Friends, plants, and lunch

Is there a better way to spend several hours than meeting up with friends while wandering among plants on a sunny day, then tying things up with lunch?  Denise of A Growing Obsession proposed the get-together with HB of Piece of Eden and myself, the first time we've had an opportunity to see one another since the Puget Sound Garden Fling last July.  We met up at Roger's Garden, a destination garden center in Orange County.  I hadn't been there since September 2024 so the venue was a plus.

We spent a lot of time talking so my photo-taking was relatively haphazard.  I focused on the demonstration garden beds scattered throughout the nursery's grounds.

The large garden bed near the entrance had been decked out with a variety of pink flowers, presumably with Valentine's Day in mind

The nearby triangular beds were planted with spring bloomers

The Bird and Butterfly Garden had been fluffed up for the warmer season to come too

Shrubs in the sloped bed adjacent to Roger's Farmhouse restaurant were accented by masses of Geranium 'Rozanne' in full bloom.  While I grew that geranium in my former garden, it didn't survive long in my current garden; however, after seeing this display, I was ready to try it again.  Unfortunately, the plants weren't currently available for sale.

The California-Friendly Garden was heavy on rosemary (now classified as Salvia rosmarinus).  That plant is indestructible in my garden but I have all too much of it.

This foliage mix caught my notice

This Small Space Garden, combining succulents and Westringia among other things, was my favorite on this occasion.  We noted that some of the Mangaves, including 'Lavander Lady', were producing masses of pups.  The gray sculpture is one of Dustin Gimbel's pieces.

The garden was well stocked and geared up for the spring season.

A LOT of bedding plants were available

The shade plant selection was also extensive

The succulent plants had been moved to the upper level of the nursery since my last visit but the selection was extensive

Aeoniums and a wide variety of small succulents were available

There were a lot of agaves too.  We immediately noticed one-gallon containers of Agave 'Snow Glow'.  We spent time talking about the agave next to it too.  It was simply labeled Agave 'Choice' but we couldn't immediately find a description under that name online.  Based on a later search, I'm guessing it may have been Agave macroacantha 'Pablo's Choice'.  That plant's proclivity for pupping to form sizable clumps matches the concerns HB raised about the tiny pups already developing in those pots.

Mangaves were also prominently displayed.  The large pot containing a Mangave 'Lavender Lady' (right) was packed with pups.  I have 3 of those plants, just one of which was an offset of a larger plant.  I was surprised that 'Lavender Lady' could pup like that, even after seeing evidence of similar behavior in the Small Space Garden bed.

Rain chains planted with tiny succulents

Miscellaneous plant sightings included a Silver Bismarck Palm (Bismarkia nobilis), marked 50% off (which still meant $350), and a beautiful staghorn fern (noID)

I didn't walk away without plants either.  Here's my haul:

On the left, 3 carmine Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflora), 2 Osteospermum 'Violet Ice', 2 O. 'Berry White', and one O. 'Lemon Ice'.  On the right, 3 Echeveria mexicano, 3 E. 'Atomic', and another Agave 'Snow Glow'.  I also' picked up 4 sweet pea seedlings as those I sowed from seed back in November aren't looking good at the moment.

Now I just need to get everything planted.  Luckily, we're looking forward to a mostly sunny weekend with temperatures in the upper-60s to the low-70sF (20-21C).  Hopefully, I'll have time to tackle the weeds mentioned in my prior post too.

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

Destination Garden Center

During peak garden seasons, I usually end up at my local garden center at least once every week or two.  Summer is not a peak gardening period; however, fall is the best time to work in the garden in coastal Southern California.  Although it's entirely possible that we'll have periodic heat spells for a time yet and we're unlikely to see any measurable rain until November, the shorter days and cooler nights make it less problematic to start planting.  When a friend and I made arrangements to meet for lunch in Orange County this week, she suggested the the Farmhouse restaurant at Roger's Gardens and I was agreeable (as she suspected I would be).  It gave me an opportunity to check out the inventory at one of SoCal's largest garden centers.  According to my records, I haven't visited Roger's Gardens since November 2022.  I'm not sure how that happened!  In any case, a visit was long overdue.

Halloween decorations are big business at Roger's so I wasn't surprised to see a focus on pumpkins and holiday decor.  I'll wait until October to cover the latter but it's not too early to talk about pumpkins.

This is a view of the main entrance

As soon as I walked in I saw a plethora of succulent-topped pumpkins.  They were pricey, as you may note on the tags attached to the 3 shown in closeups.

Pumpkins have displaced the seasonal plants that usually dominate the areas shown here

There's nowhere else I know of to find a wider selection of pumpkin varieties, however.  But even the "naked" pumpkins cost a pretty penny.

Roger's has themed gardens spread throughout its grounds, although I noted that a few were awaiting replanting.

The bird and butterfly garden is a little bare behind that mosaic

Vertical garden space covered in succulents

A small waterfall emptying into a pond

They've updated this waterwise garden since my last visit.  It's heavy on Mangaves and Westringia 'Morning Light'.

This is another, less flashy waterwise garden space

I think this is the only time I've seen this demonstration garden without plants in the 20+ years I've visited.  They seem to be in the process of setting up the miniature train that's a central feature of the Christmas holiday display.  The year-end holiday decorations are due to be revealed in early October.

I checked out a wide variety of plant displays.

These obviously aren't plants but they caught my attention.  Our backyard fountain was out of commission for a time in July and August and we were considering replacements but I couldn't find anything I liked at the time and my husband managed to repair the one we have.  If we do replace it at some point, I'd like something simple and streamlined like those shown here.

I was actually more interested in some indoor plants than most of the outdoor plants I saw during this visit

The container plants are attractive but I prefer to put together my own combinations

Roger's has expanded its succulent plant collection over the years.  The 'Sun Glow' Agaves shown on the right practically screamed at me but at $300 I tuned them out.

Overhead view of the lower area of the garden center

Surprisingly, I didn't find any shrubs or perennials I couldn't live without to fill the empty spots in my garden, although I spotted a few things to consider further after lunch with my friend.  I headed to the Farmhouse to meet up with her.

Views of the Farmhouse from the outside.  The seating is in an open air setting, perfect for a 3 hour lunch!

I rarely leave a garden center empty-handed and this visit was no exception.  Nothing I purchased was anything I "needed" but then that seldom makes a difference.

I purchased 5 plants.  The orchid was a splurge.  Clockwise from the upper left: Asplenium 'Hurricane', Celosia 'Twisted Yellow', Helianthus 'Sunfinity', a 6-pack of Nasturtium 'Alaska', and an Oncidium.  The fern, Celosia, and orchid all found a home in my lath house.

Finally, here are shots I took in the parking lot and along the beds bordering the street.

This stretch of plants along the driveway entrance was simple but very attractive.  Aloes, Westringia ('Morning Light' again) and Lantana dominate the space but there were some Leucadendrons backing up those plants.

I was surprised at how much I liked the orange pumpkins dotting what I recall was red-flowered Vinca (left).  Phormiums and Leucadendrons dotted the parking medians (right).

The area surrounding the gazebo was packed with large succulents the last time I visited but there are clearly new plans for planting the area.  I didn't take time to survey the area there or along the street but I was struck once again by the widespread use of Westringia.  I also noted what I think was Chondropetalum. Lomandra, and the repetitious use of Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light'.

I may try to make another trip to Roger's in early November in the hope they'll have restocked their plant shelves but, once the Christmas trees arrive arrive before Thanksgiving, plant shopping will come to an abrupt stop until the holiday season is over.

My thoughts are with all those in the path of Hurricane Helene this weekend.  Stay safe!

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

A garden center's efforts to educate the public

Last Saturday, my husband and I paid a visit to Roger's Gardens in Orange County.  My husband doesn't generally accompany me to a garden center, at least not willingly.  The purpose of this visit was to meet up with our nephew, who now lives and works in San Diego County.  We'd booked a table at the on-site Farmhouse restaurant, which has comfortable outdoor seating.  My husband agreed to leave early for our restaurant reservation so that I could check out what was new in the garden center.  We arrived about 90 minutes early, which was just about perfect.

Roger's has declared it "Hummingbird Summer" and this emphasis was apparent as soon as we entered the property.

The photos on the left and upper right show segments of the demonstration garden near the entrance featuring plants that appeal to hummingbirds, like Agastache, Lantana, and various Salvias.  The photo on the lower right shows hummingbird plants for sale, including Hamelia patens, Pentas, and Salvia clevelandii.

In addition to educating customers about hummingbirds, selling plants that support them, and raising money for the Audubon Society as they did in 2021, Roger's is also boosting customer awareness of the plight of Monarch butterflies.

Roger's has been offering to swap any tropical milkweed brought in by customers for native milkweed free of charge for at least 2 years now for reasons described here.  They're also offering garden kits containing plants that support Monarch butterflies (not free).  In addition, people who make donations of $5 to the Xerces Society to support Monarch conservation can add a butterfly emblem to a wishing tree.

Roger's has an expansive bird and butterfly display garden in the middle of its property too.

Information on creating a bird and butterfly garden is provided by Roger's here

For more than a decade, the garden center has put tremendous effort into educating the public on sustainable gardening in our drought-plagued climate as well.  They sponsored a "California Friendly" Garden Contest for years until it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  (You can find photos and information on the 2018 contest here.)  They've also devoted a substantial amount of sale space to succulents and other drought-tolerant plants.  They've hosted presentations and online videos dealing with waterwise plants and landscaping.  And they've used such plants extensively in landscaping their own property.

This demonstration garden shows what can be created in a small space using a range of succulents and other drought tolerant plants

Two sides of a vertical garden planted entirely with succulents

This and the next 2 photos show the exterior area of Roger's Gardens on one corner with heavy auto traffic

Aloes and Agaves

Ornamental grasses and Leucadendrons

This slope facing the street shows what can be done with a simple palette of Grevillea 'Scarlet Sprite', Leucadendrons, prostrate rosemary, and Westringia 'Morning Light'

Even the parking lot medians are dressed up with California friendly plants, including Cordyline, Leucadendron, Leucospermum, and a variety of succulents.  "California friendly" plants can be defined as natives and plants from other Mediterranean climates that are well adapted to local conditions.

Roger's offers a lot amount of information on their website to assist homeowners in dealing with California's severe drought and creating a California friendly garden that supports wildlife without wasting water.  You can find more information here and here.  Frankly, they're doing a lot more than my local botanic garden in calling attention to our water issues, providing useful reference material, and suggesting ways to manage with less water in the garden.  This is all the more important as California and six other southwestern states have been ordered to collaborate on a plan to dramatically cut the amount of water they draw from the Colorado River before the federal government creates the plan for them.  This depressing topic is covered in detail here.  The clock is ticking.

My husband, nephew and I had a very nice lunch under an umbrella with lush planters separating us from other guests.  I was in love with the mix of plants surrounding us, which included blue Salvia 'Mystic Spires', white Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost', blue and white Bacopa, purple-leafed Heuchera, and lamb's ear, among other things, but I couldn't get a good photo without disturbing other diners.

Given that summer's heat is on, I shouldn't have bought any plants but of course I did.

I picked up 3 Catanache caerulea (aka cupid's dart) and 3 Stachys hybrid 'Lilac Falls'.  Both are said to get by on "moderate" water but I've killed off 'Lilac Falls' before so I'll try a different spot for it.  Getting both species established during the height of summer is the trickiest part.

I'll plant my Roger's purchases out this weekend but I'm taking a different tact with my most recent mail order purchases.  I had these plants on my wish list at Annie's Annuals & Perennials and, as I couldn't count on them being available in the fall, I went ahead with that purchase but I've transferred them from 4-inch pots into one-gallon containers to see them through the summer until fall's cooler temperatures arrive and I can plant them in the garden with a higher likelihood of success.

The 2 plants on the left are Agastache 'Black Adder' and the 2 on the right are Fabiana imbricata (aka false heather)

 

Best wishes for a peaceful weekend.  Between weather woes, politics, and, in the US, the never-ending misery perpetuated by gun violence, I expect we can all use a bit of peace wherever we can find it.

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

Another trip to Roger's Gardens

After an absence of more than a year, I've visited Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar three times since April following my Covid-19 vaccination.  My most recent trip, just over a week ago, was prompted by an opportunity to connect with blogger friend Gerhard of Succulents & More.  He'd come to Southern California for the Inner City Cactus & Succulent Society Sale & Show and we arranged to meet at Roger's Farmhouse restaurant between stops on his whirlwind tour of local nurseries.  I arrived early to give myself time to walk around the exterior garden areas of the garden center I'd missed on my July trip.

I didn't have time to explore the entire exterior area so I focused on one end.  As one might expect in midsummer during an exceptionally dry year, the landscape was muted, with shrubs, grasses, and succulents carrying the show.  (More vibrant displays can be viewed here in posts from November 2016 and January 2019.)

The Leucadendrons (possibly 'Safari Sunset'), Grevillea 'Scarlet Sprite', and Westringia 'Morning Light' do a fine job of covering a slope here

Just a few feet away, there's a grouping of Leucadendron 'Ebony, a Grevillea in full flower ('Robyn Gordon' or 'Superb' perhaps), and more Westringia, which looks like it had been sheared to form a hedge

This display at the intersection of two large streets was my focus.  I was surprised by the shrub roses planted in front.

I think the low-growing grass in the foreground on the left is Seslaria, at least it bears a striking resemblance of the Sesleria 'Greenlee's Hybrid' growing in my own garden.  I can't identify the grass in the background.

The large Aloes and Agaves were here the last time I checked out the area in January 2019.  The Aloes are winter bloomers.

This is a closeup of the grass I wasn't able to identify.  A Miscanthus perhaps?  I photographed it from inside the gazebo with Leucadendrons and Grevilleas in the background.

Several very large hanging planters are attached to the gazebo's roof.  They're filled with Phormiums, Pelargoniums and what I think is Sedum.

These large clumps of Agave attenuata and Aloes were also here at the time of my last tour of the area

Chondropetalum tectorum (aka Small Cape Rush) is used extensively, including in the parkway area adjacent to the street.  Unlike the specimen fronting the street in my own garden, this one is a true dwarf.

A nice specimen of what I think is Agave vilmoriniana 'Stained Glass' identified as Agave salminana var ferox 'Medio Picta' with Aloes I can't identify

Although I'd shopped the garden center a month earlier, I still had to check the plants on sale to see if there was anything else I "needed."  I came home with a Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait' and an Agastache 'Kudos Mandarin' but there were a few other things that caught my eye.

I've been frustrated by the delayed blooms of my tuber-grown dahlias so I've been tempted to bring home plants already sporting buds.  This Dahlia 'Creme de Cassis' appealed to me but I decided a 'Cafe au Lait' with buds but not blooms was a better buy.  I was amused to see a number of dahlias with tomato cages to provide support.  I started using those a few years ago to support my own dahlias and now this seems to be a common practice.

This Leucanthemum x superbum 'Real Gold Cup' was new to me

This big but simple basket filled with a red-flowered Mandevilla was impressive

I've been enamored with Senecio ficoides 'Mount Everest' since my last visit and purposefully looked for plants for sale during this visit; however, the potted specimens ranged from $20-30.  I've ordered specimens in 3.5-inch pots from a mail order provider instead.

This octopus hanging from the ceiling in the indoor plant area captivated me for some reason.  My guess was that it's intended to become part of the Halloween display slated to open in early September.  There appears to be a price tag on its lower tentacles, though.  It'd be great in my lath house if that space were only taller and a whole lot larger.

Gerhard and I had a great lunch with lots of time to talk before I headed home mid-afternoon, just beating the commuter traffic that plagues our Southern California freeways.

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