Yay!! Today I finally got to get some succulent and cactus time in. I went to visit the L.A. Arboretum since I have a membership I got got for my birthday. The S.G.V.C.S.S. Cactus and Succulent show/ sale was happening today, so I got to see a lot of great stuff. [There were some very nerdy enthusiasts there.] I never realized that there was a Spiny Madagascar Garden at the Arboretum. The plants were amazing... especially the Alluaudia Procera that were quite large. It was a good short, trip. I got to see a peacock strut his stuff too! It was a hot day, so I only looked at the succulent gardens. It's 85 degrees in November! I'm going to get to do some long over due yard work today, so I'll post picture from the garden soon!
The Madagascar Garden:
The highlights from the show:
This "Century Plant," which I believe is an aloe, was finishing it's bloom. It's amazing how many little plants are produce off of the "prostrate." I found a really small baby I put in my purse. We'll see how it grows...
This Aloe marlothii has bloomed!! It is huge. Probably 3ft in diameter and the bloom is bout 3 ft in height. I've had it for a couple years and has finally showed it's stuff. The growth of the bloom has taken about 3 months [Feb - April] and is incredible how fast it grows. For any friends that follow me on instagram [Classiopia], you've probably seen all the images that I've been postiong of my blooming aloe. I wanted to put together a montage of the growth of this amazing "prostate" and here it is...
For this entry's music accompaniment I'll just post what I've been into as much as I've been interested in watching this "swagged out" aloe bloom [It changes every day]. I love A$AP ROCKY . He's from Houston and is keeping psychedelic hip hop alive!! Still sippin' on Purple DRANK.
And since I usually throw in an outlandish comparison, I'm posting some Bongwater too. Bongwater, a late 80s/ early 90s art rock band,that probably couldn't be anymore opposite than ASAP, but the psychedelic qualities and the use of reverb in their music does have some similarity. There is also a glorification of marijuana from both, where A$AP puts weed on a pedestal and sings tribute to the purple he smokes and Bongwater is named "Bong"water. Another reason I'm posting Bongwater is because I think their music is good, incredibly witty, and importantly sarcastic and more people should know about them.
A friend of mine just pointed out that this Bongwater song sounds like their tribute to The Free Design... Thought I'd share it too.
Along with new pictures of the garden I have to post a new music find...
I have a love for 60s and and 70s psyche rock and usually happen upon a new band when I'm looking for videos etc of the ones I already like. Jan & Lorraine are a recent find for me. Some of their stuff has that typical folk/psyche sound of the late 60s, but they have this really weird way or harmonizing that makes their music sound really "trippy." I really like this song of theirs'... I can only describe it as "so weird."
Biography
Much mystery surrounds Jan & Lorraine, a female duo who recorded an obscure folk-rock album, Gypsy People, in London in October 1969. Jan Hendin and Lorraine Le Fevre both sang (often in harmony) on the record, did the ensemble arrangements, and also wrote (working separately) most of the material. Too, Hendin handled electric and acoustic guitars, piano, and organ, and Le Fevre contributed acoustic guitar as well. In part because the LP didn't sound much like other British folk-rock efforts of the time, it's been thought that Hendin and Le Fevre might have actually hailed from North America, despite the record being cut in London. And it does have a greater American influence to its mildly psychedelic late-'60s folk-rock than most British efforts in the genre, with stirring, slightly strident singing; some slight pop accents with a little similarity to the early work of Joni Mitchell, Jefferson Airplane, Fairport Convention, and even the Seekers, though the resemblance isn't explicit; and some occasional exotic Eastern sounds on tamboura and tabla. The record's slightly moody and introspective, though pleasant (and sometimes a little loosely drifting) in feel, and one presumes that the "D. Graham/M. Chapman" songwriting credit for "Gypsy People" could signify a tune co-written by noted British folkies Davy Graham and Michael Chapman. A couple noted musicians who were definitely involved in the recording were Pentangle drummer Terry Cox, who contributed percussion, and top British session drummer Clem Cattini. The album was reissued on CD in 2006. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi
The Euphorbia are growing fast! And the agave is taking over! I had to remove three pups the other week. If I just left it the whole yard would be taken over.
Miiko with euphorbia shrubs, savila, and aeoniums behind her.
This Aloe marlothii is about to bloom!! It is huge. Probably 3ft in diameter. I've had it for a couple years and it is finally ready to show off this spring. YAY!
This is the Sedum spectabile that I'm grooming in the first picture. It totally dies down in the winter. It's neat to watch it grow back because it looks like the leaves grow in the ground before they come up on a stem.
My friend Wes gave me a copy of Jonathan Wilson's Gentle Spirit album on vinyl at the end of the summer and I became obsessed. I ended up buying two copies on itunes and Lee also bought one. He played at Pappy and Harriot's in December and we went up there to see him. Here's a review of Gentle Spirit which sums it up better than I can. I would of mentioned the Eagles in the review and with my vast vernacular would have said "f'n awesome."
4.0 out of 5 starssoftly stirring, neo-folk/psych rock ballads, October 5, 2011
2nd album from North Carolina artist--softly affecting, gently soul-stirring, luxurious neo-folk rock ballads with a perceptive singer/songwriter insight and an abundance of introspective psychedelicc /atmospheric intricacies. A Laurel Canyon-like place where calming, rich textures move with ease into a riveting psych-rock arena. This is not made for a short attention span, but it feels like it will be a long-lasting, slow-growing album with a subtle depth of mystic spirit. Includes guest appearances from members of Black Crowes, Jayhawks, Vetiver, and a Gordon Lightfoot cover. Recalls artists such as Neil Young, the Goldberg Sisters, Elliott Smith, Syd Barrett/Pink Floyd, Jackson Browne, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Nick Drake, Spiritualized, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Robbie Robertson, Low.
On the way up to Pioneer Town/ Joshua Tree, I always make a stop at the Cactus Mart in Morongo Valley. I've probably mentioned this place in other posts. They have a great selection and reasonable prices. The nursery also has cool little gardens around the property and a coy pond. In the summer I usually look around as quickly as possible because it's so hot, but it was nice and cool this time and made it much easier. This trip I ended up purchasing a Mexican Fence Post Cactus [Pachycereus marginatus]. [Above planted in my garden] They bloom these amazing red flowers out of the white spines of the plant. I can't wait until mine is established and starts to bloom. I bought several small ones as well and will plant them in row so they will eventually form a fence.
The Coy Pond
Agave and Aloes
This is a greenhouse they set up to grow plants and take care of damaged ones.
Euphorbia for days...
This hybrid might be might next purchase there. It's gorgeous.
Cactus Shoe
And of course we stopped at the park...Full Moon Rising!
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