Archives for category: Plants

Guest Post: House & Garden – June 1970

June 13, 2013 //

House & Garden – June 1970 by Olivia Hantken

I picked up this treasure whilst shopping with my mum in Brunswick many years ago. There was a big stack and I regret that we only bought two! They float between her bookcase and mine as we not only love the beautiful images, but enjoy the time warp we enter when reading them.

Whilst not strictly gardens, below is a series of images from this issue featuring alfresco living ideas and interior design.

My favourite is without a doubt the bean bag room. This was taken from the penthouse of french actor Francois Perrier (on Boulevard St Germain of course!). He was aided by interior decorator Francois Arnal, who also painted the black and white composition on the far wall.

Along with the Zanuda bean bag chairs, the feature cactus and amazing ash trays make me conjure images of some of the amazing parties Francois must have thrown.

All images from House & Garden – June 1970. British, American, French No. 6 Whole No. 250 Volume 25 The Conde Nast Publication.

Tags 1970s, alfresco dining, alfresco living, beanbags, Flowers, francois arnal, francois perrier, garden, house and garden, indoor plants, olivia hantken, zanuda

Categories Architecture, Art, Design, Flowers, Interior Design, Plants

Guest Post: Hanging Gardens

June 10, 2013 //

After a successful first guest post the other week, Olivia Hantken will be back taking care of the blog this week while I on holiday in Japan.

I will be posting plenty of shots on Instagram, so be sure to follow me @thesecretgardenblog

Hanging Gardens by Olivia Hantken

Vintage gardening magazines seem to be taking over more and more of my bookshelf, so I will be sharing selected images from some of my favourites over the next few weeks.

The first is a little gem I found called Sunset Ideas for Hanging Gardens. It was published in 1974 and features instructions and trends for a variety of suspended gardens. Some of my favourites are the giant boston fern (being watered from a ladder), the donkey tail sedum, the string of beads and the bonsai cedar with moss.

All images from Sunset Ideas for Hanging Gardens, Lane Publishing co. California 1974.

Tags bonsai, boston fern, donkey tail sedum, fern, Flowers, hanging gardens, hanging plants, moss, olivia hantken, sunset ideas for hanging gardens, sunset magazine

Categories Flowers, Interior Design, Photography, Plants

Amsterdam

June 4, 2013 //

Westerpark is one of my favourite parks in one of my favourite cities, Amsterdam. I spent an incredibly memorable spring day there with friends Loulou and Jacob back in 2009.

Westerpark Photos one, two, four & five by Louise Tran, photo three by Jacob Hunt.

While we’re in the city, this Amsterdam restaurant was recently brought to my attention by new work mate and former Dam local Richard.

The greenhouse where De Kas Restaurant is now situated was built in 1928. It was due to be demolished but head chef Gert Jan Hageman bought it from the council (for €1.00) and renovated it into the restaurant and garden it is today. The space is green, sunny and very inviting. In warmer months you can eat amongst the herbs and take tours and workshops in the garden.

Photos by Jet van Fastenhout for De Kas Restaurant.

Tags amsterdam, de kas, de kas restaurant, design, garden, gert jan hageman, greenhouse, interior design, jet van fastenhout, kitchen garden, westerpark

Categories Architecture, Design, Food, Garden, Interior Design, Photos by Sophia, Plants

Moorten Garden

May 29, 2013 //

This one acre, family owned botanical garden and cactarium in Palm Springs is filled with 3000 varieties of desert plants. I would love to visit on my next trip to the States.

Moorten Garden Photos one, two, six and seven by Amy Merrick. Three, four and five by Chuck B.

More info on the garden here.

Tags amy merrick, botanical garden, cactarium, cacti, cactus, desert, desert plants, Flowers, garden, moorten cactarium, moorten garden, palm springs

Categories Design, Flowers, Garden, Nature, Photography, Plants

Babylon Light

May 28, 2013 //

This growing light fixture is designed by Ryan Taylor of multidisciplinary studio O\I. It usually sets you back $448 (Canadian) but they have 15% off until May 31st. Get it here.

Babylon Light Thanks to Mel for sharing!

Tags interior design, light fixture, O\I, plant design, plant light, plants, ryan taylor, urban garden, Urban gardening, white

Categories Architecture, Design, Garden, Interior Design, Plants

Chelsea Flower Show

May 24, 2013 //

Every May the Chelsea Flower Show sees the Royal Chelsea Hospital grounds turned into an array of flower and garden exhibits. This year, the 100th year of the festival, best in show was won by Australian Phillip Johnson.

Brent Elliot has released a book of archival images to celebrate the centenary. Below are some images from his book (available here) along with images from this years festival (via RHS Image).

Tags brent elliot, cactus, chelsea flower show, flower show, garden, phillip johnson, rose, royal chelsea flower show

Categories Design, Flowers, Garden, Photography, Plants

Potheads

May 17, 2013 //

Artist and ceramicist Kim Jaeger has been creating these super cute ‘potheads’ since 2011.

Historia Films (a collaboration between photographer Mike Smith and blogger Laura Quattrocelli) have made a little film about Jaeger’s work. You can also check out an interview with her on The Design Files.

My mother has a vase at home which reminds me of these potheads. It’s by Arab Australian artist Salwa El-Shaikh.

Photograph by Sophia Kaplan.

Tags ceramics, Flowers, historia films, indoor plants, kim jaeger, plants, potheads, pots, salwa el-shaikh, sculpture, the design files, vase

Categories Art, Design, Garden, Interior Design, Plants

Vanishing Elephant

May 14, 2013 //

A collection of enviable (and plant filled) interiors from the Vanishing Elephant blog along with my favourite pieces from their latest collection.

Download the first issue of the Vanishing Elephant Journal here and buy their clothes here.

Tags bathtub, courtyard, fashion, indoor plants, interior design, interiors, kitchen, lookbook, plants, succulents, vanishing elephant

Categories Architecture, Design, Fashion, Interior Design, Plants

Aubin & Wills

May 3, 2013 //

I love the plants (and clothes, and styling) in this lookbook for (now defunct) English brand Aubin & Wills’ spring 2012 collection. The photographs feature Blur’s bass guitarist Alex James and Romanian/ Canadian model Irina Lazereanu.

All images and video from Aubin & Wills.

Tags alex james, aubin & wills, blur, fashion, fiddle leaf, Flowers, indoor plants, irina lazareanu, lookbook, model, musician, plants, vines

Categories Architecture, Design, Fashion, Flowers, Interior Design, Photography, Plants

Wollombi & Laguna

May 1, 2013 //

This past weekend I celebrated my birthday with a four day getaway to a friend’s place in Wollombi. We wiled away most of our days lazing in the sun on the big balcony overlooking the valley. On Saturday I spent the morning visiting some great people down the road at Laguna Earth House (more on that in a moment) and in the evening everyone helped prepare a delicious paella which we ate around the fire pit we cooked it on.

Laguna Earth House is owned by the charming Rosie and Nigel. The main house was self-built with the help of their son using environmentally friendly mud bricks, straw bale and locally sourced timber, and is fitted with solar panels for all their energy needs. The garden is an overflowing bounty of organic fruit, vegetables, herbs and salad leaves. Rosie and Nigel are self taught gardeners and builders and are now keen to share their knowledge through workshops in organic gardening, alternative building techniques and other sustainable practices.

Check out their Facebook page for regular updates and information on upcoming workshops. Next up is ‘Autumn Food Preserving and Fermentation’ on 18 May.

A very warm thank you to Rosie, Nigel and Andy for sharing their home and garden with us.