Sustaining Succulents

AGCC's Occupational Therapy department planned a succulent sale with the residents. The residents painted clay pots and repotted succulents from the Therapy Succulent Garden. The sale was a fun way to get residents involved with planting, pruning, cutting, and re planting succulents for container gardening. The money raised went to purchasing OT equipment for Arroyo Grande Care Center's Rehab. This is a fun way for OT patients to use their fine motor and cognitive skills in purposeful activities. Thanks to all the residents and staff at Arroyo Grande Care Center who made this sale successful. 

Happy Fathers Day

               

Today is Fathers Day. I have great memories of my Dad. He loved to tinker. He loved to garden. He loved getting his hands in the dirt. I woke up and prepared this mini shadow box for our AGCC succulent sale as a starter kit. My Dad enjoyed recycling small objects. My sister Anita stamped this box and I recycled it into a succulent starter kit. I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Succulent Beauties

The first and third photo shows the epi (epiphyllum) cactus. I recently transplanted it and put it in a smaller pot. The pot broke during the planting, so I propped it on its side, because I enjoyed the angle of the potted plant. I love gardens with unusual design elements. In the middle photo, I have the potted  plant in an old Pyrex dish. The top photo has an abalone shell for drama.

Magical Succulents

I like to grow succulents. They are slow growing, but in time, if you are patient, they produce beautiful results. They look great in a variety of pots and placed near step stones and unusual yard art and or antiques. I also love the various varieties and colors in the smaller gardens. A perfect solution for small yards with container garden planting.

Hand Painted Clothing by Pat Riley

Pat Riley is the real deal. She is what I think of, when I think about art.  She paints these amazing clothes and no two are alike. She paints jean shirts, cotton tees, vests, jackets, hoodies, and sweatshirts. I bought a blue tee and wore it to work at AGCC and the employees and patients loved her work. Pat is friendly and open about what inspires her art. You can find her in the garden at Spellbound Herbs on Burton Drive in the East Village of Cambria. You can call her studio at (805-927-4143). Get out and enjoy her hand painted clothing.

Kniphofia Uvaria

I am on a gardening roll. Just ask my husband and friends at work. I have been obsessing on California natives but came across this non native at one of the historical buildings in Cambria. The big beauty is near the side of Hidden Gate Antiques off of Main Street in Cambria. I found a variety of this at the Cambria Pines Nursery and Dan planted it in our garden. The plant is a grasslike finely toothed foilege that produces bare stems topped by nodding tubular flowers ranging from coral reds to oranges and yellows. The plants attrat hummingbirds. The plant is also called Red Hot Poker and Torch Lily. It originates from the Cape Province in South Africa.

"The Lunchbox" is FANTASTIC

This film is wonderful. The Lunchbox is Ritesh Batra's feature about a romance in Mumbai. Nimrat Kaar plays a neglected housewife and Irrfan Khan plays Mr. Fernandes a widowed office worker.  They communicate through handwritten letters and home-cooked meals. Do not miss this film. It is unforgettable.