Banco in Situ

There are lizards everywhere

Birds and Sage

Along the west fence, we planted 2 Mexican Bird of Paradise plants.  It took about 10 minutes before a butterfly checked out the open flowers. And behind the Desert Willow, 2 sages were added against the rock wall.  BTW the Dudleya near the garage is in bloom now.

Gaffer63: Banco in Situ
Gaffer63: More Desert Willow

Shooting Lautner

 

Last week we got to shoot in a famous John Lautner home.  It's great to be able to explore an iconic piece of architecture and live with it for a few hours.

Below, Tristan checks out an angle on the glass bottle studded roof.

Saabs Leave

WL sold his Saab 99 and 900 Turbo to his mechanic a few weeks ago.  The day of reckoning happened Sunday morning when they were towed away.

Gaffer63: Saab 99
Gaffer63: Saab In Motion

New Planting

Out back around the new container, we planted another mock orange to continue the line down the fence and a Pink Honeysuckle to cover the fence behind the planter. Along side, we put in 2 Feathery Cassias to frame the planter against the background.
In front, we got rid of an underperforming sage and grape vine and planted a Lemonade berry to complete the west side hedge. It's larger brother looming over the newbie.

Variety DP

Just finished up the week working on a commercial with DP Anthony Hardwick...... who also happens to be in this week's Variety magazine.

Crane Dancers Resized

I've been working on the homes artwork lately. This piece I bought in the late 80's and put it in a store bought frame.  I took it down to the guys at Curve Line Space to see what they could do.  As soon as they took off the old glass, the colors, contrast and depth of the aquatint jump out at me.  They trimmed the original paper and made the picture about the art instead of the matting and frame. It's amazing what a good frame will do to enhance a piece of art.
The artist Sara Amatniek died in 1996 but I think she would have approved

Gaffer63: After the Storm
Gaffer63: New Anna

Planter Seated

We wrestled the planter onto it's stand in the garden this morning.  Will have to wait a few months to plant.  We filled it with water today to help the backyard fauna during these blisteringly hot days

Beautiful Sunrise

It's gonna be hot this weekend

Massive Planter

We found this huge planter for cheap the other day.  Originally cast for a Las Vegas hotel, the size is a bit big but the deal was too good to pass up. 36" diameter and solid concrete.... WL and I could barely move it, let alone lift it into the back of the Saab.  Somehow we didn't breakdown and this morning, we cleared away a tree and some bulbs that WL has always hated.  We poured a small concrete pad for the beast and are figuring out what to plant in and around it.

Banco in Situ

Mantis Feeding

Every morning it's a search for where our mantis is today.... and what color.  While in the eaves, WL fed our guy some caterpillars.  He was hungry enough to snatch the stick from the hand.  Doing some pruning on the Spanish Broom out front, I spied a younger version, also munching on caterpillars.

After the Storm

We recieved the painting "After the Storm" yesterday.  Artist Anna Meunch is married to friend Toshi Ozawa.  They reside in Switzerland with their adorable son.  Anna paintings have a whimsical Wes Anderson feel to them.  Peaceful and serene with a splash of wit. Her continuing studies in Islamic arts and traditions also influence her work.  Much more can be learned and seen on her website Apothecarie Artistique.

Gaffer63: Norton Simon
Gaffer63: Anna's Work

Banco in Situ

Duck Amok

While at the Huntington Gardens today, we ventured into the Japanese Garden.  A beautiful waterfall was at the entrance.  We spotted a duck who seemed to be caught in the swirling waters.  He tumbled down the stream and was dunking his head looking for tasty algae.  A rough way to get lunch but he seemed determined to get a good meal.