June 2012 | smallrooms®

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Posted on June 26, 2012No Comments

My Stromanthe Tricolor is open for business seven days a week.

Stromanthe sanguinea ‘Tricolor’ (Triostar) has been a popular summer annual for me. (For past posts and photos go here, here, and here.) Originating in Brazil, Honduras and Costa Rica, this plant is a member of the Marantaceae (Maranta) family, and like all of its cousins, craves high humidity. In the past, I have planted it in my shade garden, but with the new design the portions allotted to annuals have too much sun exposure and the Stromanthe’s leaves might get a bit crispy around the edges. Besides its root system is so deep and vigorous, removing it on my own has required many sharp tools, savage brutality, and multiple cuss words. And if you’re wondering why I just don’t leave it in hopes of it returning the following summer, it’s because it won’t. But as a container summer annual, it can’t be more perfect.

Landscape & Gardening

What’s Blooming Now

Posted on June 25, 2012No Comments

Out of the six newly planted lilies, four have started to flower.

Texas Spider Lily (Hymenocallis liriosme [Raf.] Shinners). I’ve always had really good luck with these beauties as a container plant. They have now also been planted in my newly designed front garden. We felt that their vertical spiky foliage would be a good replacement for the Louisiana iris that didn’t perform well outside of two spring months. Eventually these original six plants will multiply and should provide a spectacular show in about three years. If you’re interested in growing these, I recommend purchasing them from The Southern Bulb Company.

Interior Design

Peekaboo (part 10)

Posted on June 21, 20124 Comments

A bronze copy of the famous reclining Pauline Bonaparte

The original Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix was commissioned by her husband Camillo Borghese and executed in Rome from 1805 and 1808 by the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova. This life-size semi-nude evokes the ancient Roman tradition of depicting a mortal individual as a god and was considered daring for those times in that a lady of high rank was portrayed in the nude. Even though I have seen numerous copies, I never knew their provenance until one found its way into my living room.

Contemporary Art

Saturday at The Reading Room

Posted on June 14, 2012No Comments

'The Rachel's Wave,' 2011, inlaid maps and acrylic on aluminum panel. Click on it for a larger version. — ‘The Rachel’s Wave,’ 2011, inlaid maps and acrylic on aluminum panel. Click on it for a larger version.

Matthew Cusick: Scenes Et Types. This summer exhibition at The Reading Room will feature Matthew Cusick’s collage work from his wave series comprised of map fragments as well as the sirens which use imagery derived from vintage travel postcards.

Cusick’s collage work has been written about in such diverse publications as The Surfers Journal and The Paris Review, indicating his range of references from diverse cultures and geographies. Cusick received a BFA from The Cooper Union and is currently pursuing graduate studies at SMU. His work has been shown internationally as well as in New York City at Andrew Kreps Gallery, Kent Fine Art, and most recently Pavel Zoubok Gallery where he has an exhibition this fall.

Please join us for the opening reception on Saturday, June 16 from 7 to 9 pm. The Reading Room will be open that day from noon until 9 pm in conjunction with East Dallas Gallery Day. There will be an artist talk on Saturday, July 14 at 3 pm.

Landscape & Gardening

What’s Blooming Now

Posted on June 13, 2012No Comments

Would it be too much to ask for more than one flower spike?

Yellow flower false yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora). Although the red version is more commonly found in Texas’s xeriscape landscapes, I chose the smaller yellow version for the ornamental container used as my sun garden’s focal point. The false yucca is native to the Chihuahuan desert of west Texas and with its low maintenance qualities I’m depending on it to survive our climate extremes.

Landscape & Gardening

Bald Patch Blight

Posted on June 9, 2012No Comments

At least this sad section is hidden from public view.

Yes, that’s right, my back garden has some issues. This Texas betony is less than perfect and refuses to perform as advertised. After all it is a Texas native. Some of you may have heard it referred to as Scarlet betony or Scarlet hedgenettle. From what I have read this plant does not like having continually wet feet and prefers dappled shade. Unfortunately, our past spring has been extremely wet. But since it does like heat, it may recover this summer. Besides the surrounding plants have the same drainage requirements and are thriving despite our wet spring. As for the lack of dappled shade in this spot, my landscape architect doesn’t see this as a problem. If by fall, this area has not shown any improvement, then a substitute will definitely be needed. Originally, Michael had specified Salvia darcyi for this location, but it’s a Holy Grail kind of plant, the kind that requires a quest to find.

Just Because

Her Sunday Hat

Posted on June 4, 2012No Comments

She came with peonies. A former high school friend was in town visiting her aging mother and dropped by yesterday to visit. We both are very into our gardens — a common interest that we would not have known about if we hadn’t reconnected through Facebook. It was great fun catching up, and now she’s on her way back home. I’ve had this odd glass jar for many years and have never known what she had been used for. Perhaps olive oil. Someone else must have liked her odd shape and had decided to paint her face, but all that’s left now are flecks of red on her lips.

Contemporary Art

Peekaboo (part 9)

Posted on June 1, 20122 Comments

The tiny black and white photo is Nic Nicosia’s film still from his 'Middletown' video (1997). If Nicosia happens to stumble on this site, I hope he won’t mind how I decided to hang this little piece. If you live in Dallas and want to see and know more about his work, visit the Talley Dunn Gallery. — The tiny black and white photo is Nic Nicosia’s film still from his ‘Middletown’ video (1997). If Nicosia happens to stumble on this site, I hope he won’t mind how I decided to hang this little piece. If you live in Dallas and want to see and know more about his work, visit the Talley Dunn Gallery.

The corner setup. For quite some time my new living room couch has been waiting for some company. I’m referring to the need of additional furniture. Well, now this corner is complete with the introduction of a tiered side table and a vintage lamp.