Roses bloom in Marin

Yesterday I was working in a rose garden that we designed and installed 10 years ago.

It is looking mighty fine.

From California Gardening

Ceramic Studio work

Last Saturday was a productive day in the ceramic studio.

I was able to set up the air brush sprayer to apply underglazes to another pot head.

These two photo below show the pot head with the underglazes applied:

From Ceramic Studio

From Ceramic Studio

I also had an opportunity to re-glaze the water feature flutes that I am working on.

The first underglaze firing did not work out for reasons I am still trying to undercover.

The result was flakey unvitrified glaze , so I think the kiln did not reach full temperature.

So I had to sand (uhg ! ) for a couple of hours to remove the old glaze and reapply a new glaze.

This photo shows the flutes getting ready to be airbrushed.

From Ceramic Studio

this photo shows the flutes airbrushed with under glazes

From Ceramic Studio

And finally this photo below shows the flutes and the pot head covered with the Over Glaze, which will render a shiny hard clear coat of glass over the sculptures.

From Ceramic Studio

Into the kiln they go.

I’m crossing my fingers.

Here are some of my older pot heads :

From Ceramic Studio

From Ceramic Studio

From Container Plantings

From Pina Colada

I don’t care for this glaze recipe, it was suppose to be mat black but turned out too shiny

From Pina Colada

With a body

From Container Plantings

Fibonacci update

It looks a tad bit underwhelming in this photo, but the Fibonacci inspired motor court is pretty much complete.

We have a few more details to work on such as sealing the concrete, filling in some asphalt and connecting the irrigation system to all the plants.

But for the most part we are done.

Will post better and a full range photos later .

From random photos

From random photos

From random photos

From random photos

Color through Foliage

Spring foliage color in Northern California at the Pina Colada Garden

From Pina Colada

Beach side Eco Lawn installation in Marin County

We started a project out at Stinson Beach in mid November.

It consisted of grading, installing a new irrigation system, new permeable paths of bluestone and decomposed granite, some exterior architectural additions, a clean sand area for play and sitting , installation of an eco-lawn and sea side adaptable planting.

Here is the project towards the beginning

From Beach House

From Beach House

The project midway

From Beach House

From Beach House

Making gopher cages for all of the plants

From Beach House

We had a particularly challenging time getting the eco- grass seed to germinate and grow.

It was a very rainy winter and at times the rain came down so hard that it washed the seed away.

Once the seed did germinate , ( did I mention that it was rather chilly too ) it was right at the time of a huge bird migration. Just about every bird migrating up and down the coast came to dine on our newly sprouted fresh grass seed.

We ended up installing bird netting across the whole area .

From Beach House

The project 5 months after we broke ground.

From Beach House

From Beach House

The family children and I hand made the ceramic tiles in the mosaic band.

I set the tiles and had help from the kids in grouting the mosaics in.

From Beach House

From Beach House

Bags of the eco lawn

From Beach House

The plans

From Beach House

Get your Fibonacci on.

We’re getting our Fibonacci on in Marin this week.

Our ‘golden spiral’ is manifesting itself as a logarithmic spiral set in colored textured concrete and stacked black mexican pebbles.

It is apart of a hardscape redesign for a motor court and front entry.

From random photos

From random photos

From random photos

More photos will ‘whirl in’ as the project progresses.

For more info on The Golden Spiral check out wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_spiral

and more info on my friend Leonard of Pisa, or filius Bonacci ... or .... whatever... he seems to have plenty of names.

http://www.maths.surrey.ac.uk/hosted-sites/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fibBio.html

A small Marin Potager - early April

A snippet of my small culinary, medicinal and floral potager in Marin

From Potager Gardens

From Potager Gardens

Young Sweet Peas and a Yellow Squash was recently planted a few days ago.

As the spring warms up the lettuce will start to bolt and become a little bitter.

The peas and squash will take their place.

From Potager Gardens