Mini Road Trip, Carne Asada Burrito and Silk Floss Tree -- Long Beach Memories...

Imagine a country boy from Arkansas with big dreams -- a young, hard working man...  passionate about plants .....headed out to California.

Well, at the age of 21 what was me! My big dreams and excitement for plants had led me to an internship with the nation's largest chain of garden centers -- Armstrong. It was a wonderful experience. I bounced from store to store all summer. Working in different cities such as: Pasadena, Newport Beach, Anaheim and many more.

On this particular day I was to work at the Long Beach location. It was a beautiful day, I recall the blue of the sky was so intense that day... the season was starting to turn to fall -- a time for picture perfect weather in Southern California.

But, I was running a lil late -- I was still learning to cope with 10 lane interstates and the traffic was so bad that morning. When I finally made it to the store, the staff at the Long Beach location was very welcoming -- nice people. Later in the day one of the ladies offered up a suggestion for a place to grab a quick lunch.... "They have the best Carne Asada burrito", she shared. (Now remember, I was raised on potato salad, macaroni and cheese, and catfish!  -- I didn't have a clue what Carne Asada was!)  But the other staff joined in adding -- "oh ya, you gotta go there!", "It's so good!" ...so, I took their advice -- got directions... and I was on my way.

The burrito was amazing -- my coworkers where SO right. I had scarfed down the burrito, hopped back in my car... with time to spare. I decided to drive around a bit before I went back to the garden center. A left, then a right... another right -- I was on a mini road trip in residential long beach!

AND WOWZA! What a beautiful sight! A massive tree, leafless - covered in huge pink blooms! I stopped -- got out of my truck.... The trunk of the tree was green with spines... prehistoric looking -- amazing. But, the image that sticks with me...   was standing under the canopy of that tree and looking up. A sea of pink flowers. Breath taking beauty.

This time of year the Chorisia, Silk Floss Tree start budding up -- just this week I snapped a picture of an early bloom here in my Hillcrest neighborhood in San Diego. Isn't it great to be reminded of a beautiful place, a fun trip or a loving person -- all from a flower.

A mini Road Trip, Carne Asada Burrito and a Silk Floss Tree...  My Long Beach Memories.

Chorisia Speciosa - Silk Floss Tree

Teal Green Madonna is making a special announcement on Monday!

.... and we are EXCITED!

Green with Envy -- Lou Zeldis ring

Ever wanted something that a friend had? ...a sibling? It's just the worst feeling! Life is fun -- and I am so blessed... but sometimes I see green, Envy.

A very stylish customer of mine that I had grown close to during his visits -- walked into the nursery one day... and that's when I noticed he was wearing an unusual ring. I couldn't figure out the stone. It was oversized, unique and it really spoke to me ...I had to know more -- what was it and where he got it.

So in the right moment, I asked him about his ring... he shared with me that it was sea glass and he purchased it at a local jewelry shop there in Carlsbad, CA.... and, it was by the artist Lou Zeldis. ....I complimented it, wrote down the name Lou Zeldis and put it in my pocket.

When I got home... I went to Google and I searched -- Lou Zeldis ....this is what I read:

Have you seen the legendary work of Lou Zeldis? Inspired to start crafting jewelry by the sense of energy he felt from wearing different charms, Zeldis believes in the magic carried through the objects -- from the natural state, to the construction, and into the owner's world. He incorporates found materials from shores and mountains in his home in Bali, such as river rock , antique cut diamonds, shells, and manta ray thorns, creating pieces that become your personal totem. Zeldis aims for a harmony and strength of form in his pieces as well as in his process -- he crafts his one of a kind pieces from his secluded mountain top home, where he finds the serenity to create his collection. I get the feeling that these pieces choose you as much as you would choose them, don't you thing?

Had I been chosen?

Well, after reading that (and reading that his designs are very popular with young Hollywood) I HAD TO HAVE ONE! So, I too visited Tashci -- the little jewelery shop in downtown Carlsbad. And now, I am the proud owner of an emerald sea glass Lou Zeldis ring ...set in pebbled sterling silver -- direct from the beaches of Bali!

You seeing green now?

Lou Zeldis rings are one-of-a-kind... Search him out -- see if a local retailer carries his pieces. Maybe you are a chosen one!

Why didn't I think of this sooner!

...adding garden art to custom planters makes for an exciting combo!

While in college I worked at Westwood Gardens, a successful garden center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We were always getting all types of garden art...  some I liked, and some...  well, it was just hideous! With that said, I had my eye on this pair of contemporary birds -- I liked them. (As a college student -- I did not need a set of bird yard art to trip over and break) The birds didn't fly out of the store. So, I'd display them around the store... first, with the other yard art... then, up by the front door... next, up onto the check out counter -- Nothing!  Customers didn't seem to share my interest in these long legged creatures... 

I love doing custom planters, I get excited thinking about new and different combinations...  and this was my latest idea! -- I'm gonna stick those birds in a planter! I continued with the contemporary style of the birds... combining them with plants what would create the image of the birds just simply hanging out.. in their own natural habit. I think it makes for tranquil, and exciting combo.  Oh ya... and the planter sold the first week!

To create the natural habitat i used: Horsetail Rush - Equisetum hyemale, Variegated Sweet Flag - Acorus gramineus 'Variegata' and Wood Fern - Dryopteris sp.

I never got to Miss Kitty on the table!

Jason's Garden



Today I visited my good friend Jason Chen's garden located in Fallbrook, CA. Like me, Jason has a love for ALL plants. Jason's garden is always full of interest -- a true collector’s garden... but today, I noticed just how striking some of his agaves and yucca were...  they just love the heat! I’m so jealous of his A. lophantha 'quadricolor' -- pretty rare! (but I noticed it had pups!) And, I must say... although I’m not a blue person -- I do crave blue in the garden. The true blue color of the salvia next to the chartreuse, golden oregano creeping up around the A. regina 'victoria' is an exciting combo! And, just look at the blue yucca next to the native stone... nice combo! ...I’m sure Jason planned it! Beautifully done.    More pictures to come of Jason’s Garden – Vegetables, Antique Roses and more!

 

Agave lophantha 'quadricolor'




Agave americana 'variegata'



Yucca whipplei

Agave regina 'victoria'

Suns out is San Diego ....and so are the sunflowers!

Snapped a pic of this sunflower towering over a fence while walking in my neighborhood today.
Made me stop and smile...  thought I'd share.

WE ARE NOW MOBILE!