Monday Morning

My path was scattered with color this morning.  Active squirrels in the pineapple guava tree shook down the hot pink flower bits, slow moving snails created iridescent dots and a dappling of light caught the bright green leaves. 

Pot Dreams

 

It amazes me how expensive planting pots can be.  I was lucky this week to find a stash of simple terra cotta pots at the thrift store for small change, but sometimes I dream of taking it up a notch.  These pots with luxurious colors and rich textures would add a nice pop to my collection.  

On the other side, there is nothing nicer than an old terra cotta pot with the patina of weather and dirt.  I bought some from an older lady on Craigslist a few months back, and their subtle white hue over the peachy clay blends in nicely to the surrounding greenery. 

Clockwise above: one, two, three, four.

Ombre branches

For the love of a Rubber Tree

 

Moving plants indoors makes me worry.  By taking it out of its element, I wonder if I am depriving it of the symbiotic relationships it has come to rely on outside.  

But, I wanted an indoor tree, so in she came.  Without consciously realizing it, the placement mimics one of my favorite Alice Neel paintings.   I love the big juicy leaves and the towering stature of a rubber tree.  Now all I need is a dose of ennui and some navy loafers to match the painting completely.

A long fortnight

Over the last two weeks, I spent more time with my drafting table than I did with my bed.  Cramped hands and back, ridiculous amounts of money spent at Kinkos, the last of my scotch, and I am now back at it with a new quarter of classes.

LA spring is similar to a deciduous fall is some ways.  As the rains leave, the plants get browner and the hills more barren.  I am enjoying the last bits of green, some late rains and some new blooms before the real heat sets in.  Then I will have to move from my attic studio into the cooler garage.

We recently had a transient feline keeping our yard company.  I named her Butternut after the warm orange stripe on her nose and flank. She purred in our laps, but slept burrowed into the dense hedge in the front yard.  After a few weeks of indecisiveness, we finally took her to a shelter to be adopted out to a friend.  Tonight, it is cold and rainy but she is finally warm.  Maggie was not sad to be the queen of Easter and be rid of her, but we sure do miss her company out front.

Porch lit plants