vertical garden

image from Terrain

 image from i spot green

image from contemporist

Living in southern California, it's relatively easy to maintain a garden of succulents.  But if you're looking for something a little different than a traditional bed or potted plants, consider a vertical garden.  Not only are they visually appealing and double as decor, but they also work well for small spaces or to establish privacy.  While many landscape designers can build custom wall pieces (like Falling Waters Landscape in Encinitas), you can also assemble your own.  I stumbled upon woollypockets about a year ago, and think that they are a great alternative to a vertical box.  The breathable modular pockets can be easily hung on the wall, in which you can organize your plants however you please.

 images from woollypocket

venice beach. gjelina & jake

images from megan.christine

After a weekend spent in Manhattan Beach for a wedding in Westlake Village, it came to an end with Sunday brunch with a few of my girlfriends.  Since one friend had just recently moved from Brooklyn to Venice Beach, we decided to group on Abbot Kinney Blvd at the hipster restaurant, Gjelina.  I had read about Gjelina in many magazines and had talked to a good friend who was lucky enough to be on the design team for the interiors (done by Peel Inc and Modern Architectural Inc), so it would have been accurate to say I was a tad excited to go meet them.  Thinking ahead, my friend made reservations (which I highly recommend).  This place is packed and the wait can be brutal on the weekends.  What's rather pleasant is that everyone waiting stays outdoors, which is great not to have a bum in your face as your eating.  We got a large table in the front of the restaurant by the bar, with optimal people watching views indoors and out.  We started with ice coffee and blood orange mimosas, and then shared dishes family style.  Chef Travis Lett, did not disappoint.  His spin on margarita pizza (with jalapeno) was delicious, as was the Moroccan eggs and eggplant with burrata.  There wasn't a bite left on any plate.  The combination of flavor was artful and the textures were well balanced.  I think I could have sat at that table until dinner.  It didn't hurt that I had a beeline view of Jake Gylenhaal the entire meal!  

images from, my last bite