Feb16
Tag Archives: Plants
Dec11
Creative Juice #220

One of my favorite blogs, which I visit almost every day, is MyOBT, which stands for “one beautiful thing.” Donna’s mission is to post one beautiful thing every day, and she succeeds, although sometimes the post might be more funny than beautiful. (But I always appreciate a laugh—don’t you?) If you follow Creative Juice every Friday, you know it almost always contains a post from MyOBT. I try not to post more than one article from any one blog on a single Friday, but in Donna’s case I sometimes have to make an exception, because her output of beauty is just so vast and I want to share it all. In fact, if you love her posts, too, you should follow her blog yourself so you don’t miss a single one. If you need more convincing, today’s CJ features a dozen wonderful posts from MyOBT.
- Pasta that looks like candy.
- An incredibly educational Instagram page.
- Photographic architectural paintings.
- Plants as you’ve never seen them before.
- Gorgeous old houses you can get really cheap.
- A special ed teacher celebrates kids with special needs.
- Beautiful patterned artwork.
- A boy runs away from home, travels the world, and becomes a modern artist.
- Colorful sculpture.
- Vacation in Hobbiton?
- For the Norse enthusiasts.
- A musician who creates instruments based on the Fibonacci spiral.
Oct7
Wordless Wednesday: Jungle?

Jul31
Creative Juice #201

Lots of artistic stuff.
- Living with plants.
- I missed this article when it was published two years ago. I really enjoy looking at sketchbooks.
- A recent Banksy masterpiece only lasted a few hours before cleaners on the subway removed it.
- What if things actually looked the way kids draw them? These photoshopped images gave me the willies.
- I love to stroll through Jersey City with Nathalie (through her blog, of course).
- Trip to an African wildlife preserve (in Texas).
- This post starts out sad, but hang in there. You’ll be laughing.
- Change happens in a moment—or does it?
- Magnificent quilting.
- I never knew this super-tiny hummingbird even existed.
- Intricate paper sculpture.
- A talented illustrator describes his journey and process.
Nov20
Wordless Wednesday: Aloes and Succulents
Nov6
Wordless Wednesday: Mormon Tea
Taken at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Sep28
A Walk in the Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, that is. My daughter Katie recently invited me to be her guest there. We saw loads of gorgeous cactus (click on smaller photos to enlarge and see captions):
And lots of wildflowers (at least, I think they are wildflowers; if I’m wrong, please tell me):
I think these are orchids:
This is called desert rose:
Closeup of desert rose:
Parts of the garden are sort of wild and natural; other parts have paths and lighting.
Beautiful inlaid tile mosaic in a garden wall:
We were there on a Friday morning. It was so peaceful.
One section of the garden features vegetables and herbs. I thought the squash blossoms
and the Korean chives were especially lovely:
Jul12
Creative Juice #146

Happy to provide your weekend inspiration. You’re welcome.
- Recipe for watercolor.
- Summer reading list.
- The case for a limited palette.
- Joan Miro at MOMA.
- Botany is stranger than fiction. A plant that looks like a hummingbird.
- Zentangles on a fatherly theme.
- His boss’ retirement and an illness made him homeless. His art saved his life.
- Illustrator Danny Beck’s journey.
- Three-dimensional murals.
- Gorgeous quilts! Be sure to scroll all the way down, because all are amazing.
- Author George Saunders talks about writing.
- In praise of child-made toys.
Feb13
Wordless Wednesday: Lovely Agave
Aug31
Creative Juice #104

Inspiring works of art:
- A reading list put together by authors.
- The National Parks.
- Recycling vinyl records.
- Some interesting modern quilts.
- If you like succulents, this is for you.
- Gorgeous tangles.
- How to use a wedge brush for watercolor.
- Now that he’s retired from acting, here are some photographs of a young Robert Redford. (I like him better without the mustache.)
- <Gasp!> I have to get at least one of these! Collaboration between Vans and the Van Gogh Museum.
- Thoughts on personal growth.
- Literary architecture.
- Incarcerated book critic.