The process of stamping and texturing concrete
Author Archives: mike
A floating garden in Paris
Paris’ new floating garden adds green space where formerly there was only water.
California Dutchman’s pipe at peak bloom!
It may seem strange for a plant to flower at the beginning of February, but that’s what this plant likes. Its leafless stems are covered with a profusion of strange greenish flowers that somebody thought looked like a Dutchman’s pipe. I suppose if they have to look like something, other than what they really are,Continue reading “California Dutchman’s pipe at peak bloom!”
Aster chilensis trimming results
Last year, our California asters grew. And grew. And grew. By flowering time, the plants were about six feet tall. Too hard to appreciate the flowers at that height without a ladder, but the plants had a solution: as the season progressed, they drooped. We couldn’t cut them because we wanted the seeds as aContinue reading “Aster chilensis trimming results”
A bit of art at the state fair
Plein aire at the fair, 2013, at the California State Fair. A day for artists to invade the fairgrounds with their materials, painting whatever strikes their fancy.
A new native grass for the meadow
This is one of those plants whose common name – Alkali Sacaton – is only a bit more comprehensible than its Latin name – Sporobolus airoides. The Latin name is a lot more fun to say, however. We picked up a small fuzzy looking tuft of grass in a four inch pot at Elderberry FarmsContinue reading “A new native grass for the meadow”
Some new plants from Down Under
During the midst of the worst heat wave in years, a package arrived on our doorstep. Live plants. Fortunately, our doorstep is in the shade, so the “Live Plants” tag was still accurate. The plants came from Tuffy in Temecula, a supplier of plants to wholesale nurseries – our closest grower is supposedly Devil MountainContinue reading “Some new plants from Down Under”
Agapanthus?
combine lily of the Nile with other plants to create dramatic compositions
Urbanite: Using old concrete for new construction
Using urbanite paving with crushed rock creates a pervious walkable surface.
Playing with a monster
Fun with the rampant, fast-growing perennial morning glory vine (Ipomoea indica).