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| Christmas trees fill Roger's Gardens' North Forty area |
You may have noticed that I haven't been blogging as much. That's partly due to the prolonged process of completing our renovation project (still not 100% complete!). The work associated with putting the house back in order is another factor, as is the time spent tackling the collateral damage to the garden caused by our renovation in addition to normal end-of-year clean-up. I haven't gotten out and about as often as I normally do at this time of year either, limiting my usual rounds of nurseries and garden centers until I felt I could install new plant material without risking it being crushed by someone or something. That delay has found me searching for plants at a time of year when stock is particularly low as space is cleared for Christmas trees.
Deciding that there should be a break in freeway traffic related to the Thanksgiving holiday on Saturday, I hopped into my car and took off for Roger's Gardens in Orange County. Now, I know that Roger's goes all-in during the holidays but it's a big garden center so I thought it was still a good bet. Traffic was light but, when I arrived just before 11am, I was limited to valet parking, which didn't make me happy. Unfortunately, the nursery plant stock wasn't all that exciting either.
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| I spent a few minutes considering whether I had a suitable spot for this variegated Ceanothus thyrsifolius 'Zanzibar' but, remembering my poor luck with variegated 'Diamond Heights', I passed on it |
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| I loved the bromeliad kokedama but wasn't willing to pay the price |
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| This orchid and succulent combination was also something it'd be more cost-effective to make for myself |
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| The vertical garden was looking good even if the strong mid-day light doesn't show it off well |
I spent a few minutes checking out holiday decorations.
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| Expensive light-filled bulb featuring a Tillandsia |
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| A wreath that made me wish I hadn't already pruned my Leucadendron 'Chief' |
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| This fellow was my favorite among Roger's Christmas/Winter decorations but, cute as he was, I couldn't justify laying out $60 to bring him home |
I left with a few plug plants in 6 packs, mostly to justify the 2 hour round-trip. It looks as though I'll have to wait for the garden centers to restock after the holidays to find prospects to fill those bare spots in my garden; however, I realize that I'm luckier than many gardeners who can't do much of anything in their gardens during the winter months. We have a 2-day break in the rain right now so I best get back out there and make use of it.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I love that Leucadendron wreath - you'll have to put it on the calendar for next year!
ReplyDeleteI'm still thinking about the wreath. I do have a LOT of Leucadendrons. What I don't have a lot of this holiday season, though, is time.
DeleteI agree about the wreath. It is beautiful. You could use that for spring too with those pinkish leaves. Just as well you have to wait. That way you will have more and better choices and I bet you end up finding more places that need something.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't want to just shoehorn plants into place. For example, there are 2 new HVAC units at the front of the house that require some form of screening and, at the moment, I've got no clear visions as to what I should use.
DeleteIt must be difficult to watch everything get smashed and trampled. I purposely waited until this time of year to have my new fence put in and some trees removed. For me though, everything is dead or dormant. Unfortunately, you don't have that luxury. Soon the renovation will be complete and all the workers gone, and you will have the joy of making everything lovely again.
ReplyDeleteWe're getting very close to done now, Cindy. The hearthstone for our fireplace was installed yesterday afternoon!
DeleteThat Leucadendron wreath is way cool.
ReplyDeleteHave not even been plant shopping other than a package of Freesias from Armstrongs. Still have plants in pots that need a place in the ground, and still trimming to do slowed by rain and green-waste-bin-space.
Glad to hear your remodel is moving to completion. Dear Husband must be enjoying cooking in a new kitchen instead of his clever but tiny temporary one.
I still have bulbs I've conveniently forgotten about planting. I always go overboard on bulb orders, then they arrive en masse and I throw up my hands about where I'm going to put them.
DeleteHusband is enjoying his new stone and a functional range hood. I love all the light.
Well, it's only Dec 6th and I am already over Christmas. However, I will be making a foraged wreath ( I think it will actually stop raining next week ) and some other arrangements for the house. I am avoiding all stores-except Whole Foods cause I will need groceries.
ReplyDeleteChristmas does seem to be in hyper-drive this year. I'm feeling a little lackadaisical about the holiday myself, which is unusual, but I think I'm still burned out by the lengthy remodel.
DeleteAlways cool when your garden provides the materials for interesting Christmas decor. I have seen rosemary wreaths as well that are absolutely beautiful. Here we have lots of evergreen material, cones and seed heads to make it all pretty. It's just a little chilly to harvest them.
ReplyDeleteThere are no pine boughs to use here, Elaine, but I'm still thinking about whether I could put together a Leucadendron wreath this year. Time is probably the bigger impediment than sufficient material at this point.
DeleteOh to be able to make a leucadendron wreath...
ReplyDeleteIt probably won't happen this year (no time!) but it's something to keep in mind before I start trimming my Leucadendron back next year.
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