APLD Plant Fair 10/2/21 at LA Arboretum

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The Los Angeles chapter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers puts on a helluva fall plant fair, and against some impressive odds they have managed to deliver another one for 2021 on October 2nd. And hooray for autumn plant fairs! Having once planned a trip to England around Great Dixter’s October plant fair, personally I find fall plant sales much more exciting and inspiring than the spring shows and sales. And after a long, hot summer (will there ever be any other kind?) it’s just the horticultural pick-me-up I’m craving in fall. Buy your tickets via LA Arboretum here.

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For their third plant fair, the APLD has assembled another great lineup of nurseries and speakers to share their knowledge and latest plant crushes. Trust me, even if you don’t spend a dime at the overflowing sales tables, you won’t go home empty-handed — the plant raffles are insane opportunities for new plants, so bring the biggest vehicle you own or can borrow! (I barely squeezed Aloe ‘Tangerine’ into my Mini one year.). You can read about their first fair I attended in 2018 here.

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Coos Bay, Oregon, averaging 64 inche of annual rainfall, by Mosaic Gardens 

This year I’ll be interested in plants for zone 8b, coastal Oregon, rainfall averaging over 80 inches a year (gulp!). Long distance, we’ve undertaken the nerve-wracking process of trying to acquire a small house so we can spend lots of time with our little granddaughter Hannah, and it’s possible the plan may come to fruition the end of this month. Or not. But whatever happens, it has been fascinating to research what to plant in such conditions. And if the plan succeeds, we will have two small gardens; one incredibly dry in zone 10b, the other incredibly wet in zone 8b. For someone who likes nothing better than trialing and experimenting with plants, it’s a thrilling challenge.

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assembled to travel to a very winter wet/relatively summer dry garden are lots of odds and ends, including a variegated Italian buckthorn, Arctostaphylos ‘Sunset,’ Euphorbia ‘Dean’s Hybrid,’ Phormium ‘Pink Blush,’ Kniphofia ‘Mango Popsicle,’ carex, ballota, Hebe ‘Quicksilver,’ eryngium, Rhodocoma capensis, geum, and a few others not shown above

I’ve already begun assembling plants to bring north, many from my own garden and smaller sized plants from local nurseries, but I’ll be proceeding slowly, planting smallish areas at first. I’d be happy to get hebes, nolinas, and grasses growing! Any planting suggestions are much appreciated. I’d love to mulch it all with crushed oyster shells, which are in abundance locally, but we’ll see what a tight budget allows.

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Eryngium ‘Big Blue’ will make the trip along with Eryngium pandanifolium from my garden

It would be so much fun to see you at the APLD Plant Fair at the Arboretum on October 2nd — save the date!

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9 Responses to APLD Plant Fair 10/2/21 at LA Arboretum

  1. sue says:

    The Oregon Hardy Plant Society has amazing sales in spring and fall (usually held somewhere in the near vicinity of Portland) that would be stocked with climate-appropriate plants. One nice thing, plants in Oregon are far cheaper than those in California.
    I have a friend who bought a second home in Bandon, and she really enjoyed gardening there, compared to the Sacramento Valley. SO much less watering needed!

  2. Elaine says:

    How exciting. Now you can indulge in two totally different climates and experiment with a greater plant palette all while being close to your granddaughter. Can there be anything better. Wish I lived closer as the plant fair sounds fabulous. Will await your report back.

  3. Denise says:

    @Sue, I hope I can time it right to attend the sales, and I’m looking forward to slightly more affordable plants! Thanks for the info.
    @Elaine, we’re both pretty excitecd. Not sure how Billie is going to like being wet all the time on walkies…

  4. Kris P says:

    I hope your purchase goes through, Denise! You’re clearly thinking positive at this point. I look forward to seeing what you do with all the plants you’ve accumulated 😉

  5. Gerhard Bock says:

    You are tempting me in a major way!!

    I can’t wait to visit you in Cheese Town, Oregon!!

  6. hb says:

    64 inches of rain in one year?!?! 80 inches of rain–in one year?!?!?!!

    I’m trying to imagine that. Sounds good, actually.

    Best wishes for success on getting that deal closed.

  7. I can’t wait to hear if you’re becoming a part time Oregonian! Get the weekend of April 1-3 on your calendar, that’s the proposed schedule for the Spring HPSO plant sale that Sue referenced above.

  8. Cynthia Hoover says:

    How exciting. I’m jealous of the fantasy of being coastal anywhere and yet near relatives. I wish you much joy and look forward to being a fly on the wall to your adventure!
    Cindy H

  9. Ooooh, exciting! Well….let’s talk and maybe I can bring some plants out to you in Tillamook. I hope your house goes through and you are officially a part-time Oregonian! Keep me posted, Denise, I’d love to see it!

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