Botanical Inspiration: Old Stomping Grounds

Last week, I felt the urge to visit San Francisco's Strybing Arboretum, where I used to volunteer.  Years ago, I worked in its greenhouses, repotting, propagating and pruning its diverse plant collection.  Due to the many micro climates this arboretum is able to host, it is a virtual wonderland showcasing plants from all over the world.  My favorite ones originate from New Zealand and/or are native to California.  Returning to the arboretum reminded me of a very special time in my life and validated my continued passion for plants, which I hope to apply to our garden in the years to come.

Big (Basket) Love

On a recent trip to the San Fransciso Flower Mart I was stopped dead in my tracks by the sight of these huge baskets.  I fell in love with their size, color and  potential functionality and immediately bought two for a design client.  Whether one uses them to keep wood next to a fireplace, to store toys in a den or shoes in a mudroom, big baskets can add texture and interest to any room in a home, from foyer to bathroom.

Below are a few images from my Basket Pinboard that show just how versatile these large woven vessels can be:

Are you a fan of the over-sized baskets?  Where and how would you use these big babies in your place?

images: 1./2./3./4./5.

Out And About: Floret

This week's Out And About features Floret, a new floral shop in Lafayette, CA.  The shop is filled with unique stemmed botanicals, plantings and vessels, all of which may be custom arranged for any occasion.  Take a peek into Floret:

 We're pleased to announce that Floret is also featuring several Cocoon Home succulent compositions.

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.

Vertical Gardening On A Folding Screen

Staying true to her love for botanicals inside the home, my mother-in-law transformed an Art Nouveau screen that she found many years ago into a vertical garden.  By using several Woollypocket's living wall planters she created a garden that's not only vertical but 3-dimensional and artsy.  Take a look:

This is the first stage of Natalia's vertical garden, and she would like to thank Alex for its installation.  As the plants thrive and grow, the planters will become invisible and a lush wall of shade loving plants will grace her bedroom.  This project inspired future ones, so stay posted for more of Cocoon Home's botanical designs.

Soon I will reveal more of Natalia's California home on The Way We Live.  Stay tuned for that as well.