Thankful for my plant people

Happy day after Thanksgiving, or as I like to call it... the beginning of the Christmas season! The holiday decorating is in full swing here and festive music fills the house. I thought I'd take advantage of the holiday cheer to note how thankful I am for all of my plant people, those I know and visit with in real life, as well as those of you out there in the world wide web, who visit and comment here. Today's post is clearing out a bit of a backlog of people and plant photos that Andrew's given me over the last few years. You know I love to make up stories to go with these photos, but for some reason I just couldn't come up with a satisfactory (post-worthy) tale for these. Not that I can't share a line or two...

Is that Bing Crosby? Sure looks like his stunt double. You know Bing grew up in Spokane (my hometown).

This woman (my apologies), but I see the Wicked Witch of the West. No doubt she's a wonderful woman and I should be ashamed of myself for typing that.

 

Here I love the absolute whiteness of her dress, almost ghostly.

These two are such a handsome couple, so stylish! I wish I knew where the photo was taken, and why there are so many rocks!

This pair (mother and son?) caught between the columnar cactus and the paddle cactus. One looks a little worried, the other cool as a cucumber.

The Bit at the End

Speaking of plant people, this story—The Curious Story of Curious Flora Nursery—is the wonderful tale of how Annie's Annuals reopened as Curious Flora. It makes my heart happy. 

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All material © 2009-2025 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

I'm not celebrating, are you?

Today is July 4th, Independence Day, the day we stop to enjoy a summer picnic or barbecue and celebrate our great nation with a parade and fireworks, yay us! Only not so much anymore. It no longer feels like we're the home of the free and the brave. The United States of America is now a place of hate, greed and ugliness.

I've never been a big flag-waver, but at least I felt some pride in what my country stood for ("in our America"), what the generations that came before fought for. Now I fear for what the generations coming after are going inherit. This America is no longer one I recognize.

What does this photo have to do with the day? Nothing really. Other than I've always loved her expression. She knows bullshit when she hears it. She suffers no fools. She knows what really matters. BTW, this is not one of the many plant-based black and white photos Andrew has given me over the years. Nope, I picked up this one up myself, back in my 20's. She looked like the kind of older lady I hoped to become one day. 

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Looking at plants...

My birthday was last weekend and I received a fresh batch of vintage plant and people photos from Andrew. Also, I'm just back from the whirlwind Garden Fling in the Puget Sound area where spent a lot of time looking at plants, so this one seemed like a good picture to share today. Of course none of those plants were cholla, but there were agaves, a few cactus, and many gunnera and hydrangea. Most importantly there were a lot of fabulous people!

I've never been one to rush home and start posting about the Fling gardens, in fact I still have adventures from last year's Fling in Philly to post! But I'm sure the 18 gardens (and one cool garden market) I visited over the 4 days of the Puget Sound Fling will work their way into my posts over the coming weeks and months. Meanwhile, I've got some plants to water! (huh, I don't think I've ever gotten a vintage photo of someone watering their garden...)

If you're curious about the Garden Fling read more on the Fling website, here. Next year will be held in Memphis, TN on June 5-8, maybe you'll be there?

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Taking a vacation day...

I'm just not feeling it today. The heat, the holiday, the state of the union. I'm taking a vacation day and going out to talk to the birds in my garden, although mine are black crows instead of white doves (and I think I'll leave my handbag in the house). If you're reading in the U.S. I hope you had a good Independence Day without too many explosions. Stay cool and hydrated!

This is another of the many vintage photos Andrew has given me over the years.

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Jimmy and the cactus, a sort of Christmas tale

It’s November 1951 and Jimmy and his mom are headed to Mexico for the winter, as is tradition since his mom started dating that new guy...

Jimmy didn’t want to go. He wanted to stay with his Dad, back home in NYC, where he'd be with his friends and play ice hockey, throw snowballs at girls and smoke stolen cigarettes. He can’t believe he’s standing in front of this stupid cactus, wearing this stupid sweater*, and headed to stupid Mexico. 

Jimmy grows up to be a scrooge and hate Christmas (he also hates the desert and never wears sweaters), that is until he falls in love with a girl who loves Christmas. Jimmy and Joy marry on Christmas Eve, they honeymoon in Connecticut and settle down in New York.

When, in 1970, Jimmy and Joy welcome their first child, they name her Karen, after the young heroine in the Rankin-Bass animated Christmas special Frosty the Snowman, which was narrated by Jimmy’s namesake uncle, Jimmy Durante. They go on to open a successful chain of refrigerated warehouses in New York state. Karen (their only child) eventually moves to New Mexico and opens a small nursery specializing in cactus. When her parents come to visit one Christmas her dad realizes his horrible mistake all those many years ago and falls in love with the desert. The End.

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*the Frosty Snowman sweater Jimmy is wearing in the photo was a gift from his grandparents, Rosa and Bartolomeo Durante. It commemorates their son Jimmy’s recording of Frosty the Snowman, released in 1950. 

Yes this is another invented interpretation of one of the many black and white photos my husband has given me over the years, I hope you enjoyed my creative narrative, which—other than the fact Jimmy Durante did the narration and recording of Frosty the Snowman—is completely made up.

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All material © 2009-2023 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Visiting gardens makes me happy

I just returned from a week in Philadelphia, aka America's Garden Capital. The 2023 Garden Blogger's Fling was held there and that meant four days of intense garden touring organized by Karl Gercens, garden traveler extraordinaire and conservatory manager at Longwood Gardens. Andrew and I arrived early and I spent another two days touring on my own. I'm wiped out and can't wait to tell you all about it—just as soon as I recover.

This lady enjoying a garden visit is another of the many vintage photos Andrew has given me over the years, I thought her expression adequately expressed the joy of garden touring and she would have fit right in with the GBFling crowd! 

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All words © 2009-2023 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

It's Labor Day, you know what that means...

No silly, not the end of summer—it means put away your white pants. You won't be needing those again until Memorial Day Weekend 2024. 

Seriously though, looking at this photo (another that Andrew bought me, love those bananas) I got to wondering exactly where that fashion "rule" came from. Most online sources I found said it was a way for old money rich to distance themselves from others, especially the nouveau riche. White clothing was seen as vacation wear, and the fact they had the funds for a vacation, let alone a wardrobe for vacationing, helped to illustrate their status. But they were sure adopt a heavier, darker wardrobe after Labor Day, and looked down on those tacky enough to still be wearing white. I also read that white clothing identified people who didn't have to get dirty in the course of their day. Poor people and laborers wore darker colors to disguise the wear and tear. 

As for summer being over... you know how I feel about that...

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How many men does it take to trim a palm tree?

Evidently it takes four. Three to stand around, and one to climb the ladder. A very tall ladder. Oh my. Why aren't any of those men on the ground paying attention to that guy way up there at the top?

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Is this thing sharp?

This photo could easily have been of be me, after all I have to touch all the plants—especially the sharp spiky ones. 

What I am really wondering though, are those flowers impaled on the tip of the agave? Did she put them there? Or is she discovering them? It's a mystery...

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Even the Huntington Garden was once open and airy...

This planting is almost unrecognizable to any of us that have visited the Desert Garden at the Huntington Garden in San Marino, CA. While the specimens are sizable, there is so much open space around them, and the pathway so narrow and defined.

I wish there was a date, a post-mark, something that would help me place the era. I did a few searches but came up empty handed.

Yes, this is another of the post cards from Andrew, I might frame it.

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You can't take her anywhere!

I don't remember when or where I learned of the unwritten rule that says you don't take photos of your fellow gardeners with their bums in the air, but honestly it's a good one; do unto others and all that.

However, since I didn't take this photo and I don't know the "Gram" with her bum in the air...

Here's what it says on the back of the photo. Evidently Gram had sticky fingers...

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Alaskan inspiration

Kenneth Egawa—a friend I haven't seen in ages (at least since the late 1990's) but I am connected with on Facebook—recently posted some vacation photos, a Holland America Line Alaskan cruise. I've never had any interest in visiting Alaska, but one of his photos is definitely going in my inspiration file...

Isn't that fabulous!? Ken says the planters are trees that came down during a storm, the nursery (and a garden, see below) sunk them in the ground upside down and plants perennials on the root mass each year. Crazy cool right?!?

*UPDATE, commenter Elaine identified the location as Mendenhall Gardens in Juneau, Alaska. Thanks Elaine!*

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Photo by Kenneth Egawa and used with permission. Words © 2009-2022 by Loree L Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

The lady and the agave

Andrew tells me that vintage photos of agaves are extremely hard to come by. There are lots of cactus, houseplants, botanic gardens. Search for agaves though and the selection is narrowed. This one came to be mine on my last birthday (see prior plant focused photos he's given me be searching the label photo quickie). I love her expression, it looks like she's smiling at the agave, rather than the photographer.

Is the agave hers? Or did she sit down on the steps to pose as they were passing by? Where was the photo taken? The steps (especially those to the left in the background) have me thinking of NYC, but really it could be a shot from any urban area. The container is unusual*, and there's no date. Anything offer up clues to you?

* I received an email from Roger Gossler who tells me that container is a soy tub, his family had them in the early 1960's, he assumes they came from Japan via San Francisco where his dad found them.

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All material © 2009-2022 by Loree L Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Mystery is the key...

I pulled this quote from a Jess Walter book I recently finished, I believe it was Over Tumbled Graves. You would think I'd have noted the name of the book when I recorded the quote, but at the time I was sure I would remember it. Alas unless it's the name of a plant my memory fades (and even then...). Anyway, the quote:

"Like all people, they realized too late that mystery was the key to staying interested in the whole business, to distracting themselves from the surety of what came next..." 

"Next" (to my way of thinking) could be many things; the job you get up and go to everyday but no longer enjoy, the relationship you're in that's going nowhere, and then of course there is death. 

I am still working through the layers of grief involved in loosing my dad, all the things I wish I would have thought to talk with him about. My dad was a master at making light of just about everything though, not getting too serious. An excellent method of distraction. 

Gardening is many things for me, one of them certainly is a method of distraction. I think it was one of dad's too. Anything that can absorb every minute you let it—and give back so much—is an excellent distraction. Also, is there anything as mysterious as gardening? Well okay a few things, but it's up there near the top.

"mystery was the key to staying interested in the whole business"... 

You could substitute the word curiosity. Curiosity is my natural response to mystery, and without curiosity, what is the point, really? Anyway, rambling thoughts to accompany a slightly mysterious image, another gift from my husband.

All material © 2009-2022 by Loree L Bohl for danger garden, except the quote from Jess Walter; who by the way is not only from Spokane (my hometown), but he also attended my high school, graduating just a year ahead of me. It's a small world after all. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

This is the cactus...

Yes, it's time to share a couple of black and white photos from the archives, well, the archives that consist of photos Andrew has given me as gifts over the years. This one seems remarkable for the good times these four ladies are having standing in front of a saguaro.

When you turn the photo over you learn that the saguaro hurt one of them, but which one? My first thought was the lady in front, after all she's dabbing at a tear, but that could be a tear from laughter. Now look at the lady on the far left, in white. She is kind of wincing, and holding her hand. I guess it will remain a mystery...

When I was making up imaginative stories to go with my black and white photos (here, here, here) I kept trying to come up with one that did this woman justice, but I never did. White gloves and shoes. a hat, a small handbag—she was dressed for the occasion. But what was the occasion? There are no notes on the back of the photo, no indication where in the world she is. What would you say?

All material © 2009-2022 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

People and cactus; a few photos

While I had great fun making up stories to go with some of the vintage photos Andrew has given me (here, here, here), I found myself hesitant to do so when the subject of the photo was simply people standing by cactus. Why? Because it felt uncomfortable to speculate on what brought them to these places. Were Elmer and Ruth happy to be posing here? They don't look particularly happy, but they are definitely snappy dressers.

This lady looks happy though. Did she plant this cactus, or was she just pleased to see it?

Ditto for this little girl, she looks quite happy with the huge blooms she's been asked to show off.

Like the others, this lady hails from a time when women wore dresses, and pumps! I love that her handbag is just to the side.

No dress here though. She's a rebel this one!

All material © 2009-2022 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

And then you jump...

One of my brothers moved to Phoenix, back in 2000 I think it was. We were both living in Spokane at the time, I was horribly sad to see him go—and a little jealous. I'd escaped to Seattle in the early 1990's, but then moved back to Spokane because I missed my family, and I was tired of working so hard to just barely be making it. I wanted to own a home and that was possible in Spokane, even if it meant leaving Zone 8 for Zone 5/6 (depending). Prior to his move I'd spent time in the Phoenix area for work and loved the climate and plant life there, so I couldn't wait to visit him. 

Anyway, that's the backstory. In my memory, on my first visit, after he picked me up at the airport he drove us to a vacant lot he'd discovered that was full of Cholla just like these...

We marveled at their exotic beauty, two kids from Eastern Washington. Then he told me about their reputation for jumping, sure enough before we got back in the car we both had pieces attached to our legs, despite walking very carefully through the plants.

I haven't been to Arizona since 2018. I cannot wait to go back! Also, I don't remember how I came to own this old post card, it's not one that Andrew gave me. It's a mystery...

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My alternate early life in Monrovia, CA

I was a blond baby, a towhead. It wasn’t just the baby years either, that blond hair lasted into my toddler years and beyond. This however, is not a photo of me—although it looks a lot like my mom when she was just a little girl.

The photo appeared on our fridge one winter’s day. Andrew bought it because to him it looked like me—a girl happy to be outside—the California kid version, if I’d grown up somewhere with palm trees (there are no palm trees in Eastern Washington). What he didn’t know is that at that age I was all dresses all the time. I refused to wear pants. Funny now I haven’t worn anything but pants in at least 10 years… 

Here’s another photo from Andrew, well a postcard actually. It’s my dream opuntia tree. I would be thrilled to have this in my garden.

The back of the post card. I think it says “Monrovia 25ft high”. So, in my alternate California life perhaps I live in Monrovia, CA, with my 25 ft tall opuntia tree?

Today is Memorial Day here in the USA, what my grandparents used to call Decoration Day because it was the day you decorated the graves of your loved ones (I know for many it's about military dead but that's not how I understood the day growing up). Andrew and I will be making a trip home to Spokane soon—finally an opportunity to see my parents, after COVID has kept us apart for more than 18 months. Sadly it will also be an opportunity to memorialize, and bury my mother's brother, my Uncle Har who we lost last month. He wasn't a COVID casualty but because of COVID we weren't able to see him after our visit of December 2019. Hug your loved ones, you just never know.

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All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

I’m listening, I don’t agree, but I’m listening

I’m listening to you. I’ve got my hands folded, just so. I’m willing them to stay put, to not move about, to not gesture, to not reach out and grab you.

I’m trying to make sure my body language says that I understand, that I want to hear more. It’s hard to not laugh though, as you tell me how you think this place (this dry ugly place) is worth your time and your energy.

(you call those plants! you call this a garden?! none of it is very nice, none of it is beautiful) 

My face tries to betray me, I will it to remain neutral. I listen, I try, to understand. But I can’t. This alien landscape hurts my heart. You need to come home with me, now. Come back to Kansas, Dorothy. Back to the land you know, that we know. Stop fooling yourself, the desert is not where you belong. Remember, there’s no place like home, this, this desert, it’s just a bad dream Dorothy…

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(Yes this is another attempt at an inventive interpretation of one of the many black and white photos my husband has given me over the years, I hope you enjoyed my creative narrative)

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Weather Diary, April 19: Hi 73, Low 45/ Precip 0 

All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Sent to the West Coast...

Anthony always knew he was headed for the big time; the only question was, whether this meant big time East Coast U.S.A. style, or back home, in Italy. As "luck" would have it, neither one. Anthony was sent out to the West Coast, to oversee the burgeoning tuna trade and make sure it was all under family control. San Diego, who ever heard of San Diego?

Turns out San Diego's Little Italy was exactly the vibrant community Anthony needed to thrive, while simultaneously making his family proud. While in San Diego he also discoved a passion for plants and gardening. Here Anthony stands in front of one of his favorite agaves at Balboa Park. Anthony disappeared just 3 months after this photo was taken. Rumor has it a rival family was ready to take over the tuna trade and Anthony ended up buried throughout the park… fertilizer for the very plants he adored.

***Yes this is another attempt at an inventive interpretation of one of the many black and white photos my husband has given me over the years, I hope you enjoyed my "creative narrative"...***

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Weather Diary, March 17: Hi 62, Low 32/ Precip 0 

 All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.