Voilà! Verdigris!

Verdigris is the natural result of condensation on copper, bronze, and / or brass.  This blog will show you how to quickly and easily experiment with paints to create a verdigris technique that works well on a variety of surfaces.

Conservation: Greenhouse 101 by r. r. bernet

Follow #LittleBearProd (r.r. bernet)'s board CONSERVATION: Greenhouse Recycling Old Windows & Growing Plants on Pinterest.

Our step-by-step foray into constructing an #upcycled #Greenhouse out of #recycled windows that were destined for the dump...

Note:  This blog post is an ongoing chronicle of the construction of our #Greenhouse project, so it starts with the most recent entries at the top... To read this story from the beginning, scroll down to the first entry.

~ Entry 14 ~

One of the main reasons for creating this upcycled greenhouse is because we get blasted with strong, cold winds late every afternoon. All the years of trying to grow any sort of vegetables, or herbs, was fruitless (pun intended) due to the wind. The greenhouse definitely blocks wind, however because the windows are recycled from a house, they've been treated to guard against sunlight. So we've installed a couple of grow lights. Our temps get cold at night, however it typically warms up for a few hours in the afternoon, so the heartier plants go outside for direct sunlight, weather permitting. The smaller herbs are faring quite well under just the growlights, so they're definitely working!

Pride of Madeira by r. r. bernet

Pride of Madiera by r. r. bernet

Echium candicans, commonly known as pride of Madeira, is a species of flowering plant native to the island of Madeira. Pride of Madeira is widely available throughout the world as an ornamental plant for traditional and drought tolerant water conserving gardens. It is particularly suitable for coastal planting, and is a popular ornamental in coastal California. With a minimum temperature requirement of 41–45 °F, in frost-prone areas it needs some winter protection. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Trumpet Blooms by r. r. bernet

Photograph © 2013 r. r. bernet
For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

Fall in San Francisco by r. r. bernet

Photograph © 2013  r. r. bernet
For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

After the rain... by r. r. bernet

Photograph © 2013 r. r. bernet
For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

Pretty in Pink: Foxglove (Digitalis) by r. r. bernet

Photograph © 2010 r. r. bernet
For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

The Epiphytes of Spring

Epiphytes are cactus-like. They blossom brilliantly in the spring with large, short-lived flowers. Sometimes referred to as "air cactus," they need minimal soil and thrive in large hanging pots with minimal watering - "feeding out of the air". I hang them in my trees and from the crossbeam of my balcony, framing the view of the neighborhood.

Blooms Make Florida Pool Landscaping Perfect

Photograph © 2011 Robert Glenn Ketchum. For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

This is a garden in Florida. The pool is not large or unusually designed, but the planting and pots surrounding it change everything. Oversized, with great variety in color and texture, the added vegetation surrounding the pool adds to its lush, tropical feel and makes it seem more like a small hidden pond or oasis. 

#RbtGlennKetchum

#LittleBearProd

Spring in Hangzhou, China

Recently I was in China and arrived at one of my favorite cities, Hangzhou, just as spring blossomed. The city is situated at one end of West Lake. West Lake is large with many miles of walkways and paths surrounding it that are beautifull​y planted and maintained.​

West Palm Beach, Florida

Photograph © 2011 Robert Glenn Ketchum.
For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

California Dreamin'

One of the "pools" at LotusLand in Santa Barbara. Abalone shells line the pool edge and several giant clamshell waterfalls trickle into it. LotusLand was built by the eccentric opera star Ganna Walska, who went through the fortunes of 4 husbands to create this garden.

Wildflowers

Photograph © 2010 Robert Glenn Ketchum. For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

Gorgeous Succulents...

Photograph © 2010 Robert Glenn Ketchum.
For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

For the Object of My Affection...

Photograph © 2010 Robert Glenn Ketchum. For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

How gorgeous is this!?!

Photograph © 2010 Robert Glenn Ketchum. For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

#rgk

ahh... summer!

Photograph © 2010 Robert Glenn Ketchum. For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

Roses of Summer...

Photograph © 2010 Robert Glenn Ketchum.
For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.

Manhattan Beach

An "air cactus" blooming in a hanging pot on the balcony of my new home at the beach. I think it likes the moist air!

 

Photograph © 2010 Robert Glenn Ketchum.
For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form.