Handsome and Sculpted

I couldn't be more excited to see the Desert Steel Co. featured in the April issue of Garden Design magazine.

I happened to meet steel sculptor Eric Carroll last summer at the annual outdoor arts fair in Hermosa Beach where he was promoting his gorgeous life-sized cactus and agave sculptures. I couldn't take my eyes off of them! The promise of patina, the artist's obvious grasp of the original plant's allure. Dare I say better than the real thing?

Believe me, I was racking my brain for a client to pitch these handsome pieces to. Alas, I had to walk away without one, but I do know where to get them. And now you do too! Congratulations, Eric!

Memento

Imagine my proud surprise when I received this photo from my friend Eric in the Bay Area along with this message: "Your child is blooming again! Perhaps it will have four flowers next year."

The Amaryllis in the photo (or Hippeastrum, as they are correctly called) is one I had sprouted from seed over five years ago by pollinating a lovely pair I had on a sunny windowsill one winter. It was great fun to see the base of the blossom swell and, eventually, develop into well-packed seed pods. When the seeds had fully developed, I planted a number of the them in tiny terracotta pots and, lo and behold, they actually sprouted! While a number of friends received these tiny treasures as St. Valentine's Day gifts that year, only Eric diligently fostered and fed and fussed over his seedling, determined to get a bloom. Which he did, in record time I'm certain, and which he continues to do year after year.