I had some time late yesterday afternoon so decided to dip my toe into holiday retail.
In truth, all I did was look at plants. And even bought a few. For myself.
This season of giving is off to a roaring start.
But look, Christmas trees in the background. See? I was holiday shopping!
Astelia and echeverias
Agave ‘Blue Glow’
Roger’s Gardens in Newport Beach is where I like to drum up some holiday spirit. There’s lavish holiday displays, antique glass ornaments, beautiful table linens, stationery, wonderful gift ideas — but I just wasn’t ready for the full holiday immersion yet. I stayed outside with the plants.
Tree aloe, Aloe bainesii, Yucca ‘Bright Star’
Aloe marlothii, Yucca ‘Bright Star,’ Agave ‘Cornelius and Agave desmettiana ‘Variegata’ in the background
More tree aloes, with aeoniums this time and fountain grass.
The large slope currently planted with fountain grass, potted magnolias, and other grasses is changed out four times a year.
I know this because I eavesdropped on the tour given to a troupe of Girl Scouts who straggled into the succulent section while I was taking photos. The guide told the Scouts that succulents were the most popular plants at the nursery currently and briefly explained how they tie in so well with our mild temperatures, rainfall patterns, and extended seasonal drought.
Agave lophantha minus the Girl Scouts.
There must be a way to gift wrap barrel cactus.
Aloe marlothii getting its turn to star in a big urn.
Cordyline and phormium
Enormous potted Ligularia dentata.
Agaves and aloes liberated from containers, showing what they can do in the landscape, planted inside the nursery grounds.
One of the plants I brought home, Carex trifida ‘Rekohu Sunrise,’ very broad-leaved with a lovely habit of growth. Zones 7-10.
Or ask for Variegated Tataki Grass. Can you tell it hails from New Zealand? Via the nurserymen at Monrovia.
You can tell from the abundance of terracotta, without a pop of glazed orange or lime green anywhere, that Roger’s Gardens concentrates on classic mediterranean style — French, Italian.
Whatever the style, their plantmanship is first rate. Outside the nursery, the entire perimeter bordering the sidewalk is landscaped to maximize drought tolerance. Mediterranean fan palms.
Underplanted with the crown of thorns, Euphorbia milii
Palms, agaves, and leucadendron
This agave looks a lot like A. guadalajarana.
Agave ‘Blue Flame’
A leucadendron bursting with holiday cheer.
I’ve rarely walked along these plantings and have mostly driven by when arriving and leaving.
Roger’s has been helping me ease into the holiday spirit for many years, and never fails to do the job.
for Deanne
Gorgeous Ideas! Looks like you’ve been high brow shopping! Will have to swing by ‘RG’s’ tomorrow to get some Christmas spirit and gift ideas. Thanks!
Lovely plants and post…for Deanne. You wrapping one for her? She needs the thought more than another plant! I bet she doesn’t agree. 😉
I expect you remember years gone by when there was barely a succulent to be found at Rogers , and the hillside was done up in the annuals of the season.I feel very inclined to copy that Blue Glow number ! Mine is in desperate need of transplanting..
Lovely, thank you for the early Christmas gift.
During the height of the spring season, most of our nurseries don’t look this good. Still, I don’t know if I could handle gardening twelve months of the year…
Yum! Thanks for the eye candy. We’re in our soggy dark time of year (as opposed to the soggy light time of year and that month we call summer) and these pictures sure brightened my day!
realy gorgeous!
Yucca ‘Bright Star’ are so beautifull
Haven’t been for weeks, was just thinking it was time to go get my Roger’s fix. Nice Carex!
OMG, this post is just the most amazing eye candy! I so love all this living sculpture. I can only imagine the collecting I’d do if I was in your zone. LOL to Marie, that I can always justify the purchase of another plant. Many, many thanks Denise for thinking of me. I’ll be back often to enjoy all this beauty.