All posts by Julie Blakeslee

Alhambra in NYC

S- the sunday party pix in the Times this morning reminded me of the exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden- didn’t you intern there back in the day? The guests wore blue to match the exhibition. You know I love love love that kind of effort.

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Did you see the NYT Alhambra story last week? I think we are going to visit Granada in the fall to see the gardens and also run to Majorelle.

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Lavish garden books are a major treat- but there is debate on how much of a garden you can grasp from a picture. I’ll be curious to see the exhibition in NY and if it’s able to capture the allure of what I dream the Alhambra is like. It’s in the conservatory so that’s already a little creepy some how vs the light and shadow of the harsh spanish sun. But the harsh African and Spanish light and heat are from whence we learn here in A town. It’s been 99 degrees all week. umm hmm, with that i’ll sign out. xoxjb

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S- we finally carved out the time to rearrange the courtyard so it looks presentable.

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I’m feeling very “my first visit to Epcot Center” in terms of decorating…

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I’ve acted on our mutual faux bois urges in the weeping cedar wonderland section.

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But maybe it’s all tomorrowland? this is my little palm springs + (X) = We are using okay mountains custom picnic table as our check out while we are waiting on our umbrellas to arrive.

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Have you met the OKAY mountain boys? They used to be across the street in Mel Ziegler’s building, but moved out of their gallery space to concentrate on making work. They are kind of slaying it right now.

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But, mercy me, i had no idea when we’d have the time to pull it together, so i didn’t advertise. We’ll see how it goes.

You can see we put in an order of wooly pockets to use for special arrangements and we are teaching Ben how to use the calculator.

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more later on our W extravaganza. xoxojb

the natives are nice once you get to know them

S-

So last year, remember, we were beginning on a garden for a client who is extremely knowledgable about native plants-past president of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, some sort of secondary degree in garden healing and has a few gardens around the nation. The neighborhood had been hit by not one but 2 tornadoes in the last 2 years and her front garden had gone from shade to sun and it was time for an overhaul. She keenly wanted to prove that one could use Texas native plants in a formal garden vocabulary. And she wanted people to get the design immediately. She is also a friend and lived 2 doors down from me and our temporary office- so we had plenty of reasons and time to fret about the design.

You know I don’t have the best relationship with native plants, so she sent me out to Native Texas Nursery to scout around for loot. It’s a design challenge because as you know as you cruise green house after green house out there there are many different types of plants that seem to have all the exact same leaf shapes and texture. And to add to the challenge, the client wasn’t keen on cactus saying: It’s hard to pay for things I rip out of the ground in the ranch- which is indeed an excellent point. But to me, cactus was the only way I could really throw in some evergreen structure and of course some differently shaped leaves and plants. We cajoled her into trying these beautiful blue agave. She had already started the yaupon hedge outlining the beds- I wrassled together a blue and yellow theme and began to take a whack at it. We were all too scared to move the beautiful sagos that were in an awkward position and of course not native- but prehistoric sometimes takes precedence. So we sketched in these super tall dishes to counter balance them. Which they almost did.

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We added some lovely Vitex specimens and esperanzas and a bevy of sages, germanders, snuck in a plumbago, found some sages in her back yard that we were sure would croak because we pulled them up in July – but what the hell – popped them in the ground. I confess i’m enamored with our idea of planting the agave parryi like bedding plants with some knock out roses behind. (she threw me a bone bless her when i told her that we actually did purchase them at Native Texas Nursery).

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The back yard we kept more lush- it is under full live oak shade- so all oak leaf hydrangeas, mock orange, obedient plant, native ferns, some transplanted yaupons from the front beds (boy did they sulk), some manfredas, beds of spider lilies for old school charm, turks cap, honeysuckle and lantana here and there. Mostly going for a white and pink palette to match the house and light up the shade. She already had spectacular evergreen wisteria and some specimen beauty berries which was a lovely start.

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As the summer wore one, I was still trying to cajole her into some more meaty cactus here and there and a yucca collection in the corner yard. But it was getting to be July and planting time was O V E R. We came back in late fall and sprinkled some wine cup seeds in front by the datura. But jeese- these natives are some scrawny ass scraggly plants when you first put them in the ground and it was only mildly satisfying when we pulled out. Of course- she could see what it would look like because she is so conversant in the palette and seemed quite satisfied.

She doesn’t keep a gardner per se, a fact that worried me- but she has no lawn and these plants are tough right? Of course I drove by everyday on the way home and the garden was looking quelle festive- all happy yellow bells. But we had a drama winter for us- and when we came back in early March to do the winter clean up – dios mio. I was a sad mama. Talk about scraggly ass. She of course was just fine about it all- Julie the soils not warm yet- which is hard to remember when it’s 90 degrees out. I had low hopes that these little plants had grown at all and i could tell a few had just up and croaked.

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Regardless, it was clear that we needed some more evergreen structure to keep the front garden relevant in the winter- we also had moved those giant sagos leaving a big hole in the garden. So we’ve begun round 2 of plantings. And several weeks later when we came to install, we saw that indeed most of the plants were quite busy over the winter – the esperanza and passion vine are super slow coming back but everyone else seemed to be well. Until I tried to move a few to put in my new additions. It’s really a one shot deal once you get these babies in the ground right? So i killed a blue sage bush and a germander bush by transplanting them trying to make room for my new sotol and to reward the little agave mediopicta that made it through the winter in a dish by putting her in the ground. I added some Jerusalem sage, some majestic sage and man whatever those blue sages were that we just tossed in there from the back went nuts and are now stupendous. We asked kindly if we might put some cold hardy cactus in the dishes so they’d have some meat in them during the winter and she acquiesced. By the time we had found and planted all the new babies, last years were beginning to put on their show. So finally, i’m feeling much more proud of this native garden.

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Probably more importantly, her ulterior motive SO worked on me. I’m planning a garden out in Deerland, Westlake and I’m all over it. I heard myself saying to the new client (who has moved here from Greenwich) the thing is with these types of plants is…. Well truth be told I’m not wanting to use them in the formal garden way, but rather a la Mr. Oudouf. …whom we think is a hero. I’m feeling lots o coneflowers next year.

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Note Justin last spring at the high line with planting designs by Mr. Oudolf. We’ll see how the client digs the concept….wish us luck….

i’ll keep you updated on the native wonderland. I’m a bit obsessed with it. xojb

west texas II

S- Whoa. We are slammed. happy and slammed and hot (already 96 today), so i’ll have to make this short- but i wanted you to see what i saw coming home last weekend from West Texas.

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The fires were mostly out in fort davis as we drove through although you could still smell it and it smoked in some places. It was hauntingly beautiful. But- i mean, jesus. Talk about some tough plants- the yuccas burned up their entire stalks and still bloomed. The agave is still trying to put out it’s new flush. And really, i had to just throw this one below in. it kills me to pay so much for big girl ocotillos when you drive around and behold these beauties as far as the eye can see. But-the price we pay for legal plants right?! all for now. I’ll shoot you a photo tomorrow of the pre stocked boutique! We finally hired a boutique manager and should be open in a couple of weeks- have to find time to build tables… and so it goes. hope you are well. xoxojb oh yeah- I changed my name back to Blakeslee. I’m now Mrs. Julie Dee Blakeslee. word sister. jb

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people needing people

S- Daniel Richards, my designer in New York got a little write up in Manhattan Magazine- about my Terrace in NYC. He’s started his own design firm doing outside and inside- he’s a chic australian dreamboat. When I was up there last weekend, I was thinking about how helpful it is to have another eye. Even designers need designers right? When we were honing the boxwood rooms up there, I just knew I wanted to be able to see over them when I sat down. He insisted that I wouldn’t. I swore I would. He suggested that I’d enjoy the feeling of enclosure. I promised I wanted to see out. He encouraged me to plant them at his height and then if i just hate it we could hack them back (as if!). I did and of course, he was absolutely right. Walk the walk right? oh and yes, that is more fake turf. eek. jb

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SXFO

dude. South by Freak OUT. We transformed the backstage at Stubb’s in 4 days flat. Love love love this divine client who says: this is how much $ I have- can you make it just look cool? and Fast? yes. yes ma’am we can. Better here?

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or….(and yes, that is more artificial turf…) Demi Moore and Ashton Kutchner broke it in for us first pm. But I think the boys were more thrilled that they were installing during Motor Head’s sound check. I gather Lemmy took a deep drag and declared it “excellent”. Jules was in hog heaven.

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and then the W pool deck install… Poor things were hoofing it trying to get their permits before SX- which they did with huge kudos to their lead designer Heather Plimmer. She and Jacqueline there have the nerves of steel and the patience of saints. I can’t wait for it all to fill in and begin to bloom vulgar pink hardy ice plant everywhere.

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All this on top of the week before doing the Texas Medal for the Arts at the Long Center- 4 events in 2 days. Little Miss oh I just looove west texas… slay me after making 270 center pieces with miniature west texas landscapes.

 

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also a dinner in a private home- used the ever popular dead deer in a thicket theme. And also there was a brunch from which i lost the pictures b/c i dropped my phone into a planter @ the W and all pix went adios. but- it was all about tumble weeds. i’m a little obsessed w them.

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But then during SXSW I got road rage and had to run off to NYC before I planted a cute little hipster behind our garden shed. I felt bad missing Shepard Fairey in our guest house but I heard his mural went off with out a hitch. I’ll try and go get a photo for you. But in NYC, I went retail researching in Williamsburg, Nolita, etc etc. I think I’ll be making a boutique for people by people who really really need it to be easy to shop. I loved seeing you here last week! talk to you soon- jb

 

"let’s make it clean" let’s make it green.

S-

So. We’ve been humping it over here at Navasota to get us ready for prime time or at least to do all we can do until next January’s lull.

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We joined the yard of the little house with the yard of the office and prepped it for Texas Custom Turf’s visit today.

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Check it. They use fertilizer carts to go back and forth over the installed turf literally 50x to fill and make the grain stand up. photo.jpg

Major and Dinah were raised on it in the Murray Garden and immediately went out and rolled around. I’m obsessed with this product. You can put your furniture all over it and it never turns brown, no bugs, no water, no mowing- 15 year guarantee. super super sweet. Abercombie just skateboarded in and did a cartwheel on the new turf.

We’re also prepping the side bed for giant freakish castor beans and blood red sunflowers.

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Speaking of castor beans, have you read the book Wicked Plants?

My childhood friend Amy Stewart wrote it and it’s all about plants that kill you. I always believed that your parents told you not to eat certain plants because you trip. Now I get that you trip and then die. I guess. Whatever, I’ve always been interested in themed gardens. When I visited Château du Champ de Bataille- Jacques Garcia’s little shamble. I was quite enamored with his heaven and hell gardens.

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Can you get behind the pruning for the heaven gates? Blue fluffy plants in heaven and red evil plants in hell.

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I loved seeing this garden in 2004- it was still very new and i’m sympathetic to the man who is throwing down some major buckage on his garden. The chateau came with unrealized garden plans- possibly by Le Notre, so M. Garcia is executing the plans but with his special je ne sais quois.

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Like how I linked our new courtyard with a chateau? Delusions of grandeur. Thrilled that you are coming to town next week! xoxojb

is this beautiful to you?

S- huh. do you think these are dead? it’s okay dear, they are just growing underground now.

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Just because it’s brown and slimy doesn’t mean it’s dead. woohoo. We had a snow day last friday! We missed you at the “BRS ghetto bobsled tournament and training session” so deemed by web designer Paul.

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Truth be told we have been digging out the last of the summer succulents from our gardens. Most times brown and slimy ees not so good. But all these dead plants and the 3 day bonus weekend gave me time to have deep retail thoughts. We will inch back into retail this spring. There, I said it. We need something to make us finish our space.

And speaking of selling things- Laura Gottesman, real estate agent extraordinare tempted me with a house “that has a garden that will make you faint”. Oh yeah? Oh. yeah. Alas, now my little cottage is on the market. We put down some grass in the back which helped Dinah with her new year’s resolution not to pee in the house so we’ve got that going for us. More later…. xojb

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january juju

Dios mio mama, January is a bore in garden making land. It does give me time to think about our musings last year as we were contemplating joining forces. Now that I’ve a half a year under my belt of Big Red Sun Austin land as opposed to private practice, I’m in a style nazi quandary. We talked last January about evolving the known style of Big Red Sun in part because it is getting ripped off constantly and these emulations are being done in a lesser quality and in part because it’s exciting to keep pushing the style forward.

I know we both are ready for a more heady approach to garden making. And this makes me fondly remember my sessions with spanish garden designer Fernando Caruncho for my ultimately unbuilt austin house by Juan Miro.

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Each part of our 3 acre garden was developed in response to the site and to Juan’s house with an express desire to create spaces to hone the light. I’m haunted by the unbuilt spaces of both the house and garden. Husband no.1 said I had some freaky sense that allows me to see every detail of a plan and walk through it in my mind like one does in a dream. It took years to get this project out of my head because I remembered all these spaces as if they were already built- in my mind they were. What a complete luxury to have a space built in your honor- meaning having your experiences, your physic and physical needs expressly listened to and then honed by a designer who can take this essence and translate it into physical space. You in particular know that I am loathe to let another design for my personal space. You in fact are the only other designer I asked to do a design for me other than Miro and Caruncho. But as we both know, when the designer you hired can transcend your literal translation of your needs- the results can be true art that reflects your nature in well…nature. What a head trip! no wonder garden making is the art of kings. Speaking of, what do we think of the fact that you and Caruncho both ended up with circles for me?

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I can’t remember if I have talked with you about my design sessions with Caruncho. I had been obsessed with his minimalist contemporary garden making ideas for years- and was thrilled to finally meet him. It’s so rare that someone is even more of the quality you imagined- and his quality was calm. Simplify simplify simplify was his gentle mantra to himself. And of course, it’s the most brave action one can take in building and designing. And brave to commission for that matter. I always think a garden is better if you set strict parameters in terms of materials- be they plant, shapes and hardscape. But many feel the end result will lack “pop”- which of course is true in a way. Pop! is not the point. Caruncho somehow convinces each of his clients towards the same mellow ochre color in his garden walls, to use only a handful of the SAME plants each time and to always use terra cotta pots because they are better for the plants. While I feel like a style nazi, he comes across like mother teresa floating across the landscape leaving consecrated space in his wake.

It’s funny that when the Miro house and accompanying garden fell through- (oh how i have karmically earned shelved client projects going forward) the house we ended up in was as opposite of peaceful as we could find. That does seem to be my modus operandi. nothing half way, if we aren’t going to have perfect minimalism… well then hello hollywood. Statesman Thornton. Praise it- the sun just came out. talk to you soon, xoxojb

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Austin to LA

S- happy new year mama. look what i found in my photo library… Justin’s pictures from our Venice beach odyssey last spring.

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Thanks for the January pep talk.  When I get on myself about how slowly things seem to be coming along at Navasota construction wise-it helps me to think about the fact that it was just May when we decided to join officially join forces – and we didn’t actually lease out Navasota until July.

Check out the pix below of our mini co. christmas party…

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Jedi Justin and JT at the pinata

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Abercrombie dealt the fatal blow- and then promptly apologized for breaking it.

Another year. come and gone. just like any other. right? as if. hello 2011. xoxjb

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