Peek at Saori Weaving at Whitney

SAORI WEAVING

ADVANCED 3-D ART

cotton, wool, and misc. other yarns

Senior Karisma Dev has almost finished her major weaving project.  this is a close-up of one of 3 7 1/2 foot sections she has woven.  

Can't wait to show you the finished Sari sh'es turning this into.

7th Grade Collage Boxes & Pendants

7th COLLAGE BOXES W/ STAMEPED TISSUE AND WIRE PENDANTS

3RD QUARTER 7TH GRADERS

paper collage, ink, tissue and wire

My 7th graders continue to delight me with their creativity in choosing the papers to put together as they collage their boxes that house their wire pendants they made.

Now if I can just remember who made them  :)

I believe this first one was done by Emily Chen, she was definitely one of the superstars in that group of kids.

Not only did she complete her pendant but had extra time to make a cool ring. 

And then I remember being so impressed with Alexa Cruz for choosing to incorporate this web-like fiber along with her paper.

Both girls also brought content into their work, one of the most important parts in an artwork. 

Roger's Gardens with my Son

A couple of weeks ago my son called and asked me if I wanted to hang out and spend the day with him.

You betcha!

So Zach, being the Plant Scientist in the family, suggested we go to Roger's Gardens, one of my all time favorite places.

Our first stop were the Orchids.  

Roger's has an extensive collection that always seem to be in bloom, no matter when we visit. 

Here are a couple of shots of the ones that really caught my attention.

Next stop, the Bromeliad family.

I love their display ideas using old worn shutters.

And alongside were the anthuriums from Hawaii.

A soft & lovely pink variety.

The blooms were spectacular!

I adore this waterfall feature that I saw at Roger's last year.  

The birds were using it for a birdbath.

See the little bird at the end of the fall?

There was also a lot of people watching going on.

I found it fascinating to watch the wealthy trophy wive's shopping for the perfect plants for their yards with their personal gardeners.

Wow, to have that kind of money, and to be able to afford anything in the place!

The raised bed lettuce garden was ginormous, the selection of vegetables impressive (I bought for the first time asparagus plants) and the rose selection went on forever.

Several of the succulents were in bloom, and we saw many plants whose flowers were very exotic looking like the bush below.

Fuchsias hold a special place in my heart.  

My mother had a knack for growing them in our warm So. Cal. inland climate.  

They prefer the moisture from the ocean and thrive at Roger's which is located in Newport Beach, about a 1/2 mile from the Pacific.

The Japanese Maples were so delicate as their leaves were unfolding from their buds.

And the pink blossoms on this weeping willow were magnificent.

The cannas were in their full Easter glory...

and here is Zach checking out the flowers on this willow. 

We were especially impressed with how they were training this plant to wind up the pole.

And of course I couldn't leave the place without a picture of this beautiful arrangement of tulips.

I hope you enjoyed a peek at this magical place. 

Springtime on the Mountain

I'm hoping you won't get tired of all my postings on what's going on in our gardens, but I just enjoy the growing and blooming process so very much.  

My mother instilled in me and my son a love of nature and beauty.

A day cannot go by without a check on all that grows.

Everywhere I look seedlings and bulbs are coming up, some that I can identify, some I cannot.

Below I have a peony poking thru the ground, the other I have no clue.  :)

Here we have a hyacinth bulb in the center with daffodils surrounding it two months ago,

below the hyacinth bloomed last week. 

Above the tulips I planted in the fall are coming up...

Two weeks ago...

yesterday.

A neighbors tulips on the other side of the mountain.

The chickadees have returned to the birdhouse right outside the kitchen window, just as the post-it note had said they would, so I get to see them play.

And then this plant that I thought was a huge weed coming up everywhere on the mountain, turns out it has the most delicate purple stemmed flowers.

And a really nice surprise, ferns everywhere are raising their sweet heads above, and spreading their wings, below.

My tiny ornamental plum that I planted in the fall that lost it's leaves and I wasn't sure if it was going to make it, is full of life and color.

And the sweet cherry tree that actually had cherries on it when I planted it at the end of summer is in full bloom now.

But the best are the trees that skirt the front of the house's steps, the trees that were my mother's favorites that she was never able to grow in our So.Cal. weather of La Mirada, the lilacs.  

They are not only sprouting leaves...

but this week are in full bloom.  

I wish you were here to see these mom, but on second thought, I know you are with me, and are enjoying them as much as we are.

We're Surrounded!

When we moved into our little cabin this last August we found  little yellow post-its all over the house telling us the history of the place.  

On one of the post-its it said that the husband had planted between 2-300 daffodils around the cabin. 

And also, several of the neighbors told me the same thing, and to expect a real sight.

So lo and behold, beginning in early February, I started seeing little bulb heads peeking thru the soil.

And as the wild grass grew so did the daffodils...

until we were completely surrounded by brilliant shades of yellow.

I counted at least 6 different varieties, and for about a month I brought home huge bouquets every weekend.

Sadly, they are gone now, but I will have something very special to look forward to next year.