Botanical Inspiration: The Flora Around Us

Whether it's embodied in dangerous spikes, brilliant colors, smooth surfaces or delicate petals, the flora around us never ceases to inspire me.  Here are a few favorite specimens, as of late.   Some I shot at a wholesale nursery, others while hiking, one in our very own yard and a few in a friend's wild and crazy garden.  Enjoy their beauty.

To see more botanical inspirations on a [somewhat] daily basis follow me on Instagram.

Images are:  Barrel Cactus, PincushionProtea, a feral cactus, New Zealand Flax, Echium, and Garden Rose.

Out And About: The Ruth Bancroft Garden

Last Saturday I visited the The Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek for the first time (definitely not the last).  The garden is a spectacular extravaganza of succulents in different sizes, shapes, colors and textures. It was originally planted in 1972 by Mrs. Bancroft who became interested in water conserving plants after moving to the dryer climate of Walnut Creek from Berkeley.  Her passion for drought tolerant gardening matured into a dramatic botanical display that both inspires and educates its visitors.  My visit (not so happenstance) coincided with one of the garden's quarterly plant sales.  Following my neighbor's advice the two of us arrived at the garden well before the sale began to ensure first picks.  We shopped till we dropped.  Take a look at few of my favorite images from that day.

Many, many thanks to AM, my neighbor, friend and fellow plant enthusiast for introducing me to the Ruth Bancroft Garden.