Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Little Baja

I’m not a terra-cotta fan. I realize that the drainage is spectacular, and I really should be planting my agaves in terra-cotta for that reason alone. But I’m just not drawn to it the way I am to colorful glazed containers. Maybe that’s why it’s taken me 6 years to stop at Little Baja, a terra-cotta wonderland. It really is (a terra-cotta wonderland). They have every shape and size. And BIG bonus points in my book for all of the aged "green" specimens throughout. I do love the simple shape of this one. And at $24.99 it’s a good price. Here it is aged and planted, even better. You want toes? No problem. Shoes? Got those too. And next door in the statuary annex you can even get a little cherub peeing, if you are into that sort of thing. I do love this tiki totem! Perhaps this is the garden “art” I’ve been holding out for… Forget the items on the cart for $5….I want the cart! There were even a few interesting metal bits. Here’s the address…should you be in Portland and be in the market for terra-cotta and want to visit... If you're curious and want to see a little more Lauren, from Beyond Garden Design, recently visited too and has lovely pictures on her blog: http://beyondgardendesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/on-recent-trip-to-little-baja.html

12 comments:

  1. Ha! Love the shoes... I would have a hard time visiting that place. Would surely blow my budget some of those pretty planters.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't tell you how many times I've driven by there and thought "I have to go in there one of these days." Seeing those few non-terracotta pots I might have to: glazed pots are getting harder to afford, and maybe it's just me, but it seems that many places don't have the selection they've had in years past.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Nekkid" terra cotta doesn't do a lot for me, but I certainly agree with you about the aged specimens. They soften beautifully into a garden.

    ReplyDelete
  4. We have a chimney we bought from there and LOVE it!!! We use it all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  5. My partner actually got me a birdbath from there for my brithday...not sure it's EXACTLY the one I would have chose, but it was sweet! We went there later to check them out, and they do have an interesting assortment of stuff. I do like plain terra cotta, but he doesn't...and sadly, their glazed stuff was pretty $$$.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Loree, We're gonna have to fight over those tikis!! J.K. aren't they great!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. 15th and Burnside, huh? Well this means you probably have to decide ahead of time that you're going there--be in the right lane, etc. Great stuff. I love the metal thingie.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have way more terra-cotta than glazed here Loree, for years it was a price issue . Love the way it gets moss and aged too. I only started buying glazed in the last couple of years-an employee discount helps !

    ReplyDelete
  9. Shoes get my vote. I'd have to have a whole closet full!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kate, you know the prices are really pretty good!

    MulchMaid, I finally stopped at 7-Dees on Powell today, and they had a good (expensive) container selection. The best part was they also had a 50% off area...limited colors and shapes of course.

    Patricia, seems about the time they get good and aged they also freeze and crack over winter.

    Lacy, funny there was one in our backyard when we looked at our house. I wonder if it came from there too? Theirs looked like it had never been used though (and what's the point then eh?)

    scott, isn't that the worst? They've tried...and they are so close but it just isn't exactly right.

    Lauren, they are! you have great taste in tikis!

    Grace, actually it's not a real busy section of Burnside. What finally got me int here was the fact that the husband wanted to visit Columbia Art across the street. I jay-walked over.

    ks, oh yes...employee discounts are fabulous! I miss my 40% off at all Williams Sonoma Co stores (there was no West Elm in those days but W.S., Pottery Barn (when it was still good), and Hold Everything pretty much covered the bases).

    compost, oh god! YOU need these...you could literally have compost in your shoes! (sorry)

    ReplyDelete
  11. The one terra cotta pot that I bought there has held up better than any of the others...I have never been truly diligent in their winter care. I think the one from Baja is a bit thicker than most.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Be careful shopping for terra cotta. There are high fire clays and low fire clays. Low fire clays will not stand up to freezes, or even frosts.

    I bought a low fire pot when I moved to Phoenix and it's disintegrating from the bottom up. Very sad.

    I guess I would recommend only buying a few pots, and watching how they weather.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!