Cryptomeria japonica
CUPRESSACEAE, The Cedar/Cypress family
On the walk yesterday I spotted this purple conifer in the West hills. A budded Magnolia stellata is in the foreground.

New Year’s Day walk.

Grevillea juniperina
PROTEACEAE, The Protea family
Who says Grevilleas are for California? This pretty little shrub, grown by Cistus nursery, is being used in a new ‘town center’ planting near here- in containers no less. It is hardy to zone 7/8, is evergreen, with needle-like leaves, and blooms sporadically year-round once established, especially during cold weather. It […]

Regional Colors
Traveling through the Southwest on family road trips as a kid, I didn’t get it. Everything was too dry and too dusty/dirty/raw for me. At the time, I liked all things Victorian, Japonisme, tropical houseplants, costumes, especially those with flowers and lace, art depicting women and flowers, also fairies. I liked lush. Horror vacui […]

Opuntia sp.
CACTACEAE, The Cactus family

A beautiful transformation.
Highly recommended: Cafe Pasquale’s, Santa Fe.

Agave sp.
AGAVACEAE, The Agave family
Agaves sure are popular nowadays. Just look in any horticulture or design magazine and you’ll see them in every issue. They deserve the attention.
Happy Thanksgiving:
Michael and I are in New Mexico, celebrating a (mostly) vegetarian “turkey day”: Anne made mushroom wildrice soup, tamales, and amazing apple-carrot-nut spice cake with goat […]

Vanda coerula
ORCHIDACEAE, The Orchid family
My sweet client brought these two stems of Vanda orchids to me at the studio show. In my (very) cool house they are lasting well.
They have a subtle, checkered, reptilian pattern. They are native to Southeast Asia, but are widely grown comercially in greenhouses as a cut flower.

Hakonechloa macra
I can’t belive this has never been plant of the day, it is definitely one of my top 400 favorite plants!
Growing to about 18″ x 18″ but spreading into wide clumps with age, this deciduous grass thrives in partial sun and will reward regular waterings with graceful, flowing leaves from late spring through fall. […]

Malus domestica
ROSACEAE, The Rose family
Another apple to love: starchy, tart, sweet candy aftertaste.

My friend Kate just sent me a link to this inspiring Minnesota Public Radio slideshow and article on Botanical Paintings of the Dalai Lama’s Garden that are on exhibit at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The artist studied at the Minnesota School of Botanical Art and now lives in India where she paints flowers […]