2013: Plants, Flowers and the People

2013 NW Flower and Garden Show: "The Lost Gardener"

MARCH:  Meeting sculptor and avid plantswoman Marcia Donahue in Berkeley, CA!

APRIL:  Wedding flowers for Annie and Erika!

MAY:  Garden author Ken Druse visits Seattle and I'm profiled in an article he wrote for Organic Gardening Magazine.

 

The Two Divas: My brother Karl and our friend Arnaldo Innocentes perform a Cabaret show in drag! Congratulatory bouquets from the garden

JUNE: My 31st birthday with my buddy, Reid.

 

Another profile and article for the News Tribune (Photo by Craig Sailor)

Summer Roses and other flowers from my garden

JULY: Floral Inspirations visiting local growers in peak bloom time and meeting noted floral extraordinaire Francoise Weeks

Summer Teaching....YES, in Seattle! 

 

AUGUST:  Emergent: A group for young horticulture professionals gather at Xera Plants in Portland, OR

 

SUMMER WEDDINGS: Wedding flowers for all three ladies here in 2013. Karina (far left) was in May, Molly (far right) was in September and here we all are at Michelle's wedding with her flowers.

SEPTEMBER: Summer night at the winery! Joining friends for a concert at Chateau St. Michelle seeing OneRepublic and guest Sara Bareilles. And some singing in the car...

Garden Party Celebrating the official union of my dear friends Daniel and Jeff!

Urban Growers Co-Op: My lovely lady friends designing, growing and promoting locally sourced, sustainably grown fresh cut flowers!

OCTOBER: First international speaking engagement in Vancouver, BC  CANADA!

 

NOVEMBER: Floral design and a lesson in pricing with Alicia Schwede!

Grand Opening of cousin's marijuana accessories boutique in Seattle, WA called TRICHOME

 

DECEMBER: Holiday arrangement for Terra Bella Flowers in Seattle, WA

Holiday wreath celebrating the purchase of a new vehicle!

Happy 2014!!   RAWR!!!!!!!!

2013: In Plant Photos

I spend the first day of the new year getting caught up with all sorts of things. This has been an odd holiday season, I must say. I felt overwhelmed, disorganized, and was just not in that holiday mood to the point where I was kind of avoiding people. YIKES

I didn't feel on top of work and I was (and still am), thinking and worrying too much about what needs to be done, what I should be doing, etc. etc.

The new year is suppose to be a fresh start, but when you've got your own business and you've overseeing every aspect of everything that it takes to properly run it, it's hard to just flip a switch and say you're in "work mode" or "personal mode". Often times, it blurs together and that's where I often run into trouble.

New Years resolutions don't work. I just told a friend on Facebook that "I'm still working on New Year's Resolutions from 25 years ago!" and, in a way, it's kind of true. You accomplish great things in life and you falter, crash and burn from time to time and learning to accept both is a challenge for many people.

What has helped is looking back at last year and taking pride in all the wonderful events and experiences that took place and, for me, NOT to compare and tell myself "you need to be better and do more", but instead say, "WOW, that was awesome! Now look forward to some new things and some old things that you love and just do your best!"

At times, it just takes a closer look at what you're doing: ignoring the distractions that cloud and strain your judgements and, instead, capturing the essence of a simple moment while rediscovering the love of nature and all that it has to offer.

January: Gunnera

February: Edgeworthia

March: Donahue Sculpture

April: Iris and Convallaria

May: Tulip

June: Rosa

July: Sanguisorba and Nasella

August: Lilium

September: Dahlia

October: Fall Arrangement

November: Fall Arrangement with Tillandsia

December: Beesia

Happy 2014 Everyone!

Riz

Reminiscing of Summer: A Danger Garden

With our temperatures dropping into the teens this past weekend, I'm trying to accept the fact that some plants may have suffered a bit of damage or may be totally toast. At times, no matter how much you try protect or bring in, you'll always endure a bit of damage, but how much depends on just how far below freezing we get and how soon. Luckily, we didn't have a abrupt cold snap like a few years ago, but rather than whine and complain about how cold it is, I'd like to look back and be reminded of a most awesome summer and a wonderful trip down to Portland, OR (which, sadly, endured snow and much colder temperatures the past few days).  One garden was an exceptional treat and also one I'm a tad bit worried about after our freeze, but should it pull through this season, it is one fine collection by a woman who's getting quite a readership on her blog, "Danger Garden".


This is the garden of Loree Bohl:


Driving by, it's very apparent which is Loree's garden. Beautifully kept with interesting plants and big, bold textures dominate the space and, immediately, you know you're looking at a plant person's garden. Various cacti and succulents are dressed carefully with a layer of gravel  giving each specimen importance and aiding in much needed drainage. The ginormous 'Steroidal Giant' rice paper plant is a true "indicator" plant of a plant nut in the Pacific Northwest.

Growing it in somewhat of a dryer area may be smart for the plant as it has a tendency to really run. The pavement and gravel probably help it to wake up in spring much earlier as it often takes a full growing season to get this size of leaves!

 I came with plant friends Justin Galicic, Preston Pew and Matt Berberich to see Loree's remarkable garden and all three have heard of her blog and were so eager to meet her in person and see her amazing garden. She was so very welcoming and had a wonderful time dissecting the many elements of her fine garden. Not only were there cool plants, there were interesting combinations and a wonderful use of space (especially in the rear garden).

Loree is a gardener who likes to experiment; texture and dramatic form captivate her and her selections and it truly shows. There are rare plants and there are common plants as well aimed to complete a striking look. It isn't wild and over the top. There's room for plants to expand and grow and I sense a wonderful pacing of edits along the way.

A striking Agave in the foreground (left) and the beautifully placed Arctostaphylos 'Austin Griffins' with its peeling bark backlit.

A young Yucca rostrata

A striking combination of Nolina nelsonii with Canna 'Australia' backlit in the background.

  

Hardy prickly-pear Opuntias are abundant

Make your way to the back and a treasure trove of wonderful plants await! I loved the sense of a welcome by one of my most favorite broadleaf evergreen shrubs of all time, the rare Fatsia polycarpa with its long petioles and deeply, palmately lobed leaves.  And then everywhere you eye looked was a great plant. The square pavers and even the lawn was a very important feature of this space as it allowed the visitor to enter the space, give it a sense of grandeur thus allowing the eye to rest while it transition through another room.

 

 

The use of containers in this garden was quite affective. There may be too many for most people's liking because of the tedious watering some may require, but the fact that more are succulents or air plants, they lend themselves to being forgotten while they look spectacular as accents all summer long.

 

A series of sitting areas makes this garden wonderful both as an intimate space where one can decide just how much exposure they'd like and as an entertainment space to spread a crowd out so the details of each element can be appreciated and admired. 

Our sincerest thanks to Loree for sharing her wonderful garden with us and may the rest of winter be kinder until next spring as we determine what's made it and what we'll have to purchase again. =(

I'm sure all the containers came inside, but the majority of her garden should be alright knowing the lengths we (including Loree) go through to protect our "marginals", we refer to them as. 




Oh, I must throw in that she's also a Tillandsia freak like myself. I adore her compositions and, yes, even an arrangemnt in the bathroom captivated me!

Well done, Loree!


Riz

Crossing the Border: My first "International" speaking gig

Greetings readers!

Yes, I'm still alive and I still exist and I'm finally getting around to posting something on here.

So, I'd like to share an experience I had just last weekend so I can skip talking about all that has happened since my last post, which took place in August! Now, over two months later, we can get caught up! Hahahah

Ok....in a nutshell:

1) My friend Molly got hitched and I did her flowers and it turned out pretty awesome.
2) UW Botanic Gardens/Washington Park Arboretum launched the opening of the New Zealand forest at the Arboretum.
3) I met Loree of "Danger Garden" and had a GREAT time with friends in Portland. (future blog post for sure!)
4) Did a floral showcase with new friends in the cut flower industry that I've made.

gosh.....so much to share and document!


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


FOR THIS POST, I'd like to take you all with me to British Columbia for my first ever speaking engagement with the South Surrey Garden Club and the Vancouver Hardy Plant Group.

I drove up Wednesday afternoon to meet my hosts at a lovely garden called Dart's Hill. Just a few minutes from the USA/Canadian border, we were blessed with stunning fall weather and the landscape was in full color. It felt a little weird being on a private tour, but it was quite an honor and to be told that members were looking forward to my talk was kind of cool! Made me a little nervous, but it was really nice of them to say.

Shortly after the garden visit, we headed over to White Rock for dinner and that's when the dense fog rolled in. As expected, though, the group was so kind, so polite and it was nice to see such an active club. Of course I was obviously the youngest person there (minus the AV/set up person to assist), but I was most surprised by the number of male members that were in attendance!

My talk for the South Surrey Garden Club was on "Autumn Appeal: Celebrating the change and color in the Fall Landscape".

Later in the evening, I endured the very thick fog that slowed my drive up to Vancouver, but I made it. It was quite exciting and so very generous of the Vancouver Hardy Plant Group to set me up for a few nights at a well known downtown hotel. I had a few days before my talk for the group so I took the time to sleep in, visit some favorite places, and reconnect with some friends.

I couldn't help but buy flowers and assemble a bouquet for my friends who I haven't seen in years!

Carpinus fangiana

Of course I had to hit up UBC Botanical Garden to see great colors, wonderful plants (including a tree that I'll always be so infatuated with every time I visit. Carpinus fangiana)

Walking through the woodlands, I was getting frustratrated with my camera not working properly and then I began to think, "I've been to this garden many times and I've loads of pictures"
I put the camera away and just tried to soak up all that was around me. Yes, being here is like work, but to be reminded from time to time that landscapes and plants are meant to be enjoyed as well. I didn't want to stress about documenting each plant and capturing the right photographs for future talks.


I made a pretty quick walk through the garden, but then managed to make it and explore my next destination. Van Dusen

Saturday arrived and so did the Vancouver Hardy Plant Group's Fall Study Day held at the HR MacMillan Space Centre . I was one of three speakers and, WOW, what a line up it was. I think I kind of let it get to me that I would be speaking after two well known speakers and I was a bit hard on myself after the talk, but I did what I could I'm just hoping my talk and story-telling about Fragrant Plants was well received.

Hiding behind the stage flowers as attendees sit down for the lectures.

David Culp spoke on his book, The Layered Garden, and closed out the day with a talk on Galanthus

Bill Terry gave a wonderful talk about embracing natives and working with our natural landscapes.

My sincerest thanks to the South Surrey Garden Club and the Vancouver Hardy Plant Group for this wonderful experience! 

Cheers,


Riz