Hello, again! If you’ve been browsing the blog lately you may have noticed first, that there’s been a desperate lack of posts as of late and second, that I’m redesigning the look of things around here. A few months ago I was offered a semi-dream job that’s been a year in the making. In addition to accepting that position, I continue to do part time freelance consulting for the boutique nursery I managed back in San Diego. Keeping up with the demands of both has meant less time for Plant Propaganda.

What’s more, I’ve burned out a bit on the content and theme of this blog. The stuff that I’m doing now and that interest me have become much more varied, and I don’t get a sense of accomplishment from simply curating others’ work, which means I’m less motivated to put together that type of subject material. I don’t get paid to write this blog and I certainly don’t have an enormous amount of followers: I maintain it as an outlet for myself and to share what I’m working on with like-minded individuals. Moving forward my hope is to start sharing more of what I’m excited about, including lots of original content, and less curated posts, even if that means the blog becomes somewhat off topic.

I hope any loyal readers out there will give me feedback as I move forward. In the meantime, I’ll ease into things with some of the content you’re used to. Today, that means sharing the beautiful paintings of Clare Elsaesser.

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Laura Garcia Serventi is an Argentinian artist who’s difficult to pin down. Geographically, she has studied and worked in Buenos Aires, Florence and New York. Artistically, her skills include photography, set design, papercraft, collage and painting. And despite working for clients as renowned as Vogue, Glamour and Elle, she still paints her cacti one brushstroke at a time, just like the rest of us.

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Okay. So, in truth, I’m not exactly obsessed with monochrome cactus print. I do enjoy a good, high contrast botanical print as much as the next person. But I’ve been over the whole “succulent” thing for ages now. Still, there’s no doubt the obsession rages on in the hearts of many. And because I’ve been behind in bringing you regularly scheduled posts, I thought I’d do a quick little roundup of some of my recent finds. As if you need more of an excuse to have cactus everything, am I right?

1. Cactus Tote Back, $95 |2. Cactaceae Legging, $53 | 3. Desert Garden Wall Art, $65
4. Cactus Desert Shorts, $50

These items have all been pulled from my list of favorites over on Etsy. If you’d like to see what else I’m lusting after, go ahead and follow me.

All items and photos above © their respective owners.

When I first saw this photo shoot from the ladies over at Gypsy Stone, I thought I might have to justify how it’s plant related. But after I read what photographer Lizz Pennings wrote about the shoot, I knew that wouldn’t be the case:

I’ve always been fascinated by trees. For even longer than I have been fascinated by the ocean. I love their height, the way they tower over you but are never intimidating. Their lushness, the shapes of the branches and how they remind me of the silliest things like ballerinas and witches.

Looking at the photos, which were shot in a retired palm tree farm, it’s easy to see how Pennings incorporates these sentiments. The way she positions the models in front of and behind the fronds, she conjures images of props like surfboards, umbrella, ropes, wings, a veil or a fanciful wig. The intimate relationship she has with this environment is clear:

[It] reminded me of the time I was so blessed to have spent some time in the threatened rainforests of Borneo, where I got to help replant some trees for WWF and their rainforest rejuvenation project. One of the things said by another volunteer when I was there that I will never forget are the words […] “I know I most likely will never be able to return to see the orangutans swinging from the trees that I have planted today… but nothing makes me happier to know that one day my grandchildren will be able to return, and because we all helped them and the forest today, they can still see the orangutans swinging in the trees”. This is why it is our duty, in this vital time, to preserve what we have been so blessed to receive.

And to add an even deeper meaning to the images, Pennings has shot model Elke Kahler wearing bellbottoms made from modal, a fabric created using the cellulose of sustainably grown beech trees. These trees do not require the use of pesticides or traditional irrigation, nor are their fibers processed using harsh chemicals, which makes them an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic materials. Not only does Jennings talk the talk, but she walks the walk – and I think I know just where she’s headed!

Photos © Gypsy Stone

To see more images from the shoot, visit the original blog post here. You can buy the fashions featured here on the Gypsy Stone website.

Ted Feighan is a multitalented artist who might be better know by his music moniker, Monster Rally. His work has been described by listeners as “psycho-exotic pop-hop” and “productive music with a tropical feel”. Feighan channels that same sense of tiki bar zen into his two-dimensional artwork: most recently, a 36 page, full color collection of bright collages released as a limited edition zine called Flower Arrangements Vol. 1.

The zine’s publisher, Valley Cruise Press, has sold out: your best bet for getting your hands on one of these beautiful babies is through Feighan’s personal web store. And if you still manage to miss out, cross you’re fingers that there will be a Flower Arrangements Vol. 2.

Photos © Ted Feighan