The search continues...

Within the span of five days, I visited two more garden centers in the search for plants to fill vacancies in the succulent bed I've been renovating.  I can't claim any discoveries that have pulled the entire picture together in my mind but, for me, building a garden bed is a painting rather than a puzzle.  Each decision alters the overall composition.

Armstrong, my local garden center, part of a chain, provided relatively few choices in terms of either agaves or Leucadendrons.  There were more aloes than I'd expected but nothing unusual and the agave selection was very limited.  I considered a few alternatives.

I briefly considered Dasylirion longissima (left), Furcraea foetida 'Mediopicta' (right rear) and Yucca linearifolia (right foreground) but ruled out each for different reasons

I didn't find the Leucadendron 'Summer Red' I'd fixated on, or any Leucadendrons in one-gallon containers for that matter.

Armstrong had Leucadendrons 'Winter Red' and 'Ebony', both of which I already have in my garden

For reasons I can't fathom, I was attracted to one ceramic piece that had nothing whatsoever to do with my shopping list but better sense prevailed.

The Talavera-style ceramic gecko was cute but expensive and I've absolutely no idea where I'd put it

I didn't check off any of my bigger ticket items but I didn't go home entirely empty handed.

I bought 2 small pots of Osteospermum 'Serenity Coral Magic' and one small pot of O. 'Serenity Dark Purple' (because they didn't have any more).  I also bought 3 of each of the Echeverias shown in the bottom row in 2-inch pots (left to right: Echeverias 'Afterglow', 'Mexicano', and 'Serrana').

On Tuesday, a neighbor and I took a trip to Flora Grubb Gardens in Marina Del Rey.  That garden center offered a lot of choices in terms of water-wise plants.

The large area directly west of a freeway exit was loaded with Agaves, Leucadendrons, and Leucospermums among other plants

There were a range of mixed succulent vignettes like these arrayed throughout the garden center too

Clockwise from the left are: a mix of agaves, cactus, and Leucadendrons; Agave gypsophila 'Ivory Curls'; and Agave americana mediopicta 'Alba'

Display of Leucadendrons and pots (left) and Leucadendron 'Red Eye' (right).  I was briefly obsessed with the latter but, as it can grow up to 20 feet tall, I reluctantly turned away.

My friend was focused on Leucospermums.

Closeups of just a few Leucospermum flowers, clockwise from the upper left: L.'Flame Giant', L gueinzii, L. 'Helene', and L. 'Naomi'

Other plants sounded a siren's call but were resisted.

Another Anigozanthos in the Bush Gems Celebration series.  This one is 'Aussie Spirit'.  It was in a larger pot than the 'Masquerade' variety I'd purchased a week before in a one-gallon pot at Deep Roots and more than twice the cost.

The Grevilleas on display included 'Long John', 'Misty Pink', and 'Sandra Gordon'

From left to right are Beschorneria yuccoides, Podocarpus henkelii, and assorted bromeliads

I've been a little obsessed with Beschorneria since my neighbor showed me this specimen in her front garden last weekend.  She says it was planted at least 8 years ago and this is the first time it's bloomed.  I have 2, one older than that but unfortunately almost entirely buried under my ginormous Leucadendron 'Chief'.  The other, a variegated 'Flamingo Glow', is still small after 2 years in the ground.  Planted from a 4-inch pot, I think I have a long wait ahead before it blooms.

This shopping trip was more productive than the last one.  I spotted a butterfly and purchased two large plants, although only one of these was on my original list of prospects.

My phone identified this butterfly as a mourning cloak

I bought yet another Agave 'Blue Glow' but this one came in a 3-gallon container.  I planted 2 smaller specimens of the same agave, picked up last year in 4-inch pots, on either side of the spot intended for the larger one.  In lieu of a Leucadendron, I selected Chondropetalum tectorum (aka small cape rush) to add a touch of softness to the bed.  I have a larger version of this plant, which I love, but it grew far bigger than advertised and overwhelmed its spot.  This one should only grow 2-3 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide.

I haven't entirely decided whether to get a Leucadendron for the succulent bed as well.  Despite its price, I've been reconsidering the Leucadendron 'Startreuse' I saw at Deep Roots.  At the same time, I've begun thinking about alternatives and I've added Phormium to my prospects list.

A Phormium 'Maori Queen' like this one in a garden bed near the front door might be a nice option

 

I've another local succulent outlet in mind for a visit in the near term.  I'll be sourcing smaller succulents to serve as fillers and groundcovers.  As I'm also considering removing one or two woody Abelias from the area adjacent to the one I'm renovating, I may have even more space to fill before my renovated bed is ready for its reveal.

Best wishes for a wonderful weekend!  It appears that ours may come with at least a little more rain.

All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Before the Christmas tree takeover...

In late November, just before Thanksgiving is celebrated in the US, Christmas trees are trucked into some of my favorite garden centers in large numbers.  In many cases, that means that wide areas are cleared of garden plants for the duration of the holiday season to make room.  Although few if any nurseries or garden centers in my part of the country close during the winter months, the plant selection available in December and January can be very limited.  As the cool period leading into our short winter rainy season is generally the best time of the year to plant, this is frustrating to say the least.

I decided to get as much plant shopping done in the next few weeks as possible to spare myself that frustration.  I visited two of my favorite nurseries to the the north in early October with a friend.  This week I targeted Deep Roots, a garden center in Manhattan Beach, about half an hour away from my home.  I used to drop in there regularly after lunch with friends but, for a variety of reasons, I haven't visited since early in 2019.  I'd almost forgotten how much I appreciated their selection of plants.

With apologies for the quality of the photos, which were taken with my soon-to-be-retired 3G phone, here are some photos to give you an idea of what attracted my attention:

This is variegated Agapanthus 'Gold Strike'.  According to the tag, the compact plants produce picotee blue and bluish-white flowers.

Banksia ericfolia 'Compact Form' still gets too big to find a place in my garden

I already have one Correa 'Ivory Bells' in my garden but I was tempted to get another

This is a variegated Fuchsia thymifolia

I've no idea what this is.  I didn't see labels on any of the plants and I never got around to asking.  It made me think of a restio but I couldn't find anything like it online.  A commentator identified this as Pennisetum glaucus 'Jade Princess'

This is the first "red" Plectranthus (P. hilliardiae) I've ever seen

A noID bromeliad, a Vriesea I assume, with a price that was just a little too much for me

Lots of choices among Tillandsias, a few with developing blooms

This Yucca 'Bright Star' had a short trunk, making me wonder if I should have left mine alone instead of cutting it to the ground

I was tempted by some of the plants shown above but most were in large pots and were priced to reflect that.   I checked the sale tables for smaller plants.

Lots of plants in one-gallon and 4-inch pots but nothing I had to have

In light of our ongoing drought, it's probably not surprising that I focused on the succulent selection.

The succulents occupy a large portion of the north side of the garden center

Left to right: Furcraea sellowa var marginata, F. foetida 'Variegata', and a mix of Mangaves

Clockwise from the upper left: Agave potatorum 'Kichiokan', Aloe maculata, a variety of small Aloes and Haworthia, what I believe is Pilosocereus azureus, and a plant that might be Rhipsalis.  Many plants were unlabeled.

When I went to check out, I was told that all the outdoor plants were 50% off!  I'm still not sure why I didn't go back and gather a few of those plants in the big pots but maybe I'll find time to swing by again before everything's tucked away to make room for the Christmas trees.

I bought the Pilosocereus, 3 Aloe 'Moondance', Haworthia 'Savanna', H. limifolia (aka fairy's washboard), and 2 noID Crassulas

The Aloe 'Moondance' and the Crassulas went into the area I replanted with Aloe 'Moonglow' last week.  I'm considering a couple of different spots for the Pilosocereus.

On the way home, I swung by another garden center in Redondo Beach, close to my former home, but I found it's now open on a limited schedule so that was a bust.  However, yesterday I met a friend for lunch and decided that a quick stop by Elwood Nursery across the street was in order, since I don't think I've visited there since early in 2020.

I brought home a few things but this Cyclamen 'Djix' with its distinctive flowers was the most interesting

On my way home, I also dropped in at Armstrong Garden Center in Torrance to pick up a special order I'd placed for two flats of creeping thyme.  I've visited this store regularly throughout the pandemic but, whenever I visit, I feel it necessary to stroll all the aisles to see if there's anything new I "need."  In addition to my 'Elfin' thyme, I brought home a few other things, including these:

I've long complained that our garden centers never get in any interesting Chrysanthemums.  This C. indicum 'Rainbow Circus' broke that trend.

I'd eyed Didelta 'Silver Strand' at Seaside Gardens last month but forgot to pick it up on my way to check out so I couldn't pass this one up.  One online source claims the succulent subshrub is "indestructible" in the face of summer heat.

It looks like I'll be plenty busy this weekend!  I hope you enjoy your weekend too.

All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party