the urban field guide

After filling up on Korean BBQ tacos (no, that’s not a typo) and fresh squeezed lime sorbet at the Eat Real Festival, G and I went wandering through Oakland’s fruit packing district. It’s getting slowly squeezed out by condos and big box stores but parts of the area are still thriving and some great old signs are still up.

While looking through propaganda images from the Victory Garden era I stumbled across this great artist, Chandler O’Leary, who is reconceptualizing those messages. In case the image is too small for you to read, here is the quote in it’s entirety:

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

—Eleanor Roosevelt

Her etsy shop is Anagram Press

This installation in Houston, Texas has since been demolished which is  a shame, but also in some ways makes it more powerful. Now it gets to live in our imagination. Inversion was constructed by Dan Havel and Dean Ruck out of two existing Art League houses that were set for demolition to make way for improved facilities. Photos by Gloria Mashayekhi.

A good friend of mine sent me these pictures recently. The content is the sort that just really gets to me, the kind of thing that is so simple that it amazes me. I love when nature and cities find a way to coexist, but this example is so special – in part because it’s about relationship.  My friend, Karen K, went to Japan in the spring and then returned again a short while later. On her initial visit she saw these swallows nesting in the eaves of a building.

On the next trip the eggs had hatched and she was able to take another picture.

And the amazing part — well look at the next pictures. The shop keepers had hung umbrellas from the eaves so if the baby birds fell out they would be caught by the umbrella and be safe. Now, I love birds and I have come across many tragic instances where a bird fell out of a nest and met its end. And I never would have thought of this beautiful and simple solution. Love it.

Thanks Karen, for the story and the pictures!

I just bought this book today and am so glad that I did. It’s the perfect size hardback with beautiful book design. Really – all the details are there and I love that. It’s a rare and, ok – i’ll say it- a magical find. It has an A-Z style format that spins dark botanical tales of murder and mayhem. A real plant nerd’s treat. There’s even a resource list for poisonous gardens and further reading. The etchings that are generously found throughout the book are by Briony Morrow-Cribbs. They are perfectly suited and incredibly crafted. Here’s one of the ricinus (castor bean).

If you have the chance to check this one out you shouldn’t pass up the opportunity! I actually linked to an article about Amy Stewart and her personal poisonous garden for my second blog post ever.

I found some great instructions for growing moss in the garden and for painting with the mossy mixture to create stencils. Check it out here and here! And if you document your project I’d love to see the pictures!

All of the above work is by Edina Tokodi a Hungarian born artist working in Brooklyn, NY. I absolutely love it.

I know this is a blog about nature within the city, but I’m leaving the city limits again. You see, I liked summer when I found it last week – so I’m going back. This time to the Yuba river for a little camping and I know the mosquitos are going to be out full force. I only wish they were as cute as the above drawing by Golly Bard on Etsy. In the 70s I remember using 1/2 a can of DEET on my legs but now I just can’t, so I’m concocting up a recipe. I’ll let you know how it goes! Click more for the recipe! (more…)

Years ago a good friend gave me a journal that I fell in love with. The cover was bright aqua and there was a line drawing of a beautiful california poppy on it – it’s the last image below. Over time I’ve seen a lot more artwork by Jill Bliss and thought I would share some of her native plant drawings today. As a gardener I can really see how much time she spends with the plants, and as an herbalist I appreciate how some of her prints list the plant’s medicinal uses. Lovely work.