Desert Botanical Garden

Art in the Garden

by January 17, 2011 – Posted in: Garden Adventures

  This is the gist of my 2/12/11 presention at the San Diego Botanic Garden. What defines “art” is subjective, and its forms are infinitely variable. But in general, when positioning a delicate sculpture in your garden, silhouette it against a solid surface or the sky. Otherwise, the piece may disappear.  (Photo taken at Taliesin West, near Phoenix.) Substantial art [...]

The Joys of Cholla

by June 20, 2010 – Posted in: Garden Adventures

Recently when I addressed the Tucson Cactus & Succulent Society, I made the mistake of saying I don’t recommend that anyone grow cholla (pronounced “choy-ah”). I mean, look at it. Could there be a more unfriendly plant? Well, you’d think I’d insulted a favorite son. “There are more than a dozen different species,” the members told me, each [...]