Backyard Botanical Beauty

Hello luvs,

It’s only been a few weeks! Huh!? Huh? Whatdya think about that? Better, no?  Ok. Ok. We'll call it for what it is... tiny steps.

So. As usual, I’ve been scrambling around like the madwoman that I am and have been totally EXHAUSTED from the humidity here. (That’s right, the HUMIDITY PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTS me. I feel like it could kill a cow.) (I don’t even know what that means, but I figure that’s gotta take a LOT of humidity.) ANYWHO. I've been working on a project for work that’s almost done and trying to figure out school for next semester. CRAZY, right? I feel like summer hasn’t even happened, and now it’s already time for school again. Boo. BUT, I am kind of excited… I think classes are going to be quite fun this semester. (Well, I mean, fingers crossed.) On a different note, throughout this "summer," there have been a few days these past few weeks, where it has started to feel like fall… Ummm. Fall is my favorite season, don't get me wrong, but WHAT? NYC get it together. This is ridiculous. In the midst of the humidity-gone-cow-tippage weather, there were a few moments where there was excessive street leafage and the need for a sweater. I’m sorry. I’m just not ready for this. No no no. I know the humidty can be gross, but I will personally sponsor AC infused cow sanctuaries if we can just keep summer going for a bit longer. (To clarify, I don’t believe there even ARE cows in NYC, but hey, you just never know.)

OK. Moving on from cows.

So. Because it’s summertime and the Californian in me feels that this requires outdoor activities, I have been spending Saturday mornings at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. The Gardens are free on Saturday morns and, well, anyone who knows me knows I’m all about the free shiz. Free boats, free food, free gardens… Sign. Me. Up.

The Gardens are quite soothing actually and not so crowded on Saturday morns. Possibly for two reasons… 1) It has been HELLA humid. Idk if I mentioned that, and you KINDA have to be part cray cray to head out in the heat on a Saturday morn, and 2) Well, CLEARLY, people with hearts who are out and about are obviously out checking on the suffering cows. (Again, I don’t know where this cow thing came from... just go with it. Pretend you get it (III don’t even get it), but crowd mentality has our back. Trust me. NOW we will move on. For serious.)

So for those of us who aren’t engaging in the above, Botanical Gardens it is. I’ve actually been having a great time perusing the gardens and lying down on the grounds with a good book after. (Assuming my clothes haven’t COMPLETELY stuck to me.) BUT, more importantly, I’ve been using the Gardens to get home décor ideas for my future dwelling upon return to Cali… Ya know, when I move into my estate in Calabasas next to the K Klan. (I’ve recently started watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians, yeah, I know, I’m behind on that bandwagon, but OH GOODNESS you CANNOT deny the fact that that family is entertaining. I've been rendered speechless during multiple episodes. All I can say is that I fully embrace this guilty pleasure, and once you tune in, it is hard to look away. And this is coming from someone who is vehemently ANTI reality TV.) ANYWAY, long story short… The K Klan has inspired my desire for hypothetical home and garden renovations. For my future hypothetical home and garden, of course. But in all seriousness, I would love to go back someday to that land of lovely weather, jutting canyons, and the PCH. (What many a cow would give to leave this city for the far off West. Sigh.) Therefore, in preparation for my upcoming not so humble abode, I stride the fields (one field) of Brooklyn to gain insight into botanical beauty. (And simply to fill my Saturday morns with SOMETHING.)

Let’s begin.

The MASSES of people, just like me, out and about at the Gardens on a Saturday morn, in search of home and garden inspiration.

 

Welcome to the Cherry Walk. This was absolutely beAUtiful, and I'm thinking something along the lines of installing it on the edge of my property... To separate my backyard from the rest of the canyons, obviously. How do we feel? (Come on people, you gotta dream big!)

 OH. And here are the doors. SEXY, shmexy doors. I like the clean lines of it all. No joke. It's serene elegance. (I should really write home and garden decor articles. Although, I don't know how they'd feel about my reference to sexy architecture...? Meh.)

 

 

So the Cherry Walk leads up to the The Japanese Hill and Pond Garden... This place is heavenly. Again, so serene. There were people painting and reading, just simply enjoying their morning.
Now look at that deck! I love me a good latticed enclave. That is definitely going in my garden along with a pond, bridge, and mini waterfall (my own landscaping addition). All that's missing are rocking chairs and some fresh brewed tea (we'll go with green, being that this IS the Japanese garden and all). Thanks Japanese Hill and Pond Garden for the ideas!
(For those of you who actually think I'm going to install a waterfall in my backyard, I will open up a donation box so you can contribute to making this a reality... Maybe I will Kickstart my backyard? Hmm. Oh, the possibilities.)

 

Just some beautiful nature pics. Some of these paths REALLY reminded me of my hikes through the canyons in LA. The trees, the dirt, the inclines... Sigh.
Something else that also reminded me of LA was this snake... Oh, its not a snake you say? Well DUH. But III didn't know that till after 5 min of standing away from it, waiting for it to "do something." In LA you constantly run into snakes, mostly rattlers, that just want to cross the trail. But those snakes simply slither across and keep moving. This one was kind of hovering in the middle of the path. So I stayed back and waited... UNTIL I realized that it was a piece of rope and not a snake at all. Oh goodness. (It was at this moment that I appreciated the fact that no one in their sane mind was out and about, in the heat, witnessing my craziness.)

 Oh, hey there turtles. Yeah. I think I'll add some turtles to my pond as well. And maybe some fish. I don't know, animals are a lot of upkeep... I shall think this through and update you later. 

 

 

Stone stairs and water fountains: SEXY.
I love the stone steps. My grandma has a hill of stairs leading up to her home and these reminded me of them. Also, some of the entrances to LA homes in the mountains have these as well, but those are a bit less sexy and more so sketch. Sketch as in... life or death. Will you make it up the steps before they crumble or no? Anyone's game.
And how adorbs is this fountain? I mean, I can't think of why I would need one outside, in my backyard (as opposed to coming indoors and drinking from the filtered fridge?), but give me a few days, and I can come up with something. The coloring and texture (I'm assuming from age) are BEAUTIFUL.

 Outdoor terrace, AND, look at those lanterns.
All I need is a hallway somewhere and I'm set. Oh gosh. Give me a minute. Ok.
Wait. Mediterranean style tiled roofs, TOO? I can't. It's like they know just where to hit me.

 

A lily pond. YES. Add to cart.

Turtles, lily pads, and flowers, OH MY! The flowers were gorgeous. Perfectly bloomed and groomed. Adding this to my list. Uh oh, it's getting long.

 Should I have a conservatory? No? Too much? You may be right. Nevertheless, this one was breathtaking.

 

 I kinda have a thing for sunflowers. Pagan flowers that they are, there's just something stunning about these sun worshipers. They are human height flowers! What's not to like... AND you can eat them??
My kinda flower.

 GRAPES! Nothing like a grapevine branching through my latticed enclave. See? It's all coming together.

  

Welcome to my Herb Garden! I mean, the Botanical Garden's Herb Garden. TomAYto, toMAHto. 

This Garden had your normal herbs and roots, along with some that were new to me and therefore struck my fancy.... Parsley? Ok. Yes, please. Gonna make me some Tabouli. Rhubarb? Umm... Just make sure to cook the leaf stalks and not the blades and you'll be ok, I guess? And can't say I've ever had "mosquito plant" flavored tea. It's probably one of those hidden, herbal flavors offered at Starbucks. I'll ask for it next time I'm there.

 

 Agreed. Why not? More people should compost.
(Can you use cow manure? I may have just found a job for the humid cows!)

 

 

 

 

 After you pass the herbs, you'll come upon the fruit and vegetable garden. YUM! (I'm definitely incorporating this too.) FIRST of all, who knew artichokes were so beautiful! I mean, I've never seen a sexy vege, but artichoke sure qualifies as one in my book. Look at that shade of purple! I'm sorry, the artichoke CLEARLY affected me. But let's not detract from the corn, tomatoes, and okra... EQUALLY as delish, just a little less shmexy. Nothin' wrong with that.

 

Since I'm having an herb and fruit/vegetable garden, an outdoor rinsing sink and chop block are NECESSARY. Look at that stone! Also, remember the waterfall I mentioned? How about 5 mini wall spouts instead? I think that's reasonable.

 

 

 

Last but not least, a rose garden. Can you smell the roses? Literally? This garden reminded me of "The Secret Garden" which was one of my favorite books as a kid! Mary? Colin? Where are you? These roses smelled divine and the whole garden seemed magical in the early morning light.
(The magic quickly faded as I realized it felt like 100 and infinity out and I was sticking to the terrace.)

 I know I said "last but not least" already, but LOOK at these hairy flowers!? What are they? I couldn't find their name for some reason, probably because they're hideous and who wants to read about/smell a hairy flower, but I think I found something I DON'T want in my backyard. Hairy flower-balls? Nope. I'll pass. Thanks anyway.

In my opinion, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden does not disappoint and is a great way to spend a few leisurely hours! As you can see, I have QUITE the home/backyard renovation project lined up upon my return to LA. And I'm sure other things like, ya know, a job and housing (aka an ACTUAL home to subject to my thrifty renovations) will simply fall into place. I'm not worried. I got this. I can picture it now... Me, sitting under the stars, under my latticed terrace, smelling the roses, and planting my vegetables. All of us nibbling on the grapes in a bowl on the table, Kim and Kloe on either side, and weather that would make all the cows of NYC jealous. Sigh. I can't wait. K Klan, I am on my way and can't wait to be neighbours! (I feel like people in Calabasas are fancy and use English spelling, by the way.) Till then, my little apartment in Brooklyn will have to do, and the Botanical Garden will continue to house me on Saturday morns. Tis all for now!

Have a safe weekend my dears!

Till next time,

<3

A southern, west-coaster, in the northeast

*All cow tippage references were hypothetical and no cows were harmed in the making of this post. Or from the humidity. I don't think.
*You may have noticed my excess use of parentheses ( ) lately. They are the newest members to make my "favorite punctuation mark" list. Deal with it. ... SHOUTY CAPS () And the list grows...


Songs of the week:

 Freestylers- Cracks

(Ft. Belle Humble. Flux Pavilion remix)

Just a snippet! 

AND

Ellie Goulding- Figure 8

This song. Sick. Love it.