Get 'm started early.

What a perfect way to get your kids interested in what's really important. This garden set for youngsters is brought to us by Learning with Toys and is one of many great offerings they have on their site.

Terra Grass Armchair

Talk about saving the environment... what better than to add a bit of grass while funking up the lawn? This amazing grass arm chair is made of die cut cardboard pieces that fit together to make the form. I want one.

Instructions: Fill and cover with dirt, spinkle with grass seeds and water.

Banksia grandis

Banksia grandis is a member of the Proteaceae family and is a native of Western Australia where the species is found in the south west corner of the State. Bull Banksia is the common name of this large shrub or small tree. The bark is rough and grey in colour. Large leaves are divided into triangular segments. Young growth may be bright red. The cylindrical flower heads are up to 40 centimetres long by 10 centimetres wide. The flowers are greenish-yellow aging to bright yellow. The cones, that follow the flowers, are large, dense and have many follicles (a dry fruit holding two winged seeds). Banksia grandis appreciates well-drained soils in either full sun or dappled shade. The species will tolerate temperatures to about 20 F.

Grow, in conjunction with Gardens by Gabriel, will be putting together a landscape for the Cambria Shores Inn, a long time hideaway on Cambria's Moonstone Drive. Featured in the landscape will be many plants of the Proteaceae including Banksia Grandis.

Also, Grow has been able to aquire some of these rare and unusual plants and has one for sale.

More for the birds

Design Public has a series of modern birdhouses inspired by architects of the Case Study Houses Program--specifically J.R. Davidson, Richard Neutra, and Ralph Rapson. They’re made of SmartWood, oiled teak, with floating aluminum roofs in three signature modern silhouettes, and they ship preassembled, so you don’t have to be as gifted as Misters Davidson, Neutra, and Rapson. As they say.... The birds in your neighborhood should be so lucky.

CCCSS

For all those interested in cacti and succulents that live on the Central Coast of California...
There is a new group that gets together to learn more about these wonderful plants. The Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Society meets on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 2pm in the large room of the SLO county library. For anyone interested in joining or just making it to a meeting, contact me at the nursery. 805 924 1340

Its been a while...

Sorry it's been a while since my last post. We recently went out of town for a few days and moved in to our first home all in the same week. More to come soon...

Aloe Polyphylla

Its common name is the Spiral Aloe. The spiraling leaves can either grow clockwise or counterwise (lefty or righty as we like to say). Aloe polyphylla grows in high altitude grassland, between 2000 and 2500 metres - sometimes higher - although apparently only on the more easterly facing slopes at these higher altitudes. This could be due to the cold, where it may be important for the plants to receive early morning sun in winter. The plants are sometimes also under snow in winter. The spiral aloe grows in basalt rock crevices on very steep slopes with loose rock which aids in keeping the plants very well drained. They often grow in the mist and cloud belt in Lesotho. Although soils are well drained, the plants here have a continual flow of water in the summer months. The rainfall is very high and the summers very cool at these high altitudes in Lesotho.

Frost Tolerance: Generally little protection is needed in Phoenix
Minimum Avg. Temperature: 50°F (10°C)
Sun Exposure: Full sun in general, light shade in Phoenix
Origin: Lesotho, on rocky slopes above 7000 feet (2300m)
Growth Habits: Solitary or in large groups, each rosette with 75 to 100 leaves up to 12 inches long (30 cm)
Watering Needs: drought resistant
Propagation: Seed

This is a very rare plant due to its solitary nature. Because of this they are only grown by seed and therefore very hard to get. GROW now has some of these incredible plants for sale.

Garden Gloves Galore

With some birthdays coming up (one of which is mine) I've been on the hunt for some great garden gifts that won't break the bank. I stumbled across these garden gloves on sprout home and couldn't resist. check'em

Carolina Chaves Urruzmendi Exhibition

Our friend and future GROW contributor Carolina Chaves Urruzmendi is having a reception tonight at Show Pony Gallery in LA. If your in the neighborhood stop by and purchase some amazing art! She just keeps getting better and better, so get some while you can.

02/03/2007
"everywhere i roam"
new works by Carolina Chaves Urruzmendi

Show Pony
1543 Echo Park Ave.
Los Angeles, CA, 90026.

7-10PM.

Botanicals

With a graphic designer in the house, we are always looking for creative outlets like youworkforthem. They have some so many interesting fonts, stock art etc... We couldn't pass up on these botanicals. Check it.