As San Diego Farmgirl recently pointed out, citrus trees can be found in most Southern California yards. But this is the first time I've seen them in window boxes under an awning. Leave it up to one of my favorite restaurants, Wild Thyme, to make great use of this space. (I'll bet loquat jam would be great with those famous crepes...)Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Loquats in the Shade
As San Diego Farmgirl recently pointed out, citrus trees can be found in most Southern California yards. But this is the first time I've seen them in window boxes under an awning. Leave it up to one of my favorite restaurants, Wild Thyme, to make great use of this space. (I'll bet loquat jam would be great with those famous crepes...)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
35 comments:
Goody, more color!
Is it just me, or is that awning one of a kind? I thought those things only came in dark green or royal blue or tan... this one is borderline psychedelic.
Again, you've made me happy.
Thanks for the link — I had no idea what a loquat was and I think I can definitely say that I've never had it.
Lovely, colorful wall and awning though! So bright and cheery!
Funny name, loquat. But I'll bet they make good jam. They also grow way down in South Texas Rio Grande Valley where I grew up. Same for a number of other So. Calif. lovelies, such as citrus.
palm trees and bougainvillea. Not to forget my favorite, gardenias.
That is a striking awning. Kinda like a clown's pants. Nice to dine in such picturesque surroundings.
As I recall, Wild Thyme used to be a House of Pies.
Many years ago when I worked in downtown LA, my boss and I would occasionally drive to Wild Thyme for lunch. A fairly short drive, but still out of town, and a nice place to dine. We would often see other people we knew. Sometimes they were couples who seemed embarassed to be seen. We figured it was a secret rendezvous location. Imagine that, right here in downtown South Pasadena.
Can Dixie Jane really grow gardenias? I love them, but I kill 'em. Sometimes they even die in the car on the ride home, just in anticipation, I guess.
I marvel at how everything grows there. What a charming scenario to not only have striped awnings and vine covered box sides, but actual FRUIT TREES growing inside. YAY
Someone told me to grow gardenias, that you throw old coffee grounds in the soil - they like the acidity. altadenahiker - I can't grow them either. They turn yellow and die. But if you can get one to grow, nothing beats that divine aroma.
I had a bouquet of gardenias when I married. Amazingly, I still love 'em. When they bloom here in B'ham they are spectacular. I"ll treat you all to some photos for sure.
L,
This is a great photo. I don't know how they are going to grow under that awning but it sure is cute! Wild THyme is one great name!
V
I've never had a loquat. Isn't that shameful?
I wouldn't know a loquat if one fell on me. I wouldn't know a gardenia if one of those fell on me either.
I just remembered. Isn't the loquat in the same family as the cumquat and the diddlysquat?
Altadenahiker: Nurseries always tell you that gardenias are delicate and like partial shade... but I once rented a house where gardenias were planted in full, all-day sun. They were hardly ever watered, and they thrived.
Gardenias DO like coffee grounds... but I think these drama queens are just too proud to live in pots. They want to be planted in the ground.
That seductive gardenia fragrance is worth whatever lies you have to tell them on the ride home in your car!
They self-seed for me Margaret (loquats, not gardenias). I'll give you one if you like. Should have some babies this spring. Birds and bees and labradors love them.
Hah, Yakpate, we were talking at the same time. Damn it, I'm going to try one again. In the ground you say? It's on your head.
BTW, What IS a loquat? Is that something you Californians made up?
Gardenias do love sun, but AH, the hole you dug wasn't big enough or deep enough. I know without even looking. THat's why mine all died too. I enjoy my friends' bushes. THey always have tons to give away when they are in bloom.
That Virg. Well, I never. har-umph.
Gardenias - gave up on them a long time ago. They smell great, until they shrivel up and die. Then they smell like....rotting flowers.
Actually I am pretty shocked. I didn't think Wayne knew diddlysquat. Hmmmmm.
V
AH, Awwwww now!
If you haven't had a Hungarian crepe (placsinta) with peaches and cream sauce, you haven't lived.
DBDub - I think that before it was Wild Thyme, it was The Bakery. I don't know if it was a House of Pies before that - I think it was The Bakery when I moved here.
Can we all get together at Wild Thyme and have a party? This is just too much fun!!!
We're talking the mid-70's, Mr. Earl. I confirmed this was a House of Pies with an old timer. They were a chain of coffee shops specializing in pies. Check out www.houseofpies.com and you'll find there are a couple of them in Houston. The photo will look remarkably like Wild Thyme, including a palm tree in front! There's also one on North Vermont in the Los Feliz neighborhood.
I've been to a House of Pies in Houston!! Damn, now I want pie. :~)
those incredible colors!
DBDub - No doubt is was a House of Pies before it was the Bakery, then they changed it to Wild Thyme.
Wasn't Shakers called the Salt Shaker before?
Also, do you remember the name of the restaurant that was where Carmine's is now back in 1981? Was it Benson's or something like that?
You're right, Mr. Earl. Shakers used to be the Salt Shaker. There was another Salt Shaker in Glendale.
Before Carmine Sabatella opened Carmine's, it was Lasorda's, owned by Tommy. Before that it was Benson's. Before that it was Heckle's for many years. I understand Heckle was some guy associated with the LA Rams and it had a football following.
Trivia question of the evening - Before it was Bristol Farms, what store was at that corner?
I was just at Wild Thyme late afternoon today. I saw the loquats - thought they were cumquats. I used to go there when it was the Bakery. Wasn't it called Creme Freche (sp?) for a while? Guess no one could pronounce it much less spell it.
You are all so much fun tonight ! Wish we were over there !!
Hey everyone!
Well, I do wish we could all be partying over at Wild Thyme tonight!
Instead, I think I might be coming down with the cold my little girl had last week... Ugh. I'm taking two benadryl and 1000 mgs of vitamin C and I'll catch up with you in the morning. (I should probably eat a loquat -- those little guys are packed with vitamin C!)
Thanks for all the great conversation today, kids. Until tomorrow...
Altadenahiker: No, I can't grow gardenias here in Austin. I tried once, enjoyed the blooms until they fell off, then the whole plant turned yellow and keeled over. I was referring to where I grew up in way South Texas, near the Mexican border. My Dad had a gardenia bush as tall as the house and he threw coffee grounds on it every day. He gave the blooms away by the bucketsful. I wore them in my hair. Here, flowers are a battle between the deer and the squirrels. The more I love them, the more they hate me. Unrequited love.
Wayne, betcha can't make diddlysquat jam.
Dixie J
I'd love to see you with a big white gardenia tucked behind your ear. Bet you're somethin'!
Don't you wish deer like kudzu? That would solve a big ole problem here in Alabama!
Laurie, Hope you feel better soon.
V
Aha! I wondered why my page count was so high out of the blue!!
Apparently, you've been channeling my desire to build big containers on casters for fruit trees. I've even been dreaming of building an Orangerie, whatever the heck that is. I'm not exactly sure, but I like the sound of it! I picture it being half greenhouse, half Vegas valet stand. (don't the Wynn properties have the most wonderful container trees?)
DBDub - An abandoned Safeway, after Safeway moved to what is now Pavillions.
Virginia,
Thanks for the vision. May I also have a long white dress to complete the picture and Prince Charming to dance with? Oh, I am a dreamer.
Dixie Jane
Great photography..different photos..well done..
Thanks for sharing...
___________________
Andrew
Lock in your price today for Your favorite channels - and keep it there until 2010!
Post a Comment