Category Archives: plant nurseries

Occasional Daily Weather Report; Thomas Fire’s impact on gardens and plant nurseries

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Denise

Stepping out the back door this morning, my skin instantaneously felt the difference. Running to check the hygrometer on the front porch, that immediate sense of all-encompassing hydration was confirmed. The needle registered over 90 per cent humidity. The pergola … Continue reading →

Posted in climate, Occasional Daily Weather Report, plant nurseries | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

new and semi-new plants

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Denise

perky pilocereus at OC Succulents What plants have grabbed your attention lately? Last week I was chasing down a hard-to-find compact form of one of California’s native buckwheats, Eriogonum giganteum var. compactum. The Grow Native nursery at Rancho Santa Ana … Continue reading →

Posted in plant crushes, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

fall planting: what happened to my phlomis?

Posted on September 29, 2017 by Denise

It’s fall planting time in Southern California, and I’m planting phlomis. And it’s deja vu all over again. I like to think that the blog functions at least as a personal resource, a planting reference that at a minimum chronicles … Continue reading →

Posted in plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

friday clippings 7/28/17

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Denise

I’ve been in an insatiable mood for plant shopping lately. I found this variegated form of Salvia ‘Berggarten’ yesterday at Roger’s Gardens and am putting up its portrait immediately because it may be its last. This salvia and my soil … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits, plant sales, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

discovering The Potting Shed on a Lark at Sourced Collective

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Denise

There’s retail that does vintage and architectural finds well, and there’s retail that does plants well. Haven’t you wished somebody with a passion for both would combine them under one roof? I know I have. Consider it handled by The … Continue reading →

Posted in artists, commerce, cut flowers, design, edibles, garden ornament, MB Maher, photography, plant nurseries, shop talk | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

mail order summer plant sales

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Denise

A couple of nurseries in my inbox are having massive summer sales at the moment. Agave titanota ‘Banana Peel,’ photo from Plant Delights. I was surprised at how many agaves they’ve included in their sale. It’s a great way to … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, plant nurseries | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Solanum valerianum ‘Navidad, Jalisco’

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Denise

I just don’t know what to think about this vine. First of all, let me be clear that I love the opulence of this solanum’s pendulous, grape-cluster-like performance. With its ropy swags of purply bloom, it is truly like living … Continue reading →

Posted in plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

weekend clippings 4/29/17

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Denise

Feel like talking yourself into more plants this weekend? There’s lots of opportunities, whether at the Huntington Spring Plant Sale, the South Coast Plaza Garden Show, and/or even the Long Beach flea market on Sunday at Veterans Stadium. Some motherly … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, garden travel, plant nurseries, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

dates to remember

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Denise

I’m just now sorting out the Dates to Remember for spring plant tours and sales, so keep an eye on it because the activities are piling up fast. This weekend alone poses some tough choices to make. Like the Theodore … Continue reading →

Posted in garden travel, garden visit, plant nurseries, plant sales | 2 Comments

chasing agaves

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Denise

Last Saturday, while millions marched their way into the history books, I was driving south to San Diego to meet agave expert Greg Starr. I had been looking forward to this 2-hour road trip for some time, as a beacon … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, clippings, garden travel, plant nurseries, plant sales, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments