Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: garden, soda-fired, stamped, vases

Such a cute little succulent garden… it never really crossed my mind to turn one of my small oval pieces into a flower pot for succulents. But now that’s all I want to do… make some of these for myself!!! Thanks for sharing my green-thumbed fans!

Categories: flowers, garden, lillstreet

Another groovy floral display going on at Lillstreet! This wonderful trumpet vine is growing up the side of the building right on the corner. I do love how the flower clusters seem to dangle & float away from the brick wall.

Categories: flowers, garden

Love the incredibly saturated color, the textures and that wonderfully spikey center on these classic purple clematis vines!

Categories: flowers, garden, lillstreet

Crazy cool flowers on this bush in the side garden at Lillstreet. The flowers may be stringy & short-lived… but they were so very cool while they were around. I didn’t know what they were… but with a little help from my dear friend Google… apparently it’s a Bottlebrush Buckeye!

Categories: flowers, garden, soda-fired, vases

A few more wall pocket planters making the greenery hang higher! Specially made with some drainage holes for soil & plants… usually I make them without holes for flowers in a vase. Loving how this trio has some cascading vines working their magic. Thanks Patty for sharing your green thumb!

Categories: garden, nature

Looks like my coleus cuttings are really taking hold… who knew it was this easy??? Just water! I think I’ve just effectively doubled the number of coleus plants on my front porch!!!

Categories: flowers, garden

More than a little rain as I pedaled through my morning ride. Not much of a sunrise to speak of. Just lots of clouds… and some rain towards the end of my ride. Happy to be greeted by these lilies in the garden across the street when I got home. All of us wet.

Categories: garden, totem pole

Another totem pole finds it’s new home!

My friend Chris finally got around to having her new totem pole installed into her front yard! It looks pretty great standing as a sentinel to greet guests surrounded by her blooming flower bed!

Categories: flowers, friends, garden

A wonderful surprise every year… a crazy-cool spiked flower blooming in my front yard garden! It’s called bear’s breeches, sea dock, bearsfoot or oyster plant. It has really cool leaves and this amazing flower stalk. Such a cool addition to my garden… thanks to my gardening friends down in Peoria!

Categories: flowers, friends, garden

The coleus plants on my front porch are all growing so well… so I just chopped them all down!!! Okay, so maybe “pruned” them is a better phrase… but here are the cuttings that I’m going to try rooting. My Peoria gardening friends to it all the time… so I figure if I can even get half of them to root I’m doing good!