Everyone must either know this or be able to search for it by now, but in case there is one person who doesn't, the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society has a web page where they host a number of pertinent videos.
http://cnps-scv.org/index.php/education/presentations
That's all.
Showing posts with label links. Show all posts
Showing posts with label links. Show all posts
2014-08-18
Pete Veilleux - native plant gardens on Pinterest
Follow Pete's garden pins at http://www.pinterest.com/ho2cultcha/california-native-gardens/.
I guess that many of the photos are his own. This one jumped out at me because it seemed a signature container style of his. see https://flic.kr/p/o5Gw7v
Pete is the owner of east bay wilds.
My pins (not of Ca native plants, yet) are located at http://www.pinterest.com/brentamorgan/
I guess that many of the photos are his own. This one jumped out at me because it seemed a signature container style of his. see https://flic.kr/p/o5Gw7v
Pete is the owner of east bay wilds.
My pins (not of Ca native plants, yet) are located at http://www.pinterest.com/brentamorgan/
2012-02-16
Naomi Klein on climate change public policy
Here's an article on climate change policy and politics that appeared in the November 28th edition of The Nation. My friend Mark drew it to my attention recently. It has a clear synthesis of current and (recent) past politics related to global warming as well as a manifesto for green action. Given the time between the article's publication and now, it should be clear that I don't follow global warming policy discussion on a regular basis. Perhaps because of this, much of the article's reasoning seemed fresh to me and I found it insightful.
Indeed, if you ask the Heartlanders [climate change deniers], climate change makes some kind of left-wing revolution virtually inevitable, which is precisely why they are so determined to deny its reality. Perhaps we should listen to their theories more closely—they might just understand something the left still doesn’t get....
[Close to 4000 words snipped out]
In short, climate change supercharges the pre-existing case for virtually every progressive demand on the books, binding them into a coherent agenda based on a clear scientific imperative....
[hundreds more words]
Capitalism vs. the Climate
Capitalism vs. the Climate
2011-01-01
Christmas Holly 101 and Living Wild
...are the names of two web sites that I'm looking at right now.
Christmas Holly is one of the common names for Heteromeles arbutifolia, also known as Toyon. It's a native shrub that has distinctive red berries and it's said to have been the "holly" in Hollywood.
Christmas Holly 101
Living Wild is a wiki that focuses on food, medicine, and landscape plants native to the Sierra.
Living Wild
Thanks to the Gardening with Natives email list for the links.
Christmas Holly is one of the common names for Heteromeles arbutifolia, also known as Toyon. It's a native shrub that has distinctive red berries and it's said to have been the "holly" in Hollywood.
Christmas Holly 101
Living Wild is a wiki that focuses on food, medicine, and landscape plants native to the Sierra.
Living Wild
Thanks to the Gardening with Natives email list for the links.
2010-11-01
Walking in LA
I came across Where the Sidewalk Starts blog today and found it an interesting read. I have to confess that I was searching for the straight skinny on how I (as a motorist) need to yield to pedestrians. I found that information in a post titled "A Confession A primer on the finer details of crosswalk law."
2009-09-24
Blogs I'm reading
I've been enjoying On the public record blog. It reads like an op-ed in the local paper, but larded with links to actual facts and figures. Topics seem to revolve around water public policy and natural resources stewardship with occasional jabs thrown mostly at the right, so if that floats your boat you might want to browse it.
2009-09-18
Gottlieb garden
An LA Times article by Emily Green, The Dry Garden: A visit with Susan Gottlieb and a landscape that sings with color, scent and birds led me to the Gotleib garden web site. Susan Gottlieb is on the Payne Foundation native garden tour, but I have not been to see her garden in person.
2009-09-15
You say Zauschneria I say Epilobium
There's a nice article on California fuschias over at the SF Chronicle.
It seems more botanical than most general interest newspaper articles.
California fuchsias are not true fuchsias, although they are also members of the evening primrose family. The name Zauschneria (named after a Professor Zauschner of Prague) is used in older books for a handful of California species with trumpet-shaped red flowers and green to furry gray foliage.
The Munz and Keck book "California Flora," published in 1959, recognized Z. cana from the Central and Southern California coasts, septentrionale from Humboldt and Mendocino counties, garrettii from the Mojave Desert and californica from much of the rest of the state.
Then in 1976, Peter Raven, renowned conservation advocate and evening primrose specialist, proposed combining Zauschneria with the fireweeds and willow-herbs in the larger genus Epilobium. Although the plants don't look much alike, Raven found similarities in their hairy seed coats and other features.
Botanists have generally accepted the change, although some are still cranky about it. Despite that snarl of consonants in the middle of "zauschneria," we were used to it.
Somewhere along the way, californica and garrettii merged into cana, and the species' genders changed to conform with the new genus. That leaves Epilobium canum and E. septentrionale as the last California fuchsias standing.
Read the whole thing at link.
It seems more botanical than most general interest newspaper articles.
California fuchsias are not true fuchsias, although they are also members of the evening primrose family. The name Zauschneria (named after a Professor Zauschner of Prague) is used in older books for a handful of California species with trumpet-shaped red flowers and green to furry gray foliage.
The Munz and Keck book "California Flora," published in 1959, recognized Z. cana from the Central and Southern California coasts, septentrionale from Humboldt and Mendocino counties, garrettii from the Mojave Desert and californica from much of the rest of the state.
Then in 1976, Peter Raven, renowned conservation advocate and evening primrose specialist, proposed combining Zauschneria with the fireweeds and willow-herbs in the larger genus Epilobium. Although the plants don't look much alike, Raven found similarities in their hairy seed coats and other features.
Botanists have generally accepted the change, although some are still cranky about it. Despite that snarl of consonants in the middle of "zauschneria," we were used to it.
Somewhere along the way, californica and garrettii merged into cana, and the species' genders changed to conform with the new genus. That leaves Epilobium canum and E. septentrionale as the last California fuchsias standing.
Read the whole thing at link.
2009-09-08
Cougarmagic
From the Public Eye blog comes a link to an interesting blog featuring local fauna: http://www.cougarmagic.com/
For the prurient-minded, "Cougarmagic has nothing whatsoever to do with dressing like a skank, having big hair, a fake tan, and trying to pick up 20 year old men in bars."
For the prurient-minded, "Cougarmagic has nothing whatsoever to do with dressing like a skank, having big hair, a fake tan, and trying to pick up 20 year old men in bars."
2009-06-10
Friends / Amigos of the Dominguez Watershed
I've been blogging over at Friends / Amigos of the Dominguez Watershed recently. You ought to check that blog out too.
2009-06-09
Emily Green blog
Emily Green, a journalist that I eagerly read in the LA Times, has her own blog. It's called Chance of Rain. I only just became aware of it but it looks like it's only been a going concern since May, so I'm not too far behind the vanguard.
2009-04-22
Web comics I like
I've been following Indexed for a while and my brother just sent me a link to xkcd.
A mentor at work has liked Weirdass Comics but you have to really commit to enjoy it, which might explain why I never did.
A mentor at work has liked Weirdass Comics but you have to really commit to enjoy it, which might explain why I never did.
2009-04-16
Goring gardening's sacred oxen
I followed another blog to Linda Chalker-Scott's web site. She's a University Extension Urban Horticulturist at Puyallup Research and Extension Center and Associate Professor of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Washington State University.
Of interest to me today were the extensive selection of articles that she's written dispelling common garden myths dating back 9 years.
Try her take on this garden chestnut, "When transplanting trees or shrubs into landscapes, amend the backfill soil with organic matter."
Of interest to me today were the extensive selection of articles that she's written dispelling common garden myths dating back 9 years.
Try her take on this garden chestnut, "When transplanting trees or shrubs into landscapes, amend the backfill soil with organic matter."
2009-02-11
Dominguez watershed group
There's something new and exciting afoot in my neighborhood. Back on 17 November, 2007, I wrote about an idea I had for greening the Dominguez Channel. During the process of thinking the idea through, I made contact with local watershed guru Jessica Hall, a former Hawthorne resident, who was receptive to the idea. I tried to plant the idea with local government, but I wasn't a strong enough champion, the timing was poor, and it languished.
Still the idea was out there like a seed that needed just the right conditions, and on 26 Jan of this year it started to grow roots: I received a message from Rosalie Preston, who was interested in seeing some park / bikepath / nature functionality restored to the flood control channels in her neighborhood near Harbor Gateway. Rosalie is much more dedicated than I - she had made contact with her local water management boards and personnel. A series of emails followed. I brought Jessica into the conversation. Jessica brought Viviana.
Today I had the privilege of meeting Jessica Hall, Viviana Franco, and Rosalie Preston and we talked for a couple hours about how to transplant the successes of other local watersheds to the Dominguez channel. I think that good things will come of this.
Look for more at the LA Creek Freak blog and at the Dominguez watershed blog Friends y Amigos of the Dominguez Watershed. The link is also over at the right as "Dominguez Watershed News".
We've only just begun.
Still the idea was out there like a seed that needed just the right conditions, and on 26 Jan of this year it started to grow roots: I received a message from Rosalie Preston, who was interested in seeing some park / bikepath / nature functionality restored to the flood control channels in her neighborhood near Harbor Gateway. Rosalie is much more dedicated than I - she had made contact with her local water management boards and personnel. A series of emails followed. I brought Jessica into the conversation. Jessica brought Viviana.
Today I had the privilege of meeting Jessica Hall, Viviana Franco, and Rosalie Preston and we talked for a couple hours about how to transplant the successes of other local watersheds to the Dominguez channel. I think that good things will come of this.
Look for more at the LA Creek Freak blog and at the Dominguez watershed blog Friends y Amigos of the Dominguez Watershed. The link is also over at the right as "Dominguez Watershed News".
We've only just begun.
2009-01-30
Omnivore's hundred
Very Good Taste* has a blog post with 100 items that every omnivore ought to have tasted at least once.
*You ought to browse over to VGT and sample the writing. There's an acerbic wit at work on VGT who is quite entertaining to read.
The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.
Here’s what I want you to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.
*You ought to browse over to VGT and sample the writing. There's an acerbic wit at work on VGT who is quite entertaining to read.
The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.
Here’s what I want you to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.
1. Venison - N. American jerky and Swedish reindeer
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros - I live in Southern California, do you need to ask?
4. Steak tartare - I'm not counting Osso bucco, which I have had.
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp - don't know. I think yes.
9. Borscht - delicious
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses - I'm nearly sure I have, but then I've had so many stinky cheeses
17. Black truffle - I'm not counting truffle oil or the microscopic bits in some restaurant preparations
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes - it's wine, of course I've had some.
19. Steamed pork buns - a staple of Dim Sum here in S. Ca.
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper - I'm not going to strike this out because I've had grilled habanero peppers and enjoyed them, but so far this is the closest to a strikeout
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda - I think I'll put this on my try soon list. Some preparations sound healthy.
31. Wasabi peas - didn't like them
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi - not my favorite
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar - I'm not sure how "fat" my cigar was
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat - I've had it stewed and BBQd, but never curried.
42. Whole insects - chapulines! deep fried silk worm pupae probably don't count.
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more - don't I wish
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi - I'll have to look this one up
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini - I prefer my martinis traditional
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine - another I needed to look up.
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin - Huh? The clay? (later: I read the FAQ and now recall a news article about pregnant women eating this.)
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe - I think I should try some
74. Gjetost, or brunost - Mark may have brought some back from Norway.
75. Roadkill - only if it was fresh. A deer wouldn't be too offensive.
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare - I'm assuming rabbit = hare which might be presumptuous since sheep != mutton
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse - I won't count that antelope
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake
(PS. There is a FAQ for the list over here)
2009-01-05
High Spot / Black Spot; Door Sixteen
Always good fun, the 2008 High Spot / Black Spot awards are out.
Also, I found a kindred To Do list keeper and old home renovator, over on Door Sixteen who writes, I’m posting this list for the sake of other people who own old, un-renovated houses. It’s NEVER as simple as “just painting a room”. The rooms in my house have never been painted properly, nor has anything been maintained or repaired over the years.
And in a later post, Sick days always feel like a giant waste of time. What’s the point in being at home if I can’t spend every second slaving over some renovation project? Isn’t that what people do when they’re not working??
Also, I found a kindred To Do list keeper and old home renovator, over on Door Sixteen who writes, I’m posting this list for the sake of other people who own old, un-renovated houses. It’s NEVER as simple as “just painting a room”. The rooms in my house have never been painted properly, nor has anything been maintained or repaired over the years.
And in a later post, Sick days always feel like a giant waste of time. What’s the point in being at home if I can’t spend every second slaving over some renovation project? Isn’t that what people do when they’re not working??
2008-12-26
Los Angeles area garden blogs via Blotanical
I've been a member of Blotanical since April. It's a garden blog networking site. The goal is to get garden bloggers talking to one another and to connect geographically similar garden bloggers. Perhaps my preferred browser (Firefox) was not fully supported because I've found the site hard to navigate. I'm not a computer neophyte, but I have limited time to puzzle out confusing and non-standard link trees. Consequently, I've spent little time there beyond an occasional visit to see if it (or I) have changed.
Today I found the true power of Blotanical when I went in search of the map applet that I knew had to be somewhere on the site - you know, the one that lets you put in a town or city and then see graphically where nearby bloggers are located. I found it, and with it I discovered almost a dozen blogs in and around Los Angeles that I was completely unaware of. Here's the link to the north America blog map. I don't know if you have to be logged in to make full use of it.
The Los Angeles local blogs that I found and plan to check back on are:
http://heirloomclub.blogspot.com/
http://www.bloomsandbees.com/ (looks like it's a cobweb, but the author may come back. There's a nice post on Brown Widow spiders too)
http://sbgardendesign.wordpress.com/ (design)
http://thegardenpages.blogspot.com/
http://onmygreenthumb.blogspot.com/ (infrequent posts)
http://rootsinthecity.wordpress.com/
http://chefinthegarden.blogspot.com/ (another cobweb, but might have some older material that's interesting)
The Southern California blogs that seem interesting are:
http://luxbotaniverse.blogspot.com/
http://gardensofpetersonville.blogspot.com/
http://earlysnowdrop.blogspot.com/
http://angelwithdirtyfingernails.blogspot.com/
http://growthis.blogspot.com/
Today I found the true power of Blotanical when I went in search of the map applet that I knew had to be somewhere on the site - you know, the one that lets you put in a town or city and then see graphically where nearby bloggers are located. I found it, and with it I discovered almost a dozen blogs in and around Los Angeles that I was completely unaware of. Here's the link to the north America blog map. I don't know if you have to be logged in to make full use of it.
The Los Angeles local blogs that I found and plan to check back on are:
http://heirloomclub.blogspot.com/
http://www.bloomsandbees.com/ (looks like it's a cobweb, but the author may come back. There's a nice post on Brown Widow spiders too)
http://sbgardendesign.wordpress.com/ (design)
http://thegardenpages.blogspot.com/
http://onmygreenthumb.blogspot.com/ (infrequent posts)
http://rootsinthecity.wordpress.com/
http://chefinthegarden.blogspot.com/ (another cobweb, but might have some older material that's interesting)
The Southern California blogs that seem interesting are:
http://luxbotaniverse.blogspot.com/
http://gardensofpetersonville.blogspot.com/
http://earlysnowdrop.blogspot.com/
http://angelwithdirtyfingernails.blogspot.com/
http://growthis.blogspot.com/
2008-12-04
We're from the government and we're here to...
...help you garden.
Turns out there's official guv'ment gardening recommendations for LA County. Hosted at UC Davis, of course.
Turns out there's official guv'ment gardening recommendations for LA County. Hosted at UC Davis, of course.
2008-11-30
Browse inside
I'm back from my blog vacation a day early.
Did you know you can read many Harper Collins books online? For example, here's Neal Stepehenson's book, The Big U. I'm currently reading his latest, Anathem, and it's good, but I think that I liked Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle better.
Anathem widget
Did you know you can read many Harper Collins books online? For example, here's Neal Stepehenson's book, The Big U. I'm currently reading his latest, Anathem, and it's good, but I think that I liked Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle better.
Anathem widget
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