Glorious Gardens Nursery

Anyone who has known me for more than a minute soon realizes I have an obsession with succulents. It seems as if the rest of the world is joining me — hence we have more succulentcentric nurseries such as Glorious Gardens Landscape. Located in Leucadia in San Diego just off the 5 freeway, Glorious Gardens Landscape may carry the largest variety of succulents, cacti and tillandsia in San Diego County. Started by landscape designers Emma Almendarez and Linda Fox 2 years ago, they specialize in the unusual, whimsical  and unique. Customers can select plants and pots and the nursery will plant them while you wait. They are going to be offering classes; the first will be in February and will demonstrate glass blowing. Go to their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/gloriousgardens) to see their landscape projects. (www.agloriousgarden.com)

By the way, I know it’s painful for my east coast/midwest readers to see be able to look and not touch these succulents year round. While it’s always best to support your local nursery, in a pinch the West Elm (www.westelm.com) website is offering boxes of very interesting smaller succulents for sale. They also have information on planting a terrarium.

How to repurpose your used vehicle.…On the web:

Sales:

• Plant Depot/San Juan Capistrano has an internet coupon thru 3/16 for $10.00 on a 50.00 purchase. (www.plantdepot.com)
• Sheridan Gardens Nursery/Burbank starts a Superbowl Saturday sale today — 25% off almost everything (www.sheridangardens.com)

On the web:

Saturday, 2/4:

• Annual Camelia Festival @ Descanso Gardens/La Canada/Flintridge: Come and see the largest camellia collection in North America in full bloom. Also: Faery tours of the enchanted forest, walk and talk, tea time and more. (www.descanso gardens and more)
• Theodore Payne Foundation/ Sun Valley: “Natives: The big picture” with Lisa Novich (www.theodorepayne.org)
• Los Angeles Arboretum/Arcadia: Pacific Rose Society Annual Auction (www.arboretum.org)

A locust pod wreath

OK, I admit it. I get a serious case of the blahs over the holidays. I can’t be a hypocrite about it, although I do wish everyone else the happy holiday of their choice. The majestic wreath above kind of fits my mood. It was featured in The Wall Street Journal December 22. Every year the Berkshire Botanical Garden presents their Holiday Market Place fundraiser, including the legendary Gallery of Wreaths. Garden clubs, heads up — this appears to be an excellent way to raise funds. The designers compete to display and sell their creative wreaths.

I had never heard of the Berkshire Botanical Garden. Established in 1934, it is in Western Massachusetts (i.e. the area known as “The Berkshires”). I was looking at the upcoming programs being offered and would love to live near this group. Next summer, my very favorite time of year, I hope to visit. www.berkshirebotanicalgarden.org

On the web:

Sales: there are sales going on..be sure to check with the nurseries concerning the particulars..

• Sheridan Gardens/Burbank/www.sheridangardens.com
• Potted Store/Atwater Village/www.pottedstore.com
• Plant Depot in San Juan Capistrano has a coupon on their website, www.plantdepot.com
• Green Gardens/San Diego/www.sdgreengardens.com

A 5 foot baby!

I took this on my recent tour of the Low Country with my sister, Mary Lynn. Not a great photo, but I didn’t want to get any closer. As  per Wikipedia, since 1948 there have been more than 275 unprovoked attacks on humans in Florida, of which at least 17 resulted in death. There were only nine fatal attacks in the U.S. throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s, but alligators killed 12 people from 2001 to 2007. In May 2006, alligators killed three Floridians in less than a week. This photo was taken at Middleton Plantation outside Charleston, South Carolina. I was thrilled to see this guy out of the water as I had seen 3 in the water posing as floating logs — not very exciting. I think he (or she) might be more of teenager than a baby. There were all sorts of families standing around which didn’t phase him, but someone closed the top on their stroller and bam, he was out of there!

An interesting fact: the range of alligators is increasing northward along the Atlantic Coast towards Virginia.  Look out, Washington, DC! Our politicians may not be at the top of the food chain much longer!

And finally, I leave you with these words of wisdom from naturalist and TV personality Jack Hanna:  “The best thing to do is just leave them alone. Alligators want to be away from you just as much as you want to be away from them.”

On the web:

Sales:

• The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants Annual Native Plant Sale, October 14 — 15 in Sun Valley  (San Fernando Valley) (www.theodorepayne.org)
• San Diego Botanical Garden, Encinitas: 29th Annual Plant Sale, October 15 — 16 (www.sdbgarden.org)
• Jungle Music/ Encinitas: owner Phil Bergman has posted a “new arrivals” section on his website showcasing new palm trees, cycads and tropical plants (www.junglemusic.net)

Classes, etc:

• Huntington Gardens, San Marino: everything you wanted to know about Gingko, Oct. 11/ Iris: the Rainbow Flower Talk and plant sale, October 13/Flower Arranging: the Craftsman Esthetic, Oct. 15/ Orchid Sale and Show, October 14 — 15 (www.huntington.org)
• Descanso Gardens, Flintridge: In Praise of Grasses event and Paint your Garden with Wildflowers lecture, October 15 (www.descanso.org)
• Potted/ Atwater Village is sponsoring a weekly contest for best terrarium with a grand prize of $500.00 (www.pottedstore.com)
• Los Angeles Arboretum, Arcadia: lecture on Natural landscapes/Garden Spaces with Amy Nettleton, October 12 (www.arboretum.org)
• Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton: Eat the yard: Organic Edible Gardening Part I, October 15

The beginning of the journey

I believe Socalnurseryplants.com may have scooped the national garden magazines on this one. Jo O’Connell, an internationally known botanist, owner of Australian Native Plant Nursery and authority on Australian plants, was kind enough to share these photos of a project she worked on recently. Her client, Amy Goldman, is the author of The Heirloom Tomato — from Garden to Table, a book with a prominent place in my library. Ms. Goldman is also the chair of the board of the Seed Savers Exchange. Ms. Goldman recently completed a conservatory on her property in upstate New York.

The new conservatory from across the duck pond

Ms. Goldman’a newly built, gorgeous conservatory was in need of a collection of Mediterranean plants; to this end she dispatched her architect Tom Pritchard to the West Coast. He purchased many at Australian Native Plant Nursery and Jo was put in charge of their safe delivery from the West Coast to the East Coast. She also supervised the installation, below.

Home sweet Home

• You can view Jo’s website by clicking on the Australian button on the top right of my website — it is wonderfully informative.
• Amy Goldman’s website is www.rareforms.com. The Seed Savers website is www.seedsavers.com.
• Tom Pritchard’s website is www.madderlakedesigns.com.

On the Web

• 9/24: UC Irvine  Arboretum/ Saturday Plant Sale (949–824-5833)
• 9/24: Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants Hummingbird Ornament Workshop, No Lawn Workshop (www.theodorepayne.org)
• 9/24: Shipley Nature Center, Orange County —  Annual Native Plant Sale/Composting workshop (www.shipleynature.org)