Versailles, again.

I just love these two photos of the grounds of Versailles together. The manipulation of forms in the plant life in collocation to the sculptures of Xavier Veilhan speak volumes to me of the artist’s finesse.

Continental Shift

Hello World. I have moved since my last entry from the North American Continent to the European Continent. I am in Amsterdam, Netherlands trying to figure out how to grow all over again. Hortensia abound here and the roses look quite happy at this latitude. Bear with me while i adjust. For now, here is a photograph from The Selby of the artist Xavier Veilhan’s show held at Versailles. The topiary-esque sculpture here is my favorite piece.

The Saucer Magnolias Are Beginning to Bloom

Just a reminder for me that I have sooo much to do to get ready for Spring. But, we are a little early here this year in zone 8b.

Camellias After a Century

I went to a client’s house yesterday to diagnose a problem with some historical camellias. They are part of a century old tourist attraction in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina’s Old Village and were called the Pierates Cruz Gardens. And, yes, it is hard for me to write that spelling of Pierates. But, alas, that is the spelling and I can find no information on the trusty Google as to it’s origin. However, the camellias needed mulch and aeration, first and foremost. The ailing ones were several 15′ + japonica varieties in the back yard. And, because they are in the back yard, they were not getting the pine straw/mulch beds that they need for a continued healthy lifespan. So, it is a quick fix, we hope. But, look how beautiful this allee in the front yard is! How lucky to have these to stroll through everyday.

Oh, the Earth Is Alive, Afterall

Look what I found today!

The Garden Path

Forget the enormous amount of upkeep necessary for that gorgeous lawn in this shot. I am here for that little garden path. The encroaching wildflowers make themselves at home in these rocky, compacted areas. I just love irregular spaces in between slate and granite crammed full of hardy little succulents and Alysum, or Lobularia maritima, crowding the stones and creating an old world feeling, like it has been around since the Appian Way, making it the queen of garden paths. This gem is created by Edwina von Gal for her client on Long Island.

Me and My Succulents

My succulents and I are patiently waiting to return out of doors. Thank goodness for these good sports! Though, I must admit that I am practically having to take showers with my collection. Since the freezing snap here in zone 8b, all my friends have come inside. And, what a collection I have now! Who knew? Here is one of my favorite plants, the Aloe vera.

Succulents and Los Angeles and 80 Degrees Fahrenheit Today

I wanted to re-visit this article from Martha Stewart’s Living mag this summer. Why? Because it is so toasty warm in Los Angeles today while the rest of us in the nation and Europe are freezing! And, because it features my favorite plants of all, succulents. Just look at that wall of Aloe vera! Makes me not afraid to forget the pot handles returning the Le Crueset back to the oven! This is the landscape architect, Joseph Marek’s home and garden. Pretty nice, huh? How about the foxtail agave, or Agave attenuata? Just because she is named after the goddess of Greek mythology that tore her own son apart doesn’t mean anything! She doesn’t need hardly ANY water. What’s not to like? Malek has done a beautiful job. And, he makes me long for a land that doesn’t freeze.

Compost! Fun For The Winter.

Look at those perfect layers! Look how simply made! You still have to eat in the Winter, which means, you still have to cut the ends off the squash, cut the tips off the brussel sprouts, pop the stems off the arugula and collards, right? Then you still have turn your pile. It’s the best part of outdoor activity in the Winter in the garden. I promise.

What Else In Winter?

I have been reading Honore de Balzac and Gustave Flaubert novels this Winter, and, not a ball or salon goes by in 19th century romantic France that someone doesn’t have Camellias in their hair or in a vase. Just the other day I was wondering where old man Winter was this year, and, he came. Tonight will be 20 degrees fahrenheit in my land of Camellias. Careful what you wish for! However, the chill will deliver me beautiful and bountiful japonica varieties, won’t it? I can’t wait to collect a bouquet. And, wear one in my buttonhole or my hat. These are the tags from the ones I have planted this year, so far.

Old Man Winter Where Are You?

I was looking for him this morning and got a warm (60 degrees fahrenheit at 7 a.m.), humid rain, instead. In my neck of the woods (zone 8b), we haven’t seen Winter, yet. So I thought I’d look elsewhere, like Vermont. This photograph of Birch trunks are from the book, The Soul of Vermont, by Richard W. Brown. If I were there right now, I would probably be out in my snow man outfit collecting the papery, resinous bark from these guys for some project indoors later, maybe. Building a fire. Eating pancakes with local maple syrup. What else? Instead, I am watching the azaleas begin to bloom in my neighborhood. Ah…

Barococo Decadence and the Lawn

Okay, yes, I just made that word on my own…however, rococo is a French linguistic derivative of the Italian word barocco and it stems from the Baroque movement in 17th century architecture. Now, the baroque was intended to bring piety to the people, a vox populi movement, even. And, as an attraction for the masses, paintings were added to the interiors of churches and buildings to give the folks something to come in for. Also, apparently, the rounded curves and circular movement in the buildings itself were a popular attraction, also. However, as our bourgeois ideals expanded into the United States, it seems we have a tendency to think of the Rococo as a decadent period. And, maybe it is. So, a natural extension would be the landscape attached, eh? Rococo landscapes abound throughout Europe just as Baroque churches abound throughout Mexico. They seem such strange bedfellows to me. And, it is this strangeness which leads me to this curiosity in Chicago, Illinois. Designed by Landcape Architect, Deborah Nevins, and photographed here for the book, The New Garden Paradise, where I can’t see any dollar weed in this lawn. Can you?

Winter and the Beach: Grasses, Reeds and Rushes

Okay, I am still on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina and dreaming of Piet Oudolf designs. Why else would I want to sculpt a topiary tunnel up the pathway? His combination of boxwood and natural grasses are legendary in Europe. Now he has just finished the High Line garden design in New York City. And, we can all learn from Oudolf: plant native grasses. They are so indelibly conservation savvy. And, look how pretty, too.

Succulents Have A Great Name

I found this guy tangled in sand spurs and sand dunes on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. Still trying to find out the botanical classification of it, since succulents make me swoon. Why are they called succulent? Dictionary dot com says the definition of the word succulent is rich in desirable qualities. And, juicy. Wow. No wonder we love them so. I am quite sure this one guy is a sedum. Sedum is the large stonecrop genus of the Crassulaceae, representing about 400 species of leaf succulents throughout North America. Prized as a green roof garden plant. Some are cold hardy. Some are heat tolerant. Most are neither both. So choose your species wisely and start planting today!

I Love Chickens!

I can’t stop watching them walk around the garden. And, I get excited at sunset because the white ones glow with the purple and pink hues. Granted, I can only keep about 3 at a time because I live in Urban City. (I keep them as pets and name them and love them and get plenty of eggs for one household from them.) But, I just came across this fabulous blog site: BibliOdyssey! Rare Audubon plates, botanical plates…etc.

How Do You Make Square Pavers Look Great?

These White Sierra granite ones were put in place by the Los Angeles based landscape architect, William Peters. Pretty nice path following the contours of the scenery.

Hellebores and Haute Couture

You don’t have to be Christian Louboutin to keep a peacock around. Though, this enchanting woodland forest IS his. Peacocks are rather large birds. And, in my experience, too large for a stray cat’s psyche. They leave them alone. And, like ducks, the majestic peacock will just occupy itself while roaming your property making a great cry here and there. But, what I really wanted to point out are the Hellebores at the peacock’s tail. The woodland garden is an extreme of our ecology, juxtaposed, of course to the arid landscape. How to get a natural and sublime cutting garden under all those trees is answered for me with Helleborous orientalis. Wow, they come in such an array of exotic patterns and colors: from crazy, beautiful spotted varieties to the mocha black and chartreuse blends! And, as a bonus, they are great as a cutted ornament inside your lovely dwelling. They have a long blooming season from February to September in my neck of the woods: Zone 8. They are considered quite hardy. What else can you ask for?

The Scent of Southern California

Every time I land at LAX and get into the cab, I am overwhelmed by a certain California olfactory sensation that makes me feel I have arrived. It is not the ocean, with it’s salty spray in close proximity to the airport, nor, the crappy, smoggy smell emanating from the cars in front. It is a plant called “Mugwort.” And, I think it is beautiful. The genus contains 200 to 400 varieties and it’s genus name is Artemisia. Shiva, the god of auspiciousness, is tangled into the oral history of the plant, because, it’s long tabulation of medicinal uses is so time immemorial and widespread. Butterflies, the allurement of all metaphors of metaphors, are especially drawn to feasting upon this oh-so-California native. Artemisia is sometimes called “sage,” which, it is not. But, it sure seems sagacious to us.

Winter Rosebush and Beach

I just came across this photograph in the book, The New Garden Paradise, edited by Dominque Browning. Wow. The background hedge is Beach. The fog is gratis.

The Poem “The Camellia” by Honore de Balzac

Who could write this any better?

So Simple and Brilliant

The French designer, Alain Idoux, has created this marvel in the South of France, where drought can be a problem. From simple roofing tiles, Idoux has created a rill with which to catch and deliver rain water to another garden. It is so pretty, pretty! And, to top it off, that is honeysuckle creating that drought-resistant hedge. Unfortunately, Idoux is no longer with us…dieing a premature death, however, we get gardens like this left behind. Idoux used a lot of native grasses in his designs, as well. The nativity of which keeps Idoux around ad infinitum.

Reference Books For The Winter

Well, it is freezing each night on a regular basis and even though it is not quite Winter, yet, I am already calling the season just that. And, as the holidays close into the end of the year, I feel compelled to curl up at the fireplace with a couple of books and merely dream of starting early next year on my garden. Today I will begin to read The Iris by N. Leslie Cave. While others might have peppermint and sugar plum dreams, I will have deep purple ones.

Thanks For Waiting!

I killed my Mac and had to go to the above photographed store in order to correct my conundrum! Pretty slick, huh? Something about the hyper-white modernity with the Palmetto tree stage right makes me want to go back for more accessories. Palmettos, or Sabal majors, are tap-rooters and can do well (or, at least, fine) planted right next to the sidewalk in front of a Mac store, even. Though, the state tree of South Carolina would probably rather be out on an abandoned, protected barrier island. They are not so native of our downtown principality. But, we love them so. And, you just cannot get out of the town council meeting without someone suggesting that we plant more down the sidewalk! Bless their tap-roots.

Ah, The Camellias Make The Season Better

I don’t think I could be happy without the Japonica variety “Debutante.” The peony pinks make me swoon! I cannot think of anything sweeter on a drab, weary, winter’s day than collecting a bouquet of double-bloom pale camellias for my favorite little vase. And, Camellias, once established, are drought hardy and evergreen plants. They take the cake with that. If you get the chance this Winter, I recommend visiting Charleston, South Carolina’s Magnolia Gardens. It is renowned for it’s camellia collection. And, take it from me, it is worth the visit. I just found this beautiful photograph, taken by my friend Peter Frank Edwards, for Garden & Gun magazine.

I’ll Be Back After The Mac (store).

Hello all and please forgive my negligence of late in my posts. My Apple Mac has had to go to the hospital and will be revived and up and running again this week!