping chickens: www.laanimalservices.com/. Other websites include: www.backyardchickens.com, www.wikihow.com/keep-chickens-in-a-city, and the Mad City Chickens DVD @ www.tarazod.com.

On the web:  There’s a lot of great stuff going on:

11/13, Saturday: Native plant sale featuring native plants for foothill gardens, California Native Plant Society, 626–476-4163, adedwards8@hotmail.com, Plan your spring garden, Descanso Gardens, www.descansogardens.org/, Fall color walk, Descanso Gardens, www.descansogardens.org/

For more SoCal events: www.pacifichorticulture.org/calendar/soCal/