[Illustration: Dave Calver / For the Times]
Do you have a cleaning lady? A gardener? A nanny? A handyman? This week's LA Times Home & Garden section focuses on the pros and cons of the people we hire to help us run our households and our lives. Do you do it yourself? Then perhaps you'd prefer to learn how to create a vertical kitchen garden or the evolution of the work of interior designer Michael Taylor? More, pix and links, after the jump...
Nannies take on extra duties as households economize: It's becoming more common, as people try to spend less, to ask the nanny to clean, grocery shop and more.
Household employees worry as work dries up: The LA Times talked with a nanny, a housekeeper, a gardener and a day labourer to find out how the recession is affecting them.
The ethics of cutting household help: When the going gets tough, who and how do you decide to let go?
A hole in the wall garden: No space for an edible garden? Think again. Garden designer Ann Phillips solves the problem with her edible plant wall. If you can't quite figure it out, she'll be offering classes in April.
The man who invented the California look: A new book by Stephen M. Salny about interior designer Michael Taylor explores how Taylor created what's come to be known as the quintessential California look: white interiors, stone floors and over-scaled sculptural furniture. Check out the online preview. Sainy will give a lecture on the designer Wednesday at 1 pm.
[image 4: Stefano Paltera for LA Times; image 5: Timothy Hursley/ W.W. Norton & Co]
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I think you could do the plant wall with cinder blocks too for a Retro garden look
view parrishnut's profile
The problem with all wall planters (as far as I can tell) is that they don't give enough room for root development. Eventually, the plants will suffocate themselves as they become root bound.
So, it seems like you'd have to replant quite often.
Depends on the plants of course. Thyme, for example, would probably work well here. As would succulents... but that's not edible.
Any gardeners have suggestions for plant choices?
view kmswann's profile
Mediterranean herbs such as thyme (which you said, I'm just going with it) and also rosemary and dwarf lavender like it dry. The smaller oreganos are very non-demanding. Chives and nasturtiums should also be fine. Rootbound isn't a big issue for any of these guys. Just don't overwater.
Strawberries, edible scented "geraniums" - really the pelargoniums, spinach, and chard will all need more water but don't need a lot of space. Grape/cherry tomatoes are bulkier than these but could still be in half-baskets.
Half baskets seem a lot easier than some "vertical gardens" and a lot more modular, you can shift around what's an upper neighbor of what.
view JosieDaisy's profile
If that wooden plant stand is anything like my wine rack (and it looks exactly the same), those aren't closed holes - they're open at the back, so there should be plenty or room for root development. Not sure what kind of backing she put on that so that the soil doesn't escape though. We bought the wine rack on ebay and it hadn't occurred to me to use it for anything other than wine bottles. It's a great idea.
view rappy's profile