Gerberas, hydroponics and photo processing software

Those beautiful Transvaal Daisies you see in the florist probably didn’t grow in soil if they were produced in California. They’re cultivated in a special hydroponic growing medium, wetted regularly with a nutrient solution, and kept in the perfect conditions inside a greenhouse. The result is spectacular, at least until the flowers are harvested forContinue reading “Gerberas, hydroponics and photo processing software”

When art meets invention: a modular grill with mosaic art

No pizza oven? Everyone really expected us to build a pizza oven. Although we’d love one, we didn’t want to spend the time waiting for it to heat up (hours) nor did we want something that only did oven things. We wanted it all: grilling, indirect heat, pit roasting, baking, side heat rotisserie… and forContinue reading “When art meets invention: a modular grill with mosaic art”

Textures for a Los Angeles garden

Southern California’s mild climate creates an opportunity to go wild with plant color, texture and shape. All manner of subtropical plants from arid climates jump onto the plant palette, and more are introduced every year. This garden has one zone adjacent to the main living area that receives moderate irrigation; the rest of the gardenContinue reading “Textures for a Los Angeles garden”

Wind, Sun, Karl Foerster Grass

A breezy day near sunset, slanting rays of light coming through the grass as it dances in the wind… Feather Reed Grass, Karl Foerster variety (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’) Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘stricta’ is similar, if not indistinguishable. If you want variegated leaves, get ‘Overdam’ – although it isn’t as vigorous as the green-leaved varieties.