Desert Decor: The Unique Appeal of the Cholla Cactus
Cholla Cactus (Cylindropuntia) at Anza Borrego State Park
Southern California is known to house a wide range of natural environments, but none feel as quintessential to the landscape as its vast deserts. Many residents and visitors find solace in the state's desert environments, which host a rich variety of plant and animal life, and provide a stark contrast to more bustling urban city centers. Iconic to these landscapes are the wide variety of succulents and cacti, including the diversity of cholla cacti featured in many state deserts. The most notable collection may be the cholla cactus garden in Joshua tree. However, the plant is interspersed in many desert landscapes, including the shrubbery of Red Rock Canyon and the Mojave Desert.
Cholla Cactus (Cylindropuntia) at Anza Borrego State Park
As a reflection of the unique wildlife beloved in the southern California region, our studio opted to use the cylindropuntia fulgida, or jumping cholla, at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park as an inspiration for the print on our Cholla Tote. Anza-Borrego houses a cactus garden featuring a wide array of cacti, including several cholla varietals, from the cylindropuntia bigelovii cactaceae (coyly known as teddybear cholla) to cylindropuntia ramosissima, or diamond cholla. The cacti, including cylindropuntia echinocarpa (silver or golden cholla) and cylindropuntia ganderi cactaceae (gander's cholla), bear succulent flowers through the spring, providing a welcome contrast to their spiky texture and barbed spines, which often cling to visitors as unintended souvenirs.
Cholla Cactus (Cylindropuntia) at Anza Borrego State Park
A visit to the state park during a rare super bloom highlighted the surprising yet suitable pairing of soft romantic florals against the less hospitable-looking cacti, encompassing in one plant the variety of nature so unique and beloved to southern California.
Beyond their distinct beauty, Chollas can also serve as a nesting ground for birds like the cactus wren, who use the spikes as a protective barrier from predators, earning an extra layer of appreciation from our avian-adoring studio.
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
The design for the tote was carefully hand drawn with emphasis on the plant's ruffled floral edges and spiky barbs, a contrast emphasized with the black and white design. Considerate of environmental impact, the tote bags are produced in small batches using certified organic cotton fabric printed to order and dyed with non-toxic, water-based inks.
A suitable California alternative to spring florals, the tote features an open main compartment, perfect for storing an abundance of farmers market produce, hauling fresh cut florals, or quickly accessing water and well-worn nature journals during desert excursions.
Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).
Crazy Plant Ladies: Radical Naturalists and Environmental Preservation
As a team comprised of plant collectors and nature lovers, many in the Kale Tree studio are no stranger to the phrase "crazy plant lady." Crazy plant lady has been re-contextualized among plant enthusiasts to describe some of the most influential and admirable environmentalists, naturalists, and plant lovers. Many adopt the term as a point of pride. In the design field, "crazy plant ladies" have paved the way for advances in sustainability with far-reaching effects, including an influence on biophilic and eco-friendly interior design practices. To celebrate a few of these historic figures, we hope to share some information and appreciation for a few notable women.
Diana Beresford-Kroeger
Diana Beresford-Kroger is a medical biochemist, botanist, and author, who uses her range of knowledge to educate and promote environmental preservation. Beresford-Kroeger has advocated for and educated around the medicinal benefits of trees and plant life, sharing information on the benefits and effects of various vegetation for health. To fight climate change, she developed a "bioplan" with tree planting at its foundation, aiming for everyone on earth to plant six native trees over six years in their communities.
Her home arboretum boasts a vast collection of various hardy and rare tree specimens. She is known for freely gifting seeds and saplings to help spread and replant these trees, many of which were used for a range of benefits by indigenous communities before being demolished through colonization.
Some of the more unique theories from her work have foundations in the Celtic belief system she was raised with, and many of the medicinal benefits of plants she has studied are rooted in Celtic traditions, which may also contribute to her profound respect and appreciation for trees. One of her more intriguing beliefs, while disputed, is that the healing benefits of trees are released through their aerosols, offering curative properties when inhaled. Beresford-Kroger often touts the healing benefits of time spent in forests, which she in part attributes to these aerosols. While some desire more support for these claims, many of the benefits of time among trees are widely documented. Her all-encompassing perspective, and impressive scientific research, have made her a widely celebrated figure, offering an expansive view of the power of nature.
Lorrie Otto
Lorrie Otto was an environmentalist, speaker, and author. She advocated against the use of pesticides after being alarmed by dead birds near her Milwaukee home, which paved the way for the nationwide ban on DDTA.
Otto was a proponent of natural landscaping and biodiversity, speaking against the water waste of lawns and encouraging people to transform their yard spaces that conserve wildlife and their natural habitats.
Her messaging inspired the organization "Wild Ones," a group that promotes sustainable and environmentally friendly landscaping. Nine people founded the group after they attended one of Otto's lectures. As a result, natural landscaping has seen a progressive increase in popularity, making its way to the rule and not the exception in many personal garden spaces. The widespread normalcy and embrace of natural landscaping and its far-reaching positive effects on the environment may often be attributed to Otto's advocacy efforts.
Beatrix Farrand
Beatrix Farrand was a founding member of the American Society of Landscape architects and the only woman in the original group. In addition to being the first female landscape architect in America, her renowned landscapes appeared in private residences, the White House, and a range of parks, botanic gardens, and campuses.
She advocated for the importance of nature to improve personal well-fare and spoke about the value of public garden spaces. Her work was known for considering the relationship between natural and built spaces, using landscaping techniques to improve aesthetics in architecture. In addition, she was known for her engineering ability, creating intricately designed gardens and often focused on native plantings. Farrand's visionary approach and widely celebrated landscapes helped pave the way for many women in the field.
While countless women have contributed to environmental preservation through their love of nature, these are a few who greatly inspire our studio. Their innovative approach to preserving, celebrating, and sharing nature encourages out-of-the-box thinking and emphasizes the importance of education. A common understanding between these and most "crazy plant ladies" is that we are participating members of our natural environments. Nature is something to be shared, cherished, and preserved. We hope to carry these themes in our studio and share our passion for nature throughout our designs.