Sculpture in the Gardens: World Pollinators Display

 

Pygmy Possum and Banksia Flower

When we visited the Descanso Botanical Gardens, last week, we were fascinated by the artwork we found in the model train area.  It was called, "World Pollinators" and featured sculptures created with various plant material, depicting a selection of pollinators and their host plants. 

Yucca Moth and Yucca Flower

Black and White Ruffed Lemur and Ravenala Flower

Day Gecko and Trochetia Flower

Long Tongued Fruit Bat and Banana Flower

Euglossa Bee and Vanilla Orchid

Male Mosquito and Blunt Leaf Orchid

Chocolate Midge and Cacao

Red Milkweed Beetle and Butterfly Milkweed

Honeycreeper and Lobelia Flower

Display Sign

I don't usually put links on my posts, but, I am providing a link to the website that provides additional information about the sculptures, the pollinators and their host plants here.

I loved this display.  My photos aren't the best, but I hope you enjoyed the sculptures.

New Composter

 

New Composter

One of the gifts my daughter gave me for Christmas is a composter!  In all my years of gardening and composting, I've either made compost heaps in the garden (mostly for the yard waste) or dug holes in the ground to fill with plant based kitchen scraps which get covered with soil and then, planted over with flowers or vegetables.  But, after falling in the garden several times, daughter was concerned about me falling on my trips to the compost pits, and bought me a rotating compost bin.  It has a dual compartment bin and two doors that slide open (not visible in the pictures I took of it).  You give the bin a slight downward push and it rotates and the composting kitchen scraps inside the bin tumble around which helps them break up.

Daughter assembled it on Christmas Day and I had her put it outside in the "patio" area, right next to the back steps:

Within easy reach of the back door

Having it near the back steps makes it easy to access, without having to go out into the garden.  Technically, I could even stand on the steps to drop the kitchen scraps into the bin (once the barrel is rotated to access the sliding doors).  

Thank you, Daughter, for my new composter.

Today, Monday, I contacted my primary care physician to discuss my concerns about my blood pressure spiking.  I had woken up feeling fine, but, when I checked my pressure, it was quite high.  Well above normal.  I didn't even have my usual morning cup of tea because I didn't want the caffeine to raise the pressure even more.  I asked the doctor if I should take a higher dose just to get the pressure back under control.  But, the doctor assured me that there was no cause for concern.  She said to continue to take the medication as I have been doing and there was no need to increase the dosage of the medication.  She also told me not to take my blood pressure as soon as I woke up, but, to do my morning routines, have my breakfast, etc., and then check the pressure.  She also told me to reduce my stress levels and that the pressure will stabilize again, over time. 

So, I took it very easy, today, and started on a new knitting project.  Knitting is a stress reliever for me (crochet is, too).  I decided I will knit a new sweater with yarn (100% wool) that I had already bought when it was on sale, back in 2023!  The medications and the knitting were a successful combination and kept my blood pressure under control.  

Daughter didn't let me do anything today!  She cleaned the fridge, took the kitchen and bathroom trash out, and took the big trash bins out to the curb, washed and put away the dishes, etc.  

I made myself a one egg omelet for breakfast (doctor had told me to eat more protein) and daughter picked greens from the garden to make us both a salad for lunch.  We had leftover almsgiving and Christmas food for dinner.  

On Monday, I was grateful for:

- The doctor's reassurance that the pressure spikes are nothing to be concerned about

- Access to medical care

- Daughter taking care of me

- A relaxed day of watching videos online and knitting

- My new composter

Monday's joyful activities included knitting!

Plans for Tuesday include going for a blood test.  Daughter will go with me, just in case she's needed.

How was your Monday?  What are your plans for Tuesday?

A Visit to the Botanical Gardens - Part 2

 

The Ancient Forest

The Ancient Forest featured specimens of some prehistoric trees including cycads, tree ferns, and Coast Redwood trees.

The Ancient Forest

Coast Redwood (Sequoia)

It was quite shady in the Ancient Forest:

Tree Canopy at the Edge of the Ancient Forest

There were several paths going through the Ancient Forest and benches along the way:

Benches Along the Way

Cycad (Sago Palm)

Coast Redwood with Twin Trunks

And while I took pictures of the trees in the Ancient Forest, my daughter took some pictures of me taking pictures of the trees (I had no idea she was doing that, until she shared her pictures with me!)

Picture That!

We didn't explore the Ancient Forest in depth, but, there were lots of interesting plants to see, including these cycads:

Cycads

And several water ways:

One of the Waterways

Then, walked through part of the Camellia Forest:

Part of the Camellia Forest

There were several areas marked as Camellia Forest in the map of the Gardens that we had, and most of the trees were not in bloom.  But, I imagine the place looks magical when all the camellia trees are flowering.

These camellia bushes, however, were flowering:

A Portion of the Camellia Forest

We then took a path that led us back to the area in front of the Japanese Garden and we walked past the amphitheater and the Main Lawn to a location identified as "Center Circle" in the map.  There was a table and bench formed from two slices of  tree trunk and we sat down to rest for a bit.

Tree Trunk Table Top

Directly in front of us was the center circle, which featured water-wise gardening.  It was planted with a variety of water-wise, drought tolerant plants, and repurposed fountains.  I was most interested in this planter in the shape of a fish, with a plant growing out of its mouth:

Fish Pond Fountain Turned Planter

There are actually two fish planters, but, the other one can't be seen from this angle.  They were, apparently, fountain heads in a pond, at one time.  They were moved to the Center Circle and planted with water-wise plants!  Very creative!

We were near the area with model trains and a small scale ride on train, that is mostly an amusement ride for children, I believe.  The general admission tickets didn't include a train ride, and neither my daughter nor I was interested in it.  We had another destination in mind and after our brief rest, we headed out in that direction.  But, that's for another post!  

Once more, I am most grateful for M for this wonderful birthday gift!

Waste Not!

Newly Mended Towel

Back in August, 2021, I mended a small hand towel that had frayed, by sewing a binding around it.

Towel Mending: August 2021

Fast forward to 2025 and the same towel was starting to tear, again, this time, where the binding had been sewn:

The Towel Frays, Again

The towel is a little more worn out now, getting a bit thin in places, but, it is still useful for mopping up some spilled water, for wiping out the bathroom sink, for drying my feet after I wash them, etc.  I didn't want to toss it in the trash, yet, as it still had some useful life in it, in my opinion.  So, I decided to mend it, yet again.  I cut off the earlier binding, trimmed the edges of the towel, cut some bias binding from a piece of fabric I had in my fabric stash, and sewed a new binding.  The result is a mended towel that can be used a few more times.

Torn Bed Sheet

Then, there is this floral patterned flannel bed sheet that tore in the wash, last week.   It is a sheet that I had bought for my mother and after her death in 2006, my daughter started to use it.  Tt was worn out beyond being patched and mended:

Quite Worn Out

What to do with it?  Should I toss it?  Could I reuse it?  It was beyond being mended, but, could I do something else with it?  If so, what?  Cut it up and make cleaning cloths with it?  Maybe I could use it to put on the bottom of Dancer's carrier - I usually put a folded towel to cushion him and to absorb anything he might throw up, etc.  Maybe I could make a little carrier pad for him.

I folded it in such a way that the torn parts of the sheet were inside and sewed the edges:

Padded Mat for Dancer's Carrier

It looked like a little pillow.  But, I wasn't sure how well it would survive being washed.  My friend suggested covering it with another fabric and that's what I did!  I had some leftover flannel from sewing a nightdress several years ago (in March, 2015).  I needed to "piece out the fabric" as they say, sewing several pieces together to make the fabric wide enough, but, Dancer now has a new pillow/padded mat for his carrier:

Dancer's New Padded Mat

The whole thing can be washed in the machine and it wouldn't matter if the sheet inside shreds even more because the outer cover will keep everything in place.  Another household item that could have been tossed, but, was recycled and reused.  I am very pleased with my efforts to reduce waste. Plus, I had fun sewing.  

What do you think?

The Front Garden in July

The Front Garden in July

The front garden is mostly parched, as I have been watering the back and not the front.  However, I did water it, today.  
 

Looking Down the Sidewalk

I've left the old osteospermum plants in place, but, they are mostly dead.  

A Lot of Cleaning Up Needed

The lantana plants are not flowering, but, they are still mostly green.

Parched by the Sun

This plant (above), which had silver-grey foliage, indicating it is drought tolerant, has dropped most of its leaves.  I still don't know what type of plant it is and neither does M, who gave it to me, but, M said it has blue flowers.  

The Succulents in the Circle

The succulents are, for the most part, doing very well.  Except for the aeoniums, which get scorched, every year.

Scorched Aeonium

The stumpery doesn't care how hot or dry it gets.

The Stumpery

The mixed border along the front of the house, with the pomegranate tree at one end and the climbing red rose at the other end, with a mixture of asparagus ferns, osteospermum, Peruvian lilies, and gladioli in between, remains green, for the most part.  It looks untidy, but, the plants are doing well.

Mixed Border with Asparagus Ferns

Another plant that is doing well in the summer heat is the rosemary bush.  This is the one that is growing in the front garden, not the one with the twisted stems that is growing in the back garden.

Rosemary Bush

That is the front garden at the end of July.  A bit sad looking, I know, but, I've cut back on the watering to twice a week because I'm focusing on the fruits and vegetables in the back garden.

The Front Garden in February

The Front Garden in February (2/24)

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in February, will you come for a stroll in the front garden with me?

Osteospermum mxed in with the Lantana

I am encouraging them to grow wherever they consent to grow!

More Osteospermum (Self-Seeded)

The euryops bushes, growing at the base of the eucalyptus tree, are also flowering; I love their bright yellow daisy-like flowers:

Euryops

Euryops - Close Up

Between the eucalyptus tree and the fence with the neighbors, I have what I call my succulents circle, with the jacaranda tree in the middle, and aloes and aeoniums growing around it:

Succulents Circle

The aloe flowers are coming to an end, with just a few flowers left at the very end of the stalks:

Aloe Flowers

This is one of my favorite succulent plants:

Aeonium "Sunburst"

Along the fence, I have what I call the succulents border, with many different succulents growing along it:

Some of the Succulents Along the Border

Last year, M brought me a different type of succulent plant from his garden, with "leaves" that look like spring onion tops (I've forgotten the name; maybe a species of bulbine?).  We planted it at the front of the succulents border and it has some flower stalks, now!

It looks like Spring Onions, doesn't it?

I will ask M what the name of this plant is, on Wednesday.  In thee meantime, I took a close up of the flower stalks (still in bud):

Flower Stalks (still in bud)

At the other end of the front garden, in the planting bed along the driveway, the newer rosemary bush is full of flowers and the bees are going crazy!

Rosemary Bush in Flower and a Bee

I no longer have grass growing in what used to be a lawn, but, I have a mostly water-wise garden in the front and I am content.  

I am grateful for:

- Having a place to garden
- M's help with the garden
- The many water-wise plants I have

- The rain we've had
- Flowers for the bees (and the butterflies, too)

Yellow Butterfly on the Lantana Flowers

It's not the best picture, but, it was hard to photograph this butterfly with its wings spread out in flight.

I hope you enjoyed the stroll around the front garden.  We'll walk around the back garden on Sunday!