A friend and I paid a visit to Sherman Library & Gardens last week. I've been there many times but this was my friend's first visit. Located in Corona del Mar, it's very small as botanic gardens go, just over two acres in size. It's set in the middle of a very lively business district along the Pacific Coast Highway, close to the Newport Beach Civic Center. Even through small, it packs a punch as it's beautifully maintained. Areas are redesigned on a regular basis so there's almost always something new to see.
We entered via the back parking lot into the Central Garden.
The area surrounding the fountain was planted with Anemones |
We followed a zig-zag path through the garden, moving to the Succulent Garden next but you can get a better sense of the garden's overall layout by referring to its online interactive map, which you can find here.
Three views of one area featuring Agaves, bromeliads, and decorative rock |
Smaller succulents (left) sit underneath a massive tree aloe I failed to capture. The area on the right is home to 2 large Euphorbias and an impressive Mangave in the foreground. |
In this area, the candelabra tree, Euphorbia ingens (I think), reigns over a host of barrel cactus and other succulents |
Always on the lookout for flowers, I spotted this flowering cactus in a shady corner. I think it's a rat tail cactus (Aporophyllum flagelliformis). |
We emerged from the Succulent Garden into the Tea Garden. An outdoor class was in session so we skirted around the edges of the area. My friend was attracted to a colorful shrub under a shade structure.
After checking out the plants for sale outside the gift shop, vowing to go back there before we left, we toured the Specimen Shade Garden.
Sherman has a large collection of Begonias, many of which were blooming |
However, the display that attracted my attention on this occasion were the palms studded with airplants (Tillandsia) of various kinds |
A closer look at the Tillandsias affixed to each palm trunk. I'm not even going to try to identify individual species. |
We stopped by the Mediterranean Climate Garden next.
I snapped a couple of photos of bromeliads in the area next to the carnivorous plant display |
We spent a good amount of time in the Tropical Conservatory, one of my favorite spots.
More pics taken from inside the Tropical Conservatory |
As we headed back in the direction of the gift shop, we checked out the Formal Garden and the Sun Garden.
I hadn't planned on buying any plants but I couldn't help myself.
We had a nice lunch on the patio of a nearby restaurant and made a relatively brief stop (by my standards) at Roger's Garden, one of my favorite garden centers, before heading home. On a weekday, it's best to get on the freeway before 3pm to avoid getting mired in Southern California's notoriously heavy traffic.
All material © 2012-2022 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
The garden is looking fantastic. That cactus is gorgeous. What a nice way to spend an afternoon.
ReplyDeleteExcept for the drive, it's a great place to spend a couple of hours, Elaine. And there are nice restaurants and a great garden center nearby too.
DeleteLooks like a grand visit, I enjoyed this overview. Someday I hope to visit!
ReplyDeleteI think you'd enjoy it, Loree. You also might like the large and very spiky garden surrounding the Newport Beach Civic Center, which probably isn't much more than half a mile away.
DeleteIt looks very nicely maintained and artfully designed. That one-sided bottlebrush is fascinating. It seems like the hummingbirds would like it, as they seem to like similar plants.
ReplyDeleteYes, I expect the hummingbirds like the Calothamnus. I like it too but I've no idea where I would put it even if I could find one.
DeleteChanged already from when I visited a few weeks ago. The "I'm not sure what the plan is for the structure under construction." building was fashioned as a train station with the model railroad display sited in front of it. Guess that was temporary.
ReplyDeleteThe Medinillia magnifica is magnifica--a steamy conservatory for plants like that is an off-and-on dream of so many of us dry climate (or cold climate) gardeners.
I heard that the April heatwave was hard on Sherman Gardens too and that the volunteers did some replanting as a result. I was also told that the structure now in the Formal Garden has been used for various purposes but my source didn't recall what its intended purpose is this time.
DeleteI just checked my records and determined that my Medinilla isn't M. magnifica but rather M. myriantha, which isn't quite as showy. I think the Medinilla Sherman has near the back entry may be the same as mine. Interestingly, its foliage also looked like the foliage on mine (tip-burned).
Thanks for the tour, Kris. Looks like a lovely place to wander around for a few hours and everything looks so well cared for. I am amazed that they can grow Itoh peonies in that part of the world. Were they in pots or in the ground? (If in pots, I had wondered if they might be over-wintered somewhere cooler).
ReplyDeleteCalothamnus quadrifidus is an extremely tough plant. My mother grew it in her previous garden on a windy hill in terrible clay soil. It received zero water and didn't skip a beat! And the birds love it.
Do you have an ID on the yellow foliage plant underneath the potted burgundy bromeliad? They look good contrasted together.
Well, Sherman Gardens is very close to the ocean and generally far cooler than my own property but they change out the plants in their Central Garden frequently and my guess is that the Itoh peonies will either go into their greenhouse or go home with some happy volunteers once they stop flowering. I also thing they were all in raised planting beds. While my own, now MIA Itoh didn't thrive in the ground here, my friend Hoover Boo at Piece of Eden has been able to grow them in her garden, which is arguably as hot or hotter than mine during the summer months.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Calothamnus would be happy on my back slope, assuming I ever find one. I love that piney foliage.
I think the plant you're referring to next to the burgundy Dyckia is Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid', which I grow on my back slope. It has small chartreuse bracts.
Thanks for the tour Kris. It looks a most interesting garden to visit with a gardening friend. Why is The Tea Garden named so? Glad to hear that a garden centre visit was thrown into the mix on the way home. Always rounds up the day so nicely.
ReplyDeleteThey have - or had - a kitchen that operated on that patio that provided crepes and other light lunch fare and, presumably, tea and other beverages. It's possible the name was also related to the Camellias that grow in the area, although I always assumed it was due to the food service they offered. Their on-site restaurant on the main patio has probably eclipsed whatever food service they provide in the Tea Garden.
DeleteAlways a pleasure to visit here with you, Kris. They pack a lot into a little space. I love how the succulent garden looks like a huge mosaic tile floor!
ReplyDeleteYes, that design in the succulent garden was very popular when it was introduced years ago. I understand that the designer (I can't remember his name off-hand) returns periodically to refresh it.
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