My nursery and garden center forays generally keep me close to the coast. Last Saturday, following spontaneous recommendations received from 2 neighbors at different points in time, a friend and I ventured inland to check out a nursery new to both of us,
H&H Nursery in Lakewood, California. The nursery itself isn't new. According to its website, this family owned and operated nursery was established in 1976. Getting there involved a 20 mile drive and 2 separate freeways. Its location under a grid of electrical wires isn't particularly scenic but the 5.5 acre growing operation was impressive.
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| The back half of the property was occupied by hoop houses used for growing |
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| A peek into one of the growing areas |
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| Another growing space |
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| This appeared to be a staging area |
H&H is a general nursery, offering everything from bedding and house plants to trees and succulents.
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| A view of the indoor plant area |
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| A particularly nice looking Schefflera |
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| Gobs and gobs of shade plants |
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| Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia) |
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| A mix of cactus and succulents, including barrel cactus, which I don't often see in local nurseries |
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| The large barrel cactus come at hefty prices - I didn't notice the prices on the smaller ones |
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| More succulents |
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| Note how everything is labeled |
There were also decorative items, although not so many that the plants took second billing.
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| I'd have loved to take one or more of these glass globes home but they were pricey |
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| There were an unusual number of Chihuahua dog statutes of various kinds, perhaps signifying a soft spot in the heart of the owners |
In addition to the sheer size of the operation, I was impressed by the evident helpfulness of the staff, the wide selection of plants and their overall good health, the ready availability of plants in 4-inch pots (the size at which I prefer to buy), and the reasonable prices for plants in large pots. I was tempted by numerous plants.
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| Clerodendrum ugandense - I passed because the one I thought I killed appears to have revived |
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| Russelia equisetiformis - I don't need a 3rd one but this one in a hanging container certainly looked good |
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| Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' - now I know where I can find them if I decide to add more to my garden |
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| Dendromecon harfordii - an extremely drought tolerant plant under consideration |
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| Agave 'Blue Flame' - I may add one or more of these to my dry garden this fall |
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| Agave guiengola 'Creme Brulee' - I'm regretting my failure to take this one home. Look at all those offsets! |
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| Aloe elgonica hybrid - I think I may "need" this too |
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| Lagerstroemia 'Muskogee' - if the ailing Arbutus in my side yard fails, I may buy a lavender crape myrtle like this one |
Unlike any nursery I can recall visiting, everything appeared to be labeled, even the succulents in 4-inch pots. I can't say I conducted an audit in this regard but there wasn't a single plant I personally picked up that didn't have a label and I consider that utterly remarkable.
What isn't remarkable is that, despite a recent statement on this very blog that I didn't intend to buy any plants other than succulents until September or October, I did just that. Here's what I took home:
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| 3 Coleus 'Chocolate Splash' and a bright green pot to put them in |
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| 3 Alternanthera 'Hoya del Loro' (aka Brazilian Red Hots) - how could I resist? |
However, absolutely no further nursery visits are planned for a full 2 weeks...
Ah, Kris, you showed some pretty begonias, I'm a sucker for them, but not so much those yappy Chihuahuas ...... wish I could grow a russelia like that, mine are puny ...
ReplyDeleteI love begonias too and always had them in my former shady garden but I haven't put any in here, even in pots. I probably ought to remedy that (although it would be yet another violation of my no summer planting "rule").
DeleteGood use of the land under those power lines. I like nice big nurseries with focus on lots of plants. Creme brulee is pretty, maybe next time.
ReplyDeleteI smiled at the "inland" part. We lived in Redlands for a few years.
Lakewood is, admittedly, not nearly as far inland as Redlands, Shirley, but it is a bit of a shelp. There are a surprising number of nurseries installed below power lines here but most of these are wholesalers. Of course, given my current plant purchase volume, maybe I could qualify for a wholesale license...
DeleteIt's hard to get home without any plants after a visit!
ReplyDeleteThe place was not very inspiring but the plants were fine.
Nicely with the green brown leaves to the green pot.
Mariana
It indeed appears impossible for me to leave any nursery or garden center without buying plants, Mariana. I think I have a plant addiction.
DeleteWow, what a great selection of plants and they all look to be in beautiful condition. Nice.
ReplyDeleteI was VERY impressed by the quality of the plants, Deanne - and the labeling! Why can't all nurseries label their plants?
DeleteYou have so many excellent nurseries not far from you, I envy you that.
ReplyDeleteAnd I envy the folks in the Pacific Northwest, Christina - they seem to have fantastic nurseries on every street. I guess it's all relative.
DeleteTwo weeks, so is that how long it will take before you return and buy all of those shoulda plants?
ReplyDeleteNo, I have arrangements to pay yet another visit to OC Succulents with a friend. I have been giving some though to making another trip out to Lakewood but I'm going to try to restrain myself until fall unless one of my friends decides she needs to make such a trip herself, of course - any good excuse will do.
DeleteGreat labeling, fab plants, reasonable prices - who could ask for anything more? You made a nice haul! That thing about no nursery visits for two full weeks - why torture yourself that way?
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should have said no "planned" nursery visits for 2 weeks. I swung by my local nursery just yesterday on the way home...
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