I’ve been working on 2015 plants sales and plant show dates under the heading Dates to Remember, top of the page.
Please feel free to send along info on anything I’ve missed or something worthy that must not go unmentioned.
And in the spirit of anticipating 2015 road trips, I’m reprising a 2013 visit to the Desert Botanical Garden, which is having their spring sale March 20-22, 2015.
It’s pushing the concept of a day trip to its limit when it takes five hours each way, there and back, but the DBG was having their spring plant sale and, dammit, I needed to go. So the math worked out neatly in multiples of five, including five hours spent at the garden, making it a 15-hour day trip. More math: Phoenix’s average rainfall is about 8 inches a year, while Los Angeles nearly doubles that at 15 or 16 inches, though current LA rainfall totals are below average. Phoenix like Los Angeles was in the middle of a warm spell this past week, and temperatures in the garden were over 90. For whatever reason, the plant sale, the weather, the early spring season, it was a mob scene, and lots of appreciatively awestruck comments were overheard like, “Can you believe this place?!”
Believe it.
So what five plants did I bring home? There the math broke down, and we traveled light. Most of the smaller plants had been bought, and I can’t in all conscience rip up the headliner in yet another car. Mark your calendars and do the math for a day trip/road trip to Phoenix’s DBG for their next plant sale in October. Oh, and you might want to borrow a friend’s truck.
I’m so happy you went. If Phoenix were 5 hrs from here, I would have gone, too. Your wonderful photos bring back great memories of my trip in December. So much more in bloom now, though.
Some day I’ll go a plant sale there. Of course I’ve been saying that about the Huntington plant sale too…
So, what did you buy???
Oops, if I had read the info at the very top of your post instead of jumping right in, I would have realized this post about the 2013 plant sale, LOL.
Totally worth the trip IMHO!
@Gerhard, I hope to be able to answer the “what did you buy question” this year! We’re bringing a car better suited to plant sales than the mini.
Anna, and maybe we’ll even live large and do an overnighter this time.
Sorry, but I’d be paranoid about bringing back the Agave snout weevil. I guess bare-rooting and a blast of systemic on replant would be effective, though.
Beautiful place–must get there. Soon. Not in summer.
Denise, if you’re looking for a place to stay, I can highly recommend the 3 Palms Hotel in Scottsdale (http://www.scottsdale-resort-hotels.com/). I’ve stayed there two years in a row now. It’s 2.5 miles from the Desert Botanical Garden–an easy 7-minute drive.
@Gerhard, thanks for the hotel tip! Sounds perfect.
@Hoov, yes, curse the snout weevil. I’m thinking the bot. gardens have a handle on it, but probably safer to make no assumptions.
I have been plotting a trip to Az for a couple of years..have I ever mentioned to you that I lived there for a few years in the 70’s ? Lived in Sedona though, not in the Phoenix area.I’ve plotted out various itineraries, but there’s only so much vacation budget.
Five hours each way IS a long day trip, but if any garden is worth it, the DBG is it. Glad you had a good time.
Great photos! I really enjoy your blog. I normally don’t leave comments, but I am a loyal follower. Thank you for sharing your garden adventures with us.
Susan