A friend and I made our biannual trip north to shop for plants last weekend, visiting three of our favorite garden centers in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. While I didn't come home entirely empty-handed, my purchases were relatively light this time. That's at least partly attributable to the supply of plants I accumulated during the summer months and only planted out as temperatures dropped, as well as all the areas I recently filled with bulbs.
Most of my photos were taken at our first stop, Seaside Gardens in Carpinteria. My photos focused primarily on Seaside's expansive demonstration gardens.
My friend and I were greeted by the garden center's cat, Oreo, as soon as we got out of the car |
The Cottage Garden was exploding with blue-flowered Salvias and a few roses |
Serene scenes from the Grasslands area |
Even in November, the South African section was colorful, courtesy of Leonotis leonurus and Kniphofia |
Protea 'Pink Ice' was in bloom too |
Clockwise from the upper left: A mass of Agave bracteosa (squid agave), Agave attentuata (foxtail agave), and a closeup of Agave gypsophila 'Ivory Curls' |
A variety of Aloes on the left and a closeup of new-to-me Aloe eminensis, which I understand is a tree aloe now classified as Aloidendron eminens |
Other succulents that caught my eye included Euphorbia caput-medusae, Myrtillocactus geometrozans, and Pedilanthus bracteosa |
This is my only photo from the South American Garden and the light wasn't favorable but I had to take notice of the fact that this Russelia equisetiformis (firecracker plant) is always in bloom |
Although my focus was on the demonstration garden, I did a thorough round of the nursery as well.
After a lunch break, we visited Island View Nursery, also in Carpinteria.
Last up was Terra Sol Garden Center in Santa Barbara. It's small but often packed with unusual plants. I took no photos at all there, mainly because time was growing short and I was focused on plant shopping. My biggest score was a selection of foxgloves.
I bought a few other plants at our first two stops as well.
Island View had a 1-gallon Agave parryi (left) for $12! (My friend bought a 1-gallon Mangave 'Lavender Lady' for $10!) I also brought home the Begonia conchifolia var rubrimacula on the right. |
That's it from me this week. I hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend.
All material © 2012-2022 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Looks like you had a great outing even if you didn't buy a lot of new plants. The drive to Santa Barbara is always nice, esp. if the traffic cooperates.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Seaside Gardens in the fall; looks like a great time to visit!
Mangave 'Lavender Lady' for $10 in a 1-gal is insanely cheap!
Even though I already have 3 'Lavender Lady' Mangaves, I thought about buying another! They had a few others but those were also varieties I already have.
DeleteThat tillandsia bloom spike is gorgeous! I am so amazed by people who know tillandsia.
ReplyDeleteIt's particularly hard to judge a Tillandsia's identity before it blooms, Loree, at least from my point of view.
DeleteFun times! The South American garden (and the entire property) looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteShould your travels ever take you to that area, Beth, the demonstration gardens alone are worth a visit.
DeleteLooks like a fun day! Lovely that you have a ‘planty’ friend to nursery hop with. Those display gardens look great, particularly the succulent garden. And any nursery with a resident cat is worth a visit in my book đ
ReplyDeleteMy friend isn't actually all that "planty" but she tolerates my interest, enjoys the drive up Santa Barbara way (where we were once both undergrads), and she buys the occasional plant here and there. She focuses on photographing gardens, which is why a stop at Seaside is always on our agenda.
DeleteEven if your plant haul was small, you made friends with a nursery kitty, which to me at least, makes the entire trip that much better.
ReplyDeleteI loved the photo of the Grasslands area and that of the Protea bloom: what a stunning shade of (ice) pink!
Lotus berthelotii looks very soft and airy, and I like your unconventional use of it.
chavli
Oreo was a very friendly cat, who displayed a clear understanding that she was the nursery's official greeter ;) Even without flowers, I loved those grassland shots for their sense of calm. As to Protea 'Pink Ice', I came home and gave my own plant a talking to. I had it in a large pot for 2 years (my bad) but I planted it out in December 2018 and, while it's obviously doing better now that it's in the ground, I think it's time for it to produce a bloom.
DeleteSo nice to see these beautiful gardens, Kris. This time of year for you is akin to our spring! Eliza
ReplyDeleteAutumn is often called SoCal's second spring, Eliza ;)
DeleteHave to concentrate for Aloiampelos and Aloidendron. When they were all aloes I could remember!
ReplyDeleteI can't keep the new classifications straight either, Diana. But, if you remember the old name, you can usually find the new one.
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