Inside Red Studio

Flowers of Autumn

2011-09-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

The Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) with blooms of scarlet, bronze and yellow is the perfect summer and fall plant. It is a U.S. native and thrives in our Sacramento heat.

Dinnerplate Hibiscus (Hibiscus x. moscheutos)

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

The Coneflower (Echinacia) will continue to bloom until frost.

Calla Lily

2011-02-22T21:41:00.000-08:00

These little Calla lilies (Zantedeschia hybrids) might be shivering in their pots. Just to remind us that it is not quite spring, it may snow in Sacramento....eek! At the nursery we are covering all the plants with frost cloth in the evenings.

These are my first experimental photos taken with my new camera. After dropping the old one and attempting to take pictures with a self ejecting battery. Which was ever so much fun.

Nest Project

2011-02-20T22:03:00.001-08:00

Kathy Noonan and I gave a demonstration on nest building. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Blue Line Gallery in Roseville. The results were such intricate and beautiful sculptures.

The nests were fashioned from sticks, recycled cardboard, moss, feathers, and yarn.

Landscape Design

2011-01-29T21:32:00.000-08:00

Shop window in Portland's Pearl district

The Winter Garden

2011-01-09T19:23:00.000-08:00

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'

Arbutus (Strawberry Tree) This beauty was blooming outside a coffee shop. I believe it is Arbutus 'Marina'.

Grevillea

Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paw)

Pryacantha

Abelia x graniflora 'Kaleidoscope

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus'

Dog & Cat Art Show includes a horse

2010-12-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

The 11th annual Cat and Dog Show will be on display December 11th through the 30th. My sculpture, Danger dog is a mixed media mutt with a martini shaker head. He is shown here with a piece by sculptor Crystal Webber. This year proceeds of the art show will benefit the Grace Foundation.

Danger dog at his photo shoot.

The preview party at Skinner Howard Art Gallery. This is a fun relaxed show and the art has so much humor. Dogs are invited to the show....or possibly lured there with treats.

A stick dog sculpture by Kendall Lecompte is ready for some serious voodoo. Winking cat and dog paintings by M. Richardson Trethewey are fabulous. I love her work.

Tiny Sculpture Garden

2010-12-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

Skulking about in other peoples garden's is one of my favorite things. This small side yard garden belongs to my cousin Cheryl. She was of course, horrified to find me madly snapping photos. "I haven't been out here in months" she said. But I love it. Love that she used white flowers and shells with the rusted metal sculpture.

In Southern California this iceberg rose is blooming in December. It is easy to grow and produces a profusion of blooms when planted in the sun, watered and fed with an organic fertilizer.

A fish sculpture made with a float from the loo.

Fall Euphoria

2010-10-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

Gourds, pumpkins, Chrysanthemums, Libertia, and fabulous orange pottery on display at Green Acres Nursery.

Local garden centers are great places for fall inspiration. Planting harvest colors, like yellow Calendula, purple pansies, bronze mums, and fall vegetables will add a rich vibrancy to the garden.

Ornamental Kale

Garden Makeover

2010-07-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

A newly planted garden in Sacramento. My design called for Sage, Rosemary, English Lavender, Iceberg Roses, Pittosporum and Gazanias.

French footed pots were planted with Dwarf Olives, Nemesia, and Bacopa.

A dry stream bed was added to the small planting strip near the street.

The transformation is complete. A new lawn, irrigation, soil contours, and boulders. Beautiful clean simple and easy to maintain.

Before

Summer Sunflowers

2010-07-11T18:39:00.000-07:00

East Sacramento Gardens

2010-06-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the gardens featured on the East Sacramento Garden Tour. I love the pink umbrella!

A quiet spot for coffee and a good book.

Bonsai collection

The beauty and simplicity of white and green.

Pink

2010-05-04T20:42:00.000-07:00

Hydrangea

These last few months I have worked at a nursery. Every day is like Christmas with new people and plants and pots. I am also taking classes for River-Friendly Landscaping. We are learning about rain gardens, smart irrigation controllers, and reducing the use of pesticides.

Wisteria

Azalea

Heuchera (Coral Bells)

Cercis (Redbud)

Azalea

Golden Gate Park

2010-02-15T21:40:00.001-08:00

A beautiful spring day in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park

Zantedeschia aethiopica - Common Calla

Fuchsia

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T07:43:00.000-08:00

Dicentra spectabilis (Bleeding Heart)

Orchard with cover crop of Brassica napus

Flowering Kale

Dogtown Inspiration

2010-02-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

I might watch the Super Bowl if it involved plants. Since it doesn't I went to Stinson Beach.

Aloe arborescens

Stinson Beach

Cesar the Bullmastiff is the biggest, sweetest dog I have ever met. He lives in Dogtown with his artist parents and a few Dauchshunds.

Is Daffodil Planter still searching for a rain barrel?

Garden Gates

2010-01-23T15:56:00.000-08:00

Gate mural including the family dogs

Metal courtyard gate, using recycled materials. After sketching this design, I gave it to Clayton Winter to weld. The finish is linseed oil brushed over rust.

Teak panels used as a railing at Anthropologie in Portland, Oregon. One of these would be an ornate centerpiece in a garden gate.

Seashell design in Carmel, California

Courtyard entrance in Sacramento, California

A Country Estate

2009-12-30T19:35:00.001-08:00

Stan Hywet Hall in Akron Ohio was built in 1915 by the Seiberling family. Touring the 65,000 square foot home I was struck by the attention to detail. Intricately carved wood, stone floors, and arched doorways grace the interior. Gertrude Seiberling asked the mason to chisel grooves in the new stone floors for a worn appearance. She also allowed her youngest child to ride a motorcycle up and down the hallway.

Birch Allee Vista

Warren Henry Manning created the gardens at Stan Hywet. An old stone quarry was located on the property. Manning chose this location for a wild garden and lagoon.

Lake Erie

Dog and Cat Art Show

2009-12-12T12:15:00.000-08:00

I love quirky, animals with goofy personalities. Dogs are fun sculpture subjects. Although not the most cooperative models. Borg Dog is a mixed media sculpture. He was constructed with wood, metal, and typewriter parts. The 10th annual Dog and Cat Show at Skinner Howard Art is will benefit two Sacramento animal charities. Ten percent of sales will be donated to WOOF (Welfare for our furry friends) and Coalition for Community Cats. A Second Saturday reception will be held on December 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. The art show will run through January 2nd at the Skinner Howard, Contemporary Art, 723 S Street, downtown Sacramento.

Ozone was made with an air filter, wood, and metal. Daffodil Planter was so kind to write an article about the show in examiner.com. Thank you DP!

Mosaic Craftsman House

2009-11-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

Every inch of this house and garden are covered in tile, stained glass, or bonsai. Not your average tile, but beautiful, amazing, hand made tile. It stops people in the street. I can not imagine how long it took to do this. Who wouldn't want a fire breathing dragon with glowing yellow eyes on their house?

I am always in search of the unusual art house. An artist friend, Lena Gordon told me about this Curtis Park Neighborhood home.

Metal gate with glass shards and glass door knobs.

Waves of tile, monkeys and odd creatures create a fun and interesting garden.

This could be a cat. I thought the claws were funny.

Pumpkin Harvest

2009-09-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

Heirloom pumpkins at the nursery. I love the gray color with a blush of rose.

Wicker Woman is a self portrait sculpture I created some time ago. I move her from place to place in the garden, placing items in her hands. Today she is holding a basket of Breadfruit.

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)

Berberis t. 'Rose Glow' (Barberry)

Tibouchina urvilleana (Princess Flower)

Pomegranate

Succulent Garden

2009-09-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

Easy care desert plants were used my client's garden. Flapjack Cactus (Kalanchoe Luciae)

Ceramic garden sculpture by artist Lena Gordon, titled Wind.

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' attracts butterflies and has red fall color.

Echeveria 'Mauna Loa"

Stapelia varigata

Crested Saucer Plant (Aeonium tabulaeforme)

Vegetable Garden

2009-08-17T16:42:00.000-07:00

Fresh tomatoes from the garden....salsa anyone?

Tomato Day at Morningsun Herb Farm in Vacaville. On Sunday, August 23rd from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sample over 80 varieties of tomatoes and view cooking demonstrations.

A Raised vegetable garden at the time it was first planted. Recycled concrete was used rather than hauled away to a landfill. The stones were set with mortar to prevent shifting over time.

Beautiful Artichokes in bloom have taken over the concrete planter.

A small space makes use of a trellis for tomatoes. Companion planting for natural insect control eliminates the need for pesticide.

Pink Garden

2009-07-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

Pink Petunia

What a lovely greeting! I was followed by a mysterious kitty while taking photos. Does that wink mean he has a secret to tell?

This Sacramento garden was installed last year. I reduced the size of the lawn and added drought resistant plants like Achillea m. 'Paprika' (Yarrow), Salvia, Verbena, and Butia c. (Pindo Palm).

Roses

The ever adorable pink smart car.

Nevada Sculpture Gardens

2009-07-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, there is art in Nevada. The sculpture gardens at the Nevada Museum of Art include drought tolerant plants and contemporary art. Sculptor Celeste Roberge created her work titled Cairn with steel and local river rock.

Achillea t. (Yarrow)

Steel Sculpture titled Double Chalice Artist Kendall Buster

Lavendula a. (English Lavender)

Bronze Sculpture of a horse Artist Deborah Butterfield

Festuca g. (Blue Fescue) and Calamagrostis x. a. ( Feather Reed Grass)

Garden Of The Sculptor

2009-06-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

Sharon Zachary invited me to see her studio. She is amazingly talented, passionate about her work, and clever in her use of molds. Sharon makes molds of people's bodies, presses clay into the mold, and fires it. Her art also includes print making, lost wax casting, painting, stone carving, and gardening. This photo is of a sculpture titled Pilot, a succulent collection, and a Citrus.

Baxter, the menace

Sharon's Art Studio

Raku kiln

Zantedeschia a. (Spotted Calla Lily)

Odd and Unexpected

2009-05-27T23:49:00.001-07:00

Strange Citrus is used in cooking and to flavor Vodka. Citron Buddha's Hand

Abutilon (Flowering Maple)

Clay pipe containers are a great idea for narrow gardens.

Oenothera s. (Mexican Evening Primrose) can be invasive in Sacramento.

African Happy Gardening Mask

Nigella d. (Love-In-A-Mist)

Garden Tour

2009-05-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

This garden was on the Land Park garden tour. What a fun space! I love the bold colors.

This contemporary garden has a cast concrete bench. The three spheres are a great design element.

Cornus (Dogwood) with varigated leaves

Equisetum h. (Horsetail) in a beautiful glazed pot

Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia)

Crocker Art Museum Auction

2009-05-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and has amazing collections of California, European, and Asian artworks, and International ceramics. The lovely Victorian building was once a private home for the Crocker family. The Crockers were fascinating people, traveling by ship, collecting art, and giving back to the community. Every year, artists give their work in an effort to raise funds for the Museum. The art auction will take place June 6, 5 - 11 p.m.. It is an exciting event to attend, and perhaps find a bargain!

Weightless is the title of my donated work. My largest piece to date, it is 39"x 27". It is a mixed media sculpture with metal, acrylic paint, and beeswax, on a wood panel. I was inspired to create weightless after a friend told me that weight is the last socially acceptable prejudice. She revealed the pain inflicted by family and strangers who find it necessary to comment on her weight. I want to tell all my beautiful friends and family, that your weight has nothing to do with your worth.

The Art Of Clay

2009-05-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

Today, I discovered Panama Pottery. It was not what I expected. Who expects to find original art when they are lost? In fact, I was so delighted that I will go back, and I will take my designer friends.

Beautiful, original clay artwork is shown against a backdrop of rusting corrugated metal.

I love the old buildings and the door transformed by an artist's brush.

Located in Sacramento, California, Panama Pottery hosts artist studios, art shows, tours, and an art education center.

Can't you see this amazing piece as the focal point of a garden?

Dancing Dogs and Dogwoods

2009-04-23T00:24:00.000-07:00

Here is Cleo, I found her in a cell at the pound. She was looking at me and prancing, as if to say...pick me, pick me, pick me. I loved her from the moment I saw her. She is sweet and gentle with everyone. I think she had a hard life (on the street) and runs like the wind from brooms or umbrellas. According to the vet Cleo is a Shar-Pei mix. But to me, she looks rather like a cartoon dog.

White Dogwood Cornus florida blooming in East Sacramento

Evergreen Azalea, it could be Southern Indica Pride of Dorking

Another Evergreen Azalea

Beautiful Pink Dogwood Cornus florida

Capital City

2009-04-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

Today I took a walk through Capital Park in Sacramento, California. The park contains shrubs and trees from all over the world. This photo is the front of the Capital building.

This is the side entrance

The World Peace Rose Garden was dedicated to women, children and families in 2003. It was created as a sanctuary of love, peace, and inspiration for people of all nations, cultures, and religions.

This Victorian style garden has 650 roses, and 153 varieties.

The California Native Plant Garden features Cactus, Agave, Aloe, and Golden Poppy Eschscholzia c.

Rhododendron

Iris

Dianthus

California Natives and Sculpture

2009-04-10T23:24:00.000-07:00

California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) have taken control of my garden. They are gorgeous, require little water, and are carefree plants.

Steel horse sculptures in a front yard in Three Rivers, California. What a statement! Big sculpture in a small garden is fabulous. I love the one eating grass, it makes me laugh.

Another California native, Lupine (Lupinus) blooming in Three Rivers

Gardens of Mendocino

2009-03-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

Victorian houses and carefree gardens in Mendocino California. The Tea Trees (Leptospermum s.) were stunning this time of year.

Painted Adirondack chairs and an ocean view

Garden Sculptures

Collection of artifacts and Mountain Pieris (Pieris floribunda).

Garden at the Alegria Inn. A peaceful bed and breakfast with amazing ocean views, excellent food, and yummy lemon bars.

Wild Child Garden

2009-03-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

Don't try this at home. As my art teacher would say "there is nowhere to rest your eye". But that is what a demonstration garden is about. Something completely over the top. This photo shows a bench (below) and banner (above).

This is another exhibit at the San Francisco Flower and garden show. I loved it! The designer had an Alice in Wonderland vision and pulled it off. The red flowers are tiles set in concrete. These were used as stepping stones.

Concrete Garden

2009-03-18T21:17:00.001-07:00

Today I visited the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show. This is one of the demonstration gardens with concrete bowls and sculpture.

Large concrete planter, circular sculpture, and boulders. The designer used lots of spiky plants like New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax) and Dracaena (Cordline a.).

Steel and woven pod sculpture

Evergreen Screen

2009-03-17T23:07:00.000-07:00

If it's lime green and smells like lemons, it must be the perfect plant. Red Studio is featured in the March issue of Sacramento Magazine with a container garden and Golden Monterey Cypress (Cupressus mac. citriodora).

Ocean Garden Inspiration

2009-03-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

I needed a road trip for inspiration. My client would like her garden to reflect her love of the ocean. This ultamarine blue door is perfect.

The road to Point Reyes Station

Marin Organic produce

Flower Power is a shop in Point Reyes Station. The outdoor garden is full of fabulous ideas. I love the decomposed granite with steel bird sculptures.

A grouping of glazed pots in complimentary colors.

Down the road to the town of Olema. Excellent food and service at the Olema Inn.

A collection of hand mixers at the Inn

A leisurely walk on Limantour beach.

A Little Help From My Friends

2009-03-05T19:53:00.001-08:00

My client for this project was an art collector. He wanted a sculptural shade structure. This view from above shows the circles of steel. The shadows are amazing. I called my friend Clayton Winter to help me with the design. Clayton (like many landscape contractors) can do anything, stonework, carpentry, lighting, and welding.

This photograph of Clayton welding was shot by another friend, Gerald Piester.

Recycled Garden Sculpture

2009-03-03T12:03:00.000-08:00

Among the multitude of chainsaw uses, consider taking one apart! The trees will thank you. I created this garden sculpture using steel, paint, and a saw blade. The title of this work is chain reaction.

Artful Gates

2009-03-01T22:07:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to paint the gate. This bronze grotesque mask and yellow paint make this a unique garden entrance.

Painted steel sculpture

Hammered copper handle

Resistance Is Futile

2009-02-27T20:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I visited Le Petit Paris Boutique and Cafe in Midtown Sacramento. I spoke with the owner, Tassina Placencia. She travels to Paris several times a year and has an amazing sense of style.
Tassina has furished her boutique with flea market finds, like this oeil de boueuf (eye of the bull) window.
I stopped by for coffee. Coffee, and a cream puff in a bowl. Well...maybe I need to try a few french macarons.

Something Shady

2009-02-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

Glamorous evergreen shrubs enhance the shade garden. Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum c.) is one of my favorite plants. In shade, it maintains the purple leaf color. In the full sun, the leaves are tinged with green.

Camellia japonica

Evergreen Azalea

Winter Daphne (Daphne o. Aureo-marginata) is a tricky plant to grow. But the lavish blooms and intoxicating fragrance are worth the trouble.

The Garden Muse

2009-02-25T23:24:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, I attended a presentation at the Blue Line Gallery in Roseville. Sculptor Kathy Noonan spoke to a group about gardens and art. She uses the sun to form shadows with sculpture, and the wind to create movement and sound. Kathy's ideas are pure design inspiration.

Landscape designer Mele Huffman and Blue Line curator Beth Rohlfes talk about art.

Sculptor Kathy Noonan speaks at the Blue Line gallery in Roseville.

Magnolia Madness

2009-02-25T00:13:00.000-08:00

Sacramento is blooming with Magnolia trees. While walking in my neighborhood, I photographed these beauties. These are deciduous plants, Saucer Magnolia (M. x. soulangeana), Star Magnolia (M. stellata), and Lily Magnolia (M. liliiflora).

Garden Art Gallery

2009-02-23T22:23:00.000-08:00

My client in Elk Grove California had a new house, a garage full of art, and no garden. I came up with a plan. We used paint to transform this (previously pink) wall into an outdoor gallery.

A flagstone patio was planted with creeping thyme (Thymus s.). California native plants in this garden include, red horsechestnut (Aesculus x. c.), manzanita (Archtostapholos m.), pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia c.), and carmel creeper (Ceanothus g. h.).
Sculptor Jennifer Johnson of Auburn California created this steel arch. The organic form, like that of a vine, frames the front entryway.

Recycled Art

2009-02-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

My friends include a group of artists who take turns hosting art days. Saturday, we gathered at Cheryl's house. Cheryl provided lunch, libations, and an inspiring array of artifacts needed to create these art bottles. We sifted through her collection of carved jade and bone, shark vertebra, clock parts, glass, and antique medicine bottles. The result was definitely a cure for melancholy.
Antique Bottles

Paint

Call Me

2009-02-21T08:33:00.000-08:00

You just don't see a phone booths in the garden very often. It is rather odd and quirky. But I absolutely love this unusual, amazing idea. My clients had this booth shipped over from England. It weighed 3000 pounds (cast iron). Then it went in the front yard, for the whole world to see. How excellent is that?

2009-02-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

Succulents (echeveria) are fun and carefree garden plants. The profusion of offsets can be potted up and make splendid gifts.

Twisted Steel Sculpture Garden

2009-02-19T22:04:00.000-08:00

Amazing views of the steel sculpture by Roger Berry titled "dogstar" greet visitors to the garden. I designed a massive sliding gate with steel straps, which is functional and attractive. A recycled concrete patio and pathways are planted with creeping thyme (thymus). Drought tolerant and native plants were selected, such as sage (salvia), lavender (lavendula), wild lilac (ceanothus), coffeeberry (rhamnus), and California fuchsia (zauschneria).

Because this is a man's garden, I wanted masculine details. This hammered pull was selected for the gate and the shed door. The rust patina was sealed with a coat of organic linseed oil.

Garden Shed With Style

2009-02-19T21:50:00.000-08:00

My customer needed a place for his garden tools in a small East Sacramento garden. I designed this stylish shed with a water feature. The shed has a copper roof, recycled steel, and a hand crafted door pull.

Follow The Arrow?

2009-02-18T22:47:00.000-08:00

Good Gyrations is the title of my latest work, a metal wall sculpture. Currently displayed in the Blue Line gallery in Roseville, California.

Generous Blooms and Butterflies

2009-02-17T13:47:00.000-08:00

Yarrow (Achillea m. Paprika) is a lovely plant selection for a butterfly garden. It is a lavish bloomer, easy to maintain, and drought tolerant.
Milkweed is another beautiful plant which attracts butterflies. Asclepias t. managed to survive the summer and the flowers are quite stunning.

Over The Garden Wall

2009-02-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

I am here with Jeannie figuring out how to blog. It is really fun!

This fabulous wall is in the Mulvaney garden. It is a curved seating wall with multiple levels, and spaces for pots. It is illuminated at night by bronze bell down lights .

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