Plant shopping therapy

As the chaos in the political environment and the world as a whole continues, we all have to find respite on occasion to maintain our sanity.  I usually seek that peace by working in my garden but at times I need to take a break even from its demands.  After I complained to a neighborhood friend that our local garden center didn't currently have much of a selection of small succulents to help me fill out one area, we decided to pay a visit to a nursery specializing in succulents located just half an hour away. 

I hadn't been to OC Succulents' Torrance location in over a year and my friend wasn't acquainted with it at all.  It can't claim any of the vibrant display spaces many garden centers create to bring in customers but it definitely offers a wide selection of both succulents and indoor plants.

A shot of a small section of the indoor plant area

As neither of us were looking for houseplants, we headed directly into the greenhouse area offering small succulents.

Better prices are available if you have a wholesale license, which we did not.  This area also included plants in larger pots, which were individually priced.

The smaller plants aren't labeled by species; however, the plants larger than those in 2-inch pots are identified by name on checkout receipts

After taking a close look at display tables, we grabbed flats and started making choices.

Aeoniums, clockwise from the upper left: 'Garnet', 'Lily Pad', 'Mint Saucer', and 'Zwartkop'

Clockwise from the upper left, Echeverias I was able to identify with relative confidence by eye included 'Afterglow', 'Lola', E pulvinata 'Ruby Slippers', 'Red Ruffle', E. runyonii, and 'Sahara' 

My best guesses for the Echeverias I couldn't reliably identify (even after consulting an ID app included E. elegans, E. gibbiflora, no clue, and E. secunda

Graptoverias 'Amethorum' and 'Fred Ives'

They had a large variety of Sansevierias (aka snake plants) in stock too.  After a couple of recent houseplant losses, I briefly considered the 2 Sansevierias on the right as a possible replacement for an unhappy Dieffenbachia as snake plants are nearly indestructible but I put that decision off for another time.

I headed outside to look at some of the larger (and more expensive) plants while my friend continued her search inside the greenhouse.  

I was specifically interested in checking out the Mangaves.  Unfortunately, I didn't see any of the newer cultivars I've admired when viewing other bloggers' posts.

They had a lot of agaves but for some reason the only one I photographed was Agave bovicornuta (upper left).  The Mangaves shown here are 'Lavender Lady', 'Mission to Mars', and 'Snow Leopard'.

There were lots of cacti species in large containers but I only photographed these 3: Hildewintera aursipina, Echinocactus grusonii (golden barrel cactus, now classified as Kroenleinia grusonii), and Pilocereus azureus.  I didn't see any of the Echinopsis with flashy flowers but then I didn't ask about them and maybe they're already past their bloom stage.

We couldn't miss these palo verde trees in full flower (Cercideum 'Desert Museum'). My friend told me she'd spotted several in the vicinity of our neighborhood when she walked her dog.

A lineup of pricey Aloe 'Hercules'

Both my friend and I left with a flat of plants.  I can't say that either of us found anything new or unusual but, for me, they'll do to fill several empty spots.

Based on the information printed on my receipt, the yellow-orange succulents on the left are Cremosedum 'Little Gem'; the blueish ones to the right are Graptoveria 'A Grim One'*; the next 3 are Echeveria 'Lola'; those on the far right are E. 'Metallica Hybrid'; the pinkish ones on the lower right are Graptosedum 'Rosa'; and the 3 tiny ones on the lower left are a guess identified by my plant app as E. 'Chroma'.
*I looked for an explantion for the cultivar name 'A Grim One' and learned that it was bred by Bob Grim of San Jose, California. 

As it's been a busy week for me, I haven't yet gotten around to planting my new succulents (or the second flat of 'Elfin' thyme I picked up elsewhere) but, assuming the temperatures remain comfortable, I'll get to that this weekend.  As it is, I've a long list of other garden chores I've yet to tackle and, to complicate matters, it appears that the raccoons are loose in my nighttime garden looking for grubs, leaving things torn up for me every morning.

I hope you're able to enjoy time in your garden as well but, if you're in the Eastern or Midwestern US, take care doing anything outdoors in that intense heat!

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Looking for bargains

On Wednesday, I took a trip to OC Succulents' satellite store in Torrance, California to see what kind of selection the wholesale nursery had to offer.  It's only about 15 miles and 30 minutes from my home but, if my photographic records reflect all my visits, I haven't been there since December 2018.  In any case, I know for certain I haven't dropped in since the start of the COVID pandemic so I wasn't sure what to expect.

I was a little shocked when I walked into the tented area that houses the nursery's smaller succulents in two, four and six-inch pots.

There was a LOT of empty space

This photo, taken on a visit in July 2018 from approximately the same angle, shows what I'd expected to see

There were still a lot of plants but overall it was a smaller selection than I'd hoped to find.

There seemed to be more plants in 6-inch pots ($9.95 apiece) than in 4-inch pots ($4.25 apiece)

I didn't see prices on these larger pots of Echeveria agavoides ('Red Tip' I think) but I wouldn't buy them in that size anyway.  I took the photo mainly as a reminder of just how large this particular Echeveria can get.

There was a large variety of Sansevieria (now classified as Dracaena) in a range of sizes too

 

There were many more plants in larger pots outside.  They were undoubtedly priced competitively but the tags still made me gulp and I prefer to establish plants in smaller sizes.  (Whether I'll continue to hold onto that preference once I have large gaps left in my garden when various agaves bloom out, remains to be seen.)

The largest plants were lined up along the the seller's back fence.  I didn't check the prices on most of these but the 'Blue Glow' Agaves, all smaller than any of the specimens currently in my garden, were priced at $179.

Agave geminiflora were going for $30, which I thought was pretty reasonable for plants this size

I was attracted to this new-to-me Agave sebastiana with its light blue color but it's apparently a prolific pupper, which could be a negative

Aloe cameronii has an attractive form, reminiscent of a sea creature.  I have a small plant but adding one this size isn't entirely out of the question for $30.

I didn't see a lot of Mangaves but they did have a few varieties.  This one is 'Racing Stripes'.  At $35, the price was on par with the Mangaves sold by my local botanic garden at its spring plant sale.

I've always had mixed feelings about Pedilanthus bracteatus but they are attractive planted in groups, especially when in flower.  They were going for $49.

There were collections of mid-sized plants in 8-inch pots close to the store's main entrance, including Agave parryi truncata and Agave 'Blue Glow'.  The plants were priced at $40 but at least I now know of a source for 'Blue Glow' Agaves when my plants bloom and die.

In contrast to the selection of small succulents, the selection of houseplants was as extensive as ever.

I think you could find every house plant you might covet in a range of sizes here

Plenty of Peperomia

Colorful Crotons

A wide variety of Calathea

I noticed a sign for Philodendron 'Birkin' ($12 for a 4-inch plant) but they were all gone

I didn't see any price tags on the small mounted staghorn ferns and bromeliads but these did give me an idea for sprucing up my lath house

There were even signs providing various kinds of guidance for newbie houseplant parents

 

I didn't buy any houseplants but I didn't go home empty-handed either.

I brought home 16 succulents in 4-inch pots: 2 Sansevieria trifasciata 'Twisted Sister', 3 Aeonium 'Lily Pad', 5 Echeveria 'Blue Atoll', and 6 other Echeverias I'm unable to identify.  With the exception of the Sansevierias, they were $4.25 each.  Factoring in the 10% discount I get from my local garden center, each plant was $2.04 cheaper those at my local outlet.  Not a great savings but future trips to OCS will be worth more if their selection improves.

 

I've tentatively decided to add more succulents to one habitually dry area in my back garden, already partially filled with succulents.  That plan hasn't entirely come together yet but at least a portion of the plants purchased on this trip are targeted for placement in that area.  Others will find homes in existing succulent beds as I fill in gaps.  Given the current direction driven by climate change, I suspect my garden will contain a larger percentage of succulents each year for the foreseeable future.

All material © 2012-2022 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

More succulent container rehabs

I've been planning to rehab the succulent container near our back door for months.  A trip to a new-to-me succulent nursery in nearby Torrance provided both the incentive to do so and a supply of fresh material.  The nursery is an offshoot of California Greenhouses/OC Succulents and it specializes in succulents and other drought tolerant plants.  I've visited the Irvine location many times and when I learned they'd opened a store much nearer to me I made plans to check it out, although it took me almost a year to finally get there.

Unfortunately, I left my trip until mid-afternoon and, as they close at 4pm, I didn't have much time to explore.  Focused on succulents in 4-inch pots, I found plenty of those in a very large shade-covered tent structure.  I took a few photos.

The area was neat and well-organized

and all the plants were in pristine condition

I didn't have time to check out the bromeliads, much less the larger succulents in the outside area or the indoor plants

I came home with 14 plants, all succulents.  Some of them went into replanting the pot by the back door.  I cleaned up and reused the 'Sunburst' Aeoniums and the variegated Portulacarias that were included in the pot when I first planted it, filling in with another of my favorite succulents, Echeveria 'Blue Atoll'.

This was the planter as it looked back in January with Aeonium 'Sunburst' hogging all the attention

This is the newly replanted container.  Unfortunately, the Aeoniums are sun-scorched, something I didn't notice until I cut their tall stalks in preparation for replanting the container.  I'm guessing this was yet another impact of the nuclear heatwave we experienced in early July.  While some of my other 'Sunbursts' are bleached out, no others are scorched like this and I'm wondering if reflective glare from the the patio surface could've been a factor in the damage.

There was a very large, healthy specimen of 'Blue Atoll' at the nursery.  It was impressive but the 4 I included in my pot cost about half as much altogether.

It filled a 10-inch pot.  I didn't know it could grow this large.

I noticed that the color of the 'Blue Atoll' Echeverias I've planted out in the garden has faded.  Although some growers said full sun exposure is acceptable, I think they'll probably retain their blue color better with less sun so I plan to keep my refurbished pot out of the hot afternoon sun.

I used another Echeveria and Portulacaria in replanting a pot by the front door.

This pot was formerly occupied by a Senecio candicans but that plant seems to prefer life in the ground to life in a pot so I moved it

I expect I'll be paying another visit to OC Succulents in Torrance soon.  Their selection and prices are much better than my local garden center.

Best wishes for a cool, comfortable weekend.  For my local friends, may the fog be with you!

We've enjoyed morning fog for 3 days now.  This photo was taken at noon yesterday when the fog held on until 2pm.  It's kept our afternoon temperatures much lower than those we started out with at the beginning of the week.

 

All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Succulent Curb Appeal

My friend Lynda and I have made a few trips in search of succulents over the past few months.  While my own objectives on these occasions were relatively ill-defined, Lynda was very focused.  She'd decided to pull out the shrubs, perennials and annuals from the brick planters that serve as her front garden and replace them with succulents.  She became enamored with (a better term than "addicted to," don't you think?) succulents after replacing the herbaceous plants in the window boxes on the upper level of her townhome with these heat and drought tolerant plants.  An artist, she loved their sculptural qualities, which she's also featured in her canvases.  However, like me, she discovered that it took a lot of succulents to fill an area, even when she bought good-sized specimens to start with.

Photo of the back of Lynda's SUV after our nursery trip to OC Succulents and Roger's Gardens at the end of May

Photo of the cargo area after our most recent trip to OC Succulents this month (before we stopped by Roger's Gardens)

I recently visited her place to see how her succulent garden was coming along.  It looks great already!

The large bed at the front of the house, photographed from the house's second level

The partially shaded bed directly behind the one in depicted above, also photographed from upstairs

Photograph of the same area from the street level looking toward the house

Side bed, photographed from above

A segment of the same bed, photographed from the driveway

Here are some close-ups of her choicest selections:

Aloe cameronii surrounded by Euphorbia 'Sticks on Fire' and Dyckia

Agave parryi, which is producing pups like crazy

Echeveria subrigida

Close-up of a portion of the side yard bed showing Agave desmettiana, more Euphorbia 'Sticks on Fire,' Dudleya, Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' and an assortment of other succulents

The Abelia x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope,' which have different watering requirements, will probably be coming out of these beds to make room for more succulents.  That means we have more trips to the nursery in store for us, which is great as I also have spaces to fill in my new succulent bed.

I failed to get a shot of Lynda's window boxes but I did get a few photos of the pots she has along the stairway leading up to her front door.  They look great too and, as she has LOTS of steps, she's got plenty of room for more pots, which of course will support still more trips to the nursery.  (Lynda, if you show this post to Dave, be sure to remind him that none of this shopping is my fault.)

All material © 2012-2014 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party