Friday, June 2, 2023

A shorter drive...

I was feeling stir crazy and decided I "needed" a trip to a garden center this week.  I remembered reading that Flora Grubb Gardens had taken over the former Marina Del Rey Garden Center I've frequented often over the past decade, so I decided to make that my destination.  However, I didn't get out the door until almost two hours later and, even once I was on the road, I was ambivalent about taking the freeway.  I chose to bypass the freeway but, as I headed in the direction of the coastal route I prefer when going to Marina Del Rey, I abruptly decided to put off the visit to Flora Grubb Gardens in favor of another garden center, Deep Roots, half the distance away in Manhattan Beach.

Located off a very busy boulevard, Deep Roots is smaller than the Marina garden center but it's anything but ordinary in terms of its plant offerings.  In fact, I've purchased many Leucadendrons and Grevilleas there.  Prior to the pandemic, I used to pass by its location on a frequent basis but a lot changed during and after the pandemic shutdown and, for a variety of reasons, I don't drive that way nearly as often as I used to.  In fact, my records indicate I hadn't visited Deep Roots since early November 2021.


I parked in the upper lot.  These are views of the garden center from a stairway looking down at the garden center.  The 2 areas in the foreground hold stock of California natives and other drought tolerant species adapted to our Mediterranean climate.


I've been looking for a Leucospermum 'Blanche Ito' in a one or two gallon container.  I missed out on one I saw it at my local garden center several weeks ago due to dilly-dallying and I haven't come across another one since but I thought Deep Roots might be a good bet as a source.
 
They had Leucospermum 'California Sunshine' (shown here) as well as L. 'Rainbow' but I purchased the former earlier this year and the latter is too much like others I already have in color
 
Other plants that caught my eye in the area included, clockwise from the upper left: various Achilleas, an orange Arctotis, Halimum atriplicifolium, Helichrysum amorginum 'Ruby Clusters', a Diplacus (monkey flower plant) I didn't get the name of, and Tanacetum camphoratum

 
 
The most interesting plants I found on this visit were these:
 
This is Metasequoia 'Amber Glow'.  It's beautiful but I was surprised to even see this for sale in a very urban area.  The tree grows 30-40 feet tall by 10-15 feet wide.  For the record, although properties in Manhattan Beach tend to be very expensive, the lots on average are relatively dinky.
 
This was the best photo I could manage of Bursera fagaroides.  It has low water requirements and generally grows only 1-5 feet tall, making it useful as a bonsai subject.  Its leaves reportedly have a citrus odor when crushed.  The plant produces small greenish flowers.

There are 2 varieties of Digiplexis, a hybrid of Digitalis purpurea and Isoplexis canariensis (aka Canary Island foxglove).  These were very popular when first introduced but I haven't seen it often in the last few years.  I loved the plant but it was swamped by woolly aphids when I grew it.  The varieties shown here are 'Illumination Apricot' and 'Illumination Flame'.


 Deep Roots always has a nice selection of smaller plants offering seasonal color.

Lots of bright summer-ready flowers but nothing I had to have

I don't usually linger in the shade plant area but my lath house could use a few replacements for plants that didn't appreciate our colder, wetter winter and spring this year.  The Begonia luxurians (upper right) is what I hope my still small plant may look like some day.  I generally prefer white calla lilies but the brightly colored ones tugged at me a bit.


Deep Roots often has interesting succulents.

There were some succulents in 2-inch pots for $2.99, the lowest price I've seen since succulent prices soared in the past year.  The small pots of Lithops (living stones, middle row) cost a lot more.  $12.99 for a 1-gallon pot of Aeonium arboreum (bottom left) almost seemed reasonable.  Maybe I need to open a plant stand in my driveway.

 

I didn't shop the house plant section or the container collection but those areas often offer great options in both categories.  As I was waiting to check out, I noted a collection of boxes designed to hold small plants, all of which had appropriately beach-y themes.


Here's what I took home:

These were odd but spontaneous choices on my part, a Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame' in a 6-inch pot and a 1-gallon pot of Fuchsia 'Windchimes White/White'.  The Fuchsia was too cute to pass up.  Hopefully I can keep both alive and healthy through the summer months.  As Deep Roots honored my old, fully-punched discount card, I got $10 off so my purchase felt like a gift.

 I'll visit Deep Roots again, perhaps on my way home from Flora Grubbs Gardens when I eventually get there.

 May Gray has been followed by June Gloom here.  I've taken advantage of the cool temperatures to clean up after the early spring bloomers to ready the garden for summer flowers that appear ready to move in regardless of the prevailing temperatures.

 As always, best wishes for a pleasant weekend.


All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party



20 comments:

  1. I had to laugh at you changing your mind, I feel you. I haven't managed to visit the Flora Grubbs Garden close to me in San Francisco. When I've been in the city, the traffic was bad and both times I've decided not to add time to my drive to get in there. I'm glad you enjoyed the day anyway with the shorter trip. Good news, illumination flame (a 4" from Annie's Annuals) is going strong on it's 5th year in my garden. It's been slow to spread, but a good bloomer nonetheless. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Driving in SF would intimidate me, tz! I count myself lucky that I can get to Marina Del Rey without slogging through LA freeway traffic (even if it takes 50-60 minutes). Thanks for sharing your experience with the Digiplexis. Maybe I'll be luckier this time.

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  2. The Fuchsia sure is pretty! The Digiplexis was an expensive annual for me --was that because of the bugs? Let us know how it does for you. Was amazed by TZ's comment--and impressed!

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    1. I'm more surprised that I brought up the Fuchsia than the Digiplexis, HB, but just looking at that perky plant made me happy. I can't remember ever having a problem with mealy bugs on my foxgloves but the Digiplexis was a magnet for them.

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  3. That white Fuschia is so delicate looking compared to the more colorful ones. We have two Metasequoias in our garden and a big old one in the property behind us.

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    1. Metasequoia 'Amber Glow' is undeniably beautiful and I imagine it's impressive in a woodland garden like yours. But I can't see it in a quarter-acre or smaller garden where neighbors are right on top of one another, as is the case in most of Manhattan Beach. In my own area, it'd run anyone who planted it afoul of our blasted "view conservation" ordinance. In addition, as coastal SoCal allows year-round gardening, there are relatively few deciduous trees - people seek plants that look green all year. Given the odds against it, I'm wondering why that garden center has it in stock.

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  4. What a great nursery. So much variety! Proof that size doesn't matter. And I bet the prices were better than at Flora Grubb.

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    1. We shall see. Marina Del Rey Garden Center used to be one of my favorites, even if it isn't as close to my current home as it was to my former one. Deep Roots loyalty discount really delivered for me on this visit, though.

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  5. A visit to a good nursery or garden centre is the answer to most of life's problems in my book. And even when you are going with something special in mind, the impulse buys are always the most exciting. I love yours.I have tried digiplexis but it never survived for me, perhaps it will do better in your warmer climate. Seeing so many lovely plants on offer, I think you were very restrained.

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    1. Well, I didn't "need" either of the plants I came home with but I'm happy with both purchases. I didn't have much luck with Digilexis earlier either but, after a few years, it was easy to convince myself to try it again ;)

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  6. I do love a good browse through a nursery. It always inspires me to want to try more in my own garden. We’re actually going plant shopping today with some friends. It’s always interesting to see what they buy because their tastes are more tropical than mine. Still, I must use some restraint today. I’ve got flats and flats of cuttings and new seedlings at home to care for. I don’t really need anything else at the moment. Even just going is asking for trouble! Maybe I will focus on pots and looking for design ideas.

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    1. I hope you pre-trip peptalk helps, Jerry! I can probably count the times I've left without buying anything on the fingers of one hand.

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  7. Searching for a plant that isn't readily available is the best excuse to visit nurseries and plant sales, not that an excuse is needed :-)
    A thrilling way to enter, by descending from the elevated parking lot where all that goodness is spread out before you.
    Helichrysum amorginum 'Ruby Clusters' has a lovely combination of gray-green leafs against that bloom color. I'm not sure I'd like it as much with simple green foliage.
    Digiplexis are hard to resist. They are so exquisitely enticing. I assumed they were perennials, but mine never returned. I hope yours does better on your second attempt.
    Chavli

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    1. I planted Helichrysum 'Ruby Clusters' last year as an experiment and it's still going strong, Chavli. Even though the ruby flowers gradually turn yellow, I love the plant and kicked myself that I didn't buy another, although they were only available in 1-gallon pots and I like to start with smaller plants if I can.

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  8. Ha, I know that restless itch! I indulged myself recently as well... all things that I've never grown, but hankered for. I love your cute little fuchsia and I think digiplexis has a lovely flower, like a more exotic cousin to digitalis. Enjoy the cool temps while they last. :) Eliza

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    1. It's looking like those cooler temperatures, along with the marine layer, are going to be hanging on for awhile yet, Eliza. There's even a chance of drizzle early this week. We had one day of sun from noon on yesterday but that was it!

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  9. So glad you got to visit an old favorite - and that you even got a frequent shopper's reward! That fuchsia is a stunner... I hope it does very well for you.

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  10. Deep Roots looks to be a fine establishment, and I laughed with your mention of the digiplexis—truly a hot plant of the moment that has not held up in the long term. I am anxiously awaiting your Flora Grubb report! Ever since I learned of the LA location I've been wondering what it will be like. Can they repeat the magic?...

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    1. I'd recommend a visit to Deep Roots if/when you're here outside the November-early January timeframe, Loree. The majority of their outdoor plants get shoved into storage (somewhere) during the year-end holiday window when Christmas trees take over. I expect I'll get to Flora Grubb Gardens sometime this summer - I'm still dealing with an annoying cough that's lowered my energy level.

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