Arcosanti: An Urban Labratory

Arcosanti is an urban laboratory focused on innovative design, community, and environmental accountability. The basis of this lifestyle is the work of Italian - American architect Paolo Soleri's theory of compact city design, Arcology. Paolo passed from this earth on April 9th, 2013.

Located among the hills and valleys of Arizona's high desert, Arcosanti is built in rock outcroppings and is cooled and heated by the natural elements. Building began in the 1970's during the time that urban sprawl became a concern for environmentalist. Some 7,000 volunteers have lived and worked here putting action to their philosophy to see their dream come to life. The area consists of various mixed-use buildings and public spaces where people live, work and participate in educational and cultural programs. Visitors are welcome and tours are conducted daily.

Arcosanti's newest project is this greenhouse based on a modular design using air flow as a natural circulatory system called an energy apron developed by Jaderloon. 

In the 1950's, returning to Italy after an extended stay with Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West, Paolo was commissioned to build a large ceramics factory in Vietri. Here he learned processes that he adapted to produce his award winning ceramic and bronze bells which are sold here at Arcosanti and at Cosanti in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Here are a few pictures of the residence quarters. Some can be rented for short term stays. 

The ceramic bells are made here by residents.

Soleri Windbells help fund the cost of building Arcosanti. The Brass Windbells are made in the area below and at Cosanti.

There are many outdoor spaces to enjoy and many walls are decorated with colorful patterns and depictions of wildlife. The amphitheater is used for lectures as well as entertainment.

Creating an "urban container" instead of the "individual domain" is Paolo's solution to ecologically sustainable architecture which he envisions as "a type of organization of buildings, of spaces that are serving people and not dis-serving the biosphere."

The design concepts of Arcosanti (and Cosanti) have challenged and fueled thought in the world of architecture, both building and landscape. We can thank Paolo Soleri as a man who put his ideas into a concrete example for us to ponder.

I could not come home without a bell! Choosing just one proved difficult but I finally found a design I liked with the perfect ring that was in my price range. I've placed it where I can see it from my kitchen window and hear the lovely dingly-dong when the wind caresses it's wind catcher.

Visit Arcosanti here.

Late Winter Blooming Plants

It's February. Garden shows are popping up all over the country and nurseries are beginning to get stock of bareroot roses, fruit trees, and potted bulbs. Looking out the window from your cozy living room you wonder "When is Spring going to arrive?" Here's the 411, you don't have to wait for Spring anymore to enjoy colorful and fragrant flowers in your garden!

My all-time favorite winter blooming plant is the evergreen and fragrant Sarcococca. The two forms I use are the humilis, a low growing (up to 1' high) ground cover type and the larger confusa (black berries) or ruscifolia (red berries) which are a compact bush up to 3' tall and make an excellent short hedge. In my garden I have planted the S. humilis under the stairs to my front door where the heady scent greets those coming and going. I have made a hedge of C. ruscifolia under the drip line of my back deck to obscure the area under the deck. Every time I go out to gather eggs from mid-February through March I am greeted with the scent of spring!

Erica carnea 'Myretoun Ruby' starts blooming in February and continues for months! I love the dark fushia flowers against the blue-green foliage. Heaths and heathers are low maintenance garden work horses. There is one for every landscape situation. Heaths and Heathers Nursery is my favorite resource.

For more blooms try helleborus. You may have heard them called the Christmas Rose or Lenten Rose. The bloom bearing stems rise out of the ground naked (if you've cut back the old leaves) and as the the season progresses new leaves begin to rise from the base of the plant. Old varieties have nodding blossoms but many new varieties hold their blooms face up toward the sky. Take a look at Northwest Garden Nursery for great pictures and descriptions.

A fabulously fragrant bush is Daphne odora commonly known as winter daphne (shown in above picture). This one is 'aureomarginata' having variegated leaves. Winter daphne will start to bloom in March here in the Pacific Northwest just when the sarcococca's scent is fading. This is another bush to plant near the front door where visitors pass by frequently and are able to enjoy the heady scent when Spring has yet to do its springing.

Grevillia victoriae 'Murray Queen' is an outstanding bush with a tropical appearance bearing racemes of orange trumpet flowers. The bonus is that hummingbirds love it! Beginning to bloom in Autumn it continues on through the Winter months and into Spring in zone 7.

Witch Hazel (Hammamelis) is a small to medium tree that would compliment a planting of Grevillia victoriae 'Murray Queen'

Witch Hazels come in a variety of yellow and oranges and begin to bloom in February. Their scent is spicy sweet so plant it where you can catch a whiff. Witch Hazel Nursery has a wonderful photo library.














Bearing bouquets of sweetly scented white, yellow or orange trumpets Edgworthia chrysantha or Paper Bush blooms before sending its lovely leaves to catch the sun's rays. Again, this is a wonderful "front door" bush with its compact habit and colorful flowers brightening the grey winter skies. What better way to say "Welcome" to your visitors?



Are you inspired? Make a trip to your local nursery to see these plants and more close-up and personal. Don't have a garden near the front door? Many of these plants are adaptable to large pots and will add a year-long display mixed with seasonal annuals or other well chosen perennials. Need help making the right choice for you, your lifestyle and your landscape? Send me an email, I'd love to help!

The Luther Burbank Home and Gardens

 Luther Burbank, American botanist, developed the Santa Rosa plum, the spineless cactus, the Elberta Peach and the plumcot among so many other plants that we eat and enjoy every day. During a cycling trip to Santa Rosa and California's wine country, I stopped in to tour his home and garden.

Luther was a simple man with a loving heart. He lived in this small home on four acres and developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants on this and his Gold Ridge Farm in Sebastopol. It was his passion and life's work. His Santa Rosa home is now a public park with tours of the house and greenhouse.

The entry has a wonderful fragrant rose garden where one could sit for hours just watching the bees buzz and the birds sing while scratching up tidbits from the soil. I was visiting during Amgen's Tour of California so there were many festivities sponsored in the garden.

After spending the morning on a cycling tour of Santa Rosa listening to the falling water lulled me into unconsciousness on a grassy bed for at least half an hour. 

 There were many architectural details that made the small house feel grand.

A centerpiece, this spineless cactus is over 100 years old and was developed and planted by Luther himself.

I recommend stopping by this small but historically significant garden when you visit Santa Rosa. Learn more here: http://www.lutherburbank.org/