Sherman Gardens - Part 1

Just a few days after returning from the Capital Region Garden Bloggers' Fling, I joined 2 SoCal bloggers, Denise of A Growing Obsession and Hoover Boo of Piece of Eden, as well as HB's friend and neighbor, in visiting Sherman Gardens in Corona del Mar.  I've visited these gardens before but not for a very long time so I felt as though I was seeing them anew.  Despite the fact that the gardens occupy a space of barely over 2 acres, I took a ridiculous number of photos so I'm breaking this post into 2 parts.  This one will cover the Sun Garden, the Central Garden, the Perennial Garden, and selected plants and plant combinations that grabbed my attention.

The Sun Garden is located near the front entry.  It's laid out fairly formally with a small pond in the center.

The main space was organized in parterre fashion

The glass sculptures are part of an exhibit by California Viscosity Studios running through October

I fell for this otter statue sitting on the edge of the pond

I didn't take a full-sized photo of this Butia capitata (Jelly Palm) tucked into a corner of the Sun Garden but I really liked the way it had been embellished with shade tolerant plants.  Plants were literally crammed into every nook and cranny throughout the gardens.

The Central Garden is a display area directly across from the on-site restaurant.  The current display is all about Dahlias.

The wind was blowing the tall Dahlias about and none of the close-up photos I took are worth sharing but this photo provides visual testimony to the variety and number of plants tucked into this space

Another glass sculpture occupied pride of place

The Perennial Garden sits adjacent to a large lath house containing shade garden specimens.

This area contained many plants that can be found in my own garden, such as Arctotis 'Pink Sugar', Leucadendron 'Jester', Nandina domestica and Phlomis fruticosa; however, the plants are more tightly packed together than mine.  There's a lesson there in terms of how I could create more impact in my own garden.

This is an extension of the same bed shown in the earlier photo.  The large plant near the path leading into the shade structure is Grevillea 'Moonlight', a plant I'd like to add to my own garden

There were a LOT of beautiful plants and plant combinations distributed throughout the gardens but a few stood out for me.

Although this isn't a great photo, the image of this snow bush (Breynia) limbed up like a tree stood out for me.  I grew this plant (or a related species) in a shady section of my former garden and I miss it.  I'm already plotting a way to bring a plant like this into my current garden.

I seem to be developing a thing for red flowers.  This is chenille plant (Acalypha hispida) which I didn't use to care much for but now I find intriguing.

I'm not certain but I think this is another Acalypha, possibly A. wilkesiana

This is Ceratozamia mexicana, a new-to-me cycad from the tropical forests of Mexico.  It's new foliage can be bronze (as shown here) or light green.  It reportedly makes a good house plant as it will grow in very low light but don't get too excited - on-line sources show plants with a one-inch caudex for sale at $50 each and the prices go up dramatically from there.

This bromeliad with the neatly curled foliage is Quesnelia marmorata.  I'm going to a bromeliad show and sale on Sunday and will be looking for this one!

These plants (Aeonium arboreum, Plectranthus aureus variegatus and Coprosma repens 'Pacific Sunset') aren't especially unusual - in fact, I have all of them in my own garden.  However, I've never thought to combine them so I may be copying this.

I also have artichokes, Achillea millefolium, Limonium perezii and Pelargoniums in my garden but I haven't thought to combine those either.  Another great idea.

Part 2, covering the Tropical Conservatory, Shade Garden, and Succulent Garden will follow later this week.


All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party