From LACMA, the Getty & the Natural History Museum
Bitter and sweet melons. Ladybugs and aphids. Butterflies and other bugs. Sure, though that patch out behind a certain Foothills house has more weeds than anything else, the recent slacking rains and warming, sunny days affirm the presence of a Los Angeles spring and have produced a trio of seasonal activities worth taking in. Over near La Brea, they're continuing their fruitiness, going out of their gourds with some elaborate constructions for planting and supporting melons, bitter and sweet. While the supportive framing structures have their own aesthetic, there's an underlying artistic line taking root under those elaborate rising trellises. Meantime, over at the gorgeous gardens on that grand Westside slope, the caretakers are sowing the area with ladybugs (as shown above, right) to protect the jacarandas and azaleas from aphids. Look for the showy blossoms that will result. And if the kid or grandkid can't quite figure what critters are flitting about the family patch, well, take wing over to Exposition Park for either the 40-specie butterfly exhibit that is open now and stays up for a few months each year or plan now for the upcoming, two-day Bug Fair.
An artistic notion takes root under elaborate trellises
Shooing those voracious aphids away from jacarandas, azaeleas
Very Creative! & great photo! New blog on the Hx. of the Ladybug: http://historyoftheladybug.blogspot.com/
Posted by: laisseraller | 05/13/2010 at 06:36 PM