The Eric E. Conn Acacia Grove at the UC Davis Arboretum has one of—if not the—most significant collections of acacias in Northern California. From the Arboretum website:

The Eric E. Conn Acacia Grove displays over 50 species of acacias from Australia, Africa, and the Americas. In early spring, visitors can walk through clouds of fragrant yellow blossoms amid meadows of native California bunchgrasses. We are testing these attractive heat- and drought-tolerant plants, which range from prostrate, low-growing species to tall shade trees, for use in Central Valley gardens. The grove is named for Dr. Eric E. Conn, professor emeritus of biochemistry at UC Davis and an internationally-recognized expert on acacias.

In the past, the collection had a larger number of acacias from the Americas and Africa but since they tend to be frost-sensitive, many of them have died. As a consequence, today’s collection is heaviest on Australian species, most of which go by the moniker “wattle.” (The word comes from wattle and daub, a traditional building method that has been around for thousands of year.)

I think acacias are attractive trees right round. However, when they bloom in February and March, they stop traffic—not only because of the masses of yellow or cream-colored flowers, but also because of the heady fragrance. It’s hard to describe: sweet, a bit like honey, a bit spicy. A couple of species, Acacia dealbata and Vachellia farnesiana, are even used in perfume production.

At this time of year, you can see and smell the acacias at the UC Davis Arboretum even before you get to the Acacia Grove. It’s one of the most magnificent spectacles the Arboretum has to offer.

When I joined a walk through the Acacia Grove a couple of years ago, the docent explained that American and African acacias are closest to the mimosas from which they are thought to have originated. Their leaves still look like the typical mimosa leaves while many Australian species have evolved in a different direction, with leaves that are often radically different from the typical mimosa leaf. In fact, many Australian species, such as Acacia pravissima, have phyllodes (modified flat leaf-like structures that are actually modified stems) instead of traditional leaves.

Until 2005, the genus Acacia contained about 1300 species: 960 from Australia, the rest from warm-climate areas in Europe, Africa, southern Asia and the Americas. In 2005, in a contentious move that caused a tremendous amount of bad blood among taxonomists, the genus Acacia was split into five separate genera. The Australian and Asian species retained the original genus name while the others were reclassified into four new genera: Vachelia, Senegalia, Acaciella and Mariosousa.

Not that most regular folks are affected by taxonomical shenanigans of that sort. Even nurseries don’t seem to be too eager to jump on the bandwagon. The palo blanco I just planted in the front yard, an acacia from northern Mexico, was still labeled Acacia willardiana even though it became Mariosousa willardiana over 10 years ago.

Leaving all that aside, let’s take a look at the acacias that are in bloom right now at the Eric E. Conn Acacia Grove:

Brisbane golden wattle ( Acacia fimbriata)

Brisbane golden wattle ( Acacia fimbriata)

Hairy wattle ( Acacia vestita)

Hairy wattle ( Acacia vestita)

Knife-leaf wattle ( Acacia cultriformis)

Knife-leaf wattle ( Acacia cultriformis)

Knife-leaf wattle ( Acacia cultriformis)

Ovens wattle ( Acacia pravissima)

Ovens wattle ( Acacia pravissima)

Ovens wattle ( Acacia pravissima)

Ovens wattle ( Acacia pravissima)

LEFT: Weeping myall ( Acacia pendula)  RIGHT: Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

LEFT: Weeping myall ( Acacia pendula)  RIGHT: Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

Shoestring acacia ( Acacia stenophylla)

Red-leaf wattle ( Acacia rubida)

Red-leaf wattle ( Acacia rubida)

Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

Mudgee wattle ( Acacia spectabilis)

Mudgee wattle ( Acacia spectabilis)

Snowy River wattle ( Acacia boormanii)

Snowy River wattle ( Acacia boormanii)

Snowy River wattle ( Acacia boormanii)

Snowy River wattle ( Acacia boormanii)

Snowy River wattle ( Acacia boormanii)

Snowy River wattle ( Acacia boormanii)

Snowy River wattle ( Acacia boormanii)

Blue bush ( Acacia covenyi)

Blue bush ( Acacia covenyi)

Varnish wattle ( Acacia verniciflua)

Varnish wattle ( Acacia verniciflua)

Varnish wattle ( Acacia verniciflua)

Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

Silver wattle ( Acacia dealbata)

Queensland silver wattle or pearl acacia ( Acacia podalyriifolia)

Queensland silver wattle or pearl acacia ( Acacia podalyriifolia)

Queensland silver wattle or pearl acacia ( Acacia podalyriifolia)

Queensland silver wattle or pearl acacia ( Acacia podalyriifolia)

Queensland silver wattle or pearl acacia ( Acacia podalyriifolia)

Queensland silver wattle or pearl acacia ( Acacia podalyriifolia)

Queensland silver wattle or pearl acacia ( Acacia podalyriifolia)

If you have the opportunity to visit, the best place to park is at the new Putah Creek Lodge parking lot off Garod Drive (use this link for Google Maps directions). Parking is $9 during the week; free on the weekend. Walk to the east end of the parking lot, cross the foot bridge across Putah Creek to Putah Creek Lodge, take a left on the walking path and continue straight for about 1/4 mile.

I continue to tinker with the succulent mounds that have replaced the front lawn. Most of the planting is done, but I’m waiting for the soil to dry a bit more after last week’s rain before planting out our big golden barrel cactus. It has been in a pot since 2011 and desperately wants to be set loose.

The guest speaker at last night’s meeting of the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society (SCSS) was Ernesto Sandoval, the director of the Botanical Conservatory at UC Davis. Ernesto gave a very informative presentation on how to keep succulents happy, both the parts above and below ground, and brought in a nice selection of plants for sale. Even thought I need new plants as much as I need a sharp stick in the eye, I couldn’t help myself. But instead of buying more succulents, I made an unexpected purchase: two Lachenalia aloides and two Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor.

You don’t know what they are? Welcome to the club. But take a look and you’ll know why I had to have them:

LEFT: Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor  RIGHT: Lachenalia aloides (species)

Lachenalia aloides, commonly known as “cape cowslip” or “opal flower,” is a South African bulb in the hyacinth family. It grows in pockets of rich humus on granite and sandstone outcroppings in the Northwest and Southwest Cape. This area receives the bulk of its rainfall in the winter and is dry in the summer, just like California.

Lachenalia aloides grows and flowers in the late fall through spring and goes completely dormant in the summer. The leaves disappear and you see no trace that the plant even exists until it comes back in October or November. To prevent the dormant bulbs from rotting, it’s important to keep them dry during the summer. That’s easy to do with drip irrigation—simply turn off the emitters. Heck, they may not even need emitters!

Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor

Lachenalia aloides is among the biggest of the 100+ species of Lachenalia but the flower stalks are still only 8-10 inches tall. Over time, the bulbs multiply and you end up with something like this.

Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor

There are multiple varieties of Lachenalia aloides (see the Pacific Bulb Society website), the main differences being flower color and leaf markings. I got two pots of the species (orange-yellow flowers with darker orange areas on the top) and two pots of var. quadricolor. The latter has four-colored flowers and is particularly sought after.

I planted all four in the succulent mounds that have replaced the front lawn. The two Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor went here:

Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor

And the two Lachenalia aloides (species) went in the other bed:

Lachenalia aloides (species)

I like the idea of ephemeral flowers, especially in the winter when things tend to be drab. I may add even more South African bulbs to these beds, provided I can find anything interesting.

The name of this Lachenalia species, aloides, means “aloe-like.” I don’t really know why the person who came up with this name was reminded of aloes. It looks nothing like any aloe I’ve ever seen.

Lachenaliaaloides is hardy to the mid-20s (zone 9b), possibly a bit lower. I talked to several people at the SCSS meeting last night who grow these outside in the Sacramento area, so I should be fine.

While the front lawn conversion still isn’t 100% complete, I’ve decided to pull back the proverbial curtain and show you where we are at as of February 27, 2016.

The progress of this project has been fast and furious, mostly thanks to our landscaping contractor, Díaz Landscape Construction. A big shoutout to José Díaz and his crew. They once again did a fantastic job (this is our fourth project with José).

This is what the front yard lawn looked like on February 9. Ugly and uninspiring.

Front lawn, February 9, 2016

In a matter of hours, José’s crew had removed the sod using a sod cutter.

Lawn dug out, Front lawn, February 9, 2016

Metal edging was installed to outline the shape of the two succulent mounds.

Metal edging installed, February 10, 2016

The next day the mounds were built and the paths installed. The lawn sprinklers were either capped off or converted to drip (see the white pipes in the next photo).

From turf to what you see below took just two days. That’s the advantage of having a crew of able-bodied workers who know what they’re doing!

Mounds and paths created, February 10, 2016

Fast-forward two weeks. Everything has been planted, including the Corten vegetable planter, and I’ve mulched the mounds with 3/8 inch rock. It’s supposed to be California Gold, but it looks more peach/pink that we had expected. We’re not entirely happy with the mulch, and that’s the reason I don’t want to call this project 100% complete. Ideally, I want a darker rock (brown or gray), but I haven’t been able to find anything I like yet. I’ll keep looking, but for now it is what it is.

Mounds planted and mulched, February 27, 2016

I didn’t buy any new plants for these new beds. That goes to show how many plants I had hoarded! I’m so happy I was able to plant out many container dwellers. I could almost hear their sigh of relief when their roots made contact with the wonderfully loose soil in the mounds.

Take a closer look and let me know what you think!

Smaller mound

´

The focal plants of the smaller mound include Agave vilmoriniana ‘Stained Glass’…

… Ferocactus herrerae…

…and Yucca queretaroensis and Agave ‘Blue Glow’

View of both mounds from the fence

Corten veggie planter…

…planted with green onions, rainbow chard, cilantro, beets, Romanesco

The Corten steel has already started to rust

Both mounds, looking towards the house

Veggie planter and golden barrel cactus

This golden barrel ( Echinocactus grusonii) was the last major addition

We moved it yesterday using the same technique described here

Large mound seen from the porch end

Mexican fence post cactus ( Pachycereus marginatus), moved from here. The flowering plants are the Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolorI described here.

Agave parryi ‘Excelsior’, a variegated cultivar of Agave parryi ssp. huachucensis. It already has a baby (left).

Ferorcactus emoryi

Agave applanata ‘Cream Spike’

Ocotillo ( Fouquieria splendens) in front of the golden barrel. All the leaves you see are new since I planted it. This spot gets full sun most of the day, and my wee ocotillo is very happy here.

Candelilla ( Euphorbia antisyphilitica), like the ocotillo among the plants I brought back from Arizona this past December

View from the walkway to the front door

…and zoomed in a little

Looking toward the area against the garage; the front door is on the right

The area against the garage, to the left of the front door, also received a mini makeover. The Agave desmettiana ‘Variegata’ that died last year left a big gap that had to be filled. I had all kinds of grand plans but ultimately decided to keep it small and easy. Here’s the finished result:

Newly planted (counterclickwise starting immediately to the right of the ponytail palm): Agave cupreata, Agave guadalajarana, Aloe brevifolia ‘Variegata’, NOID × Pachyveria (intergeneric hybrid between a Pachyphytum and an Echeveria). The aloe next to the Agave cupreata is Aloe ‘Fire Ranch’; it has been in this spot for almost 10 years and is finally putting on some size.

This spider aloe ( Aloe × spinosissima) has been in this spot for years (forgot to record when I planted it) but it’s just now blooming for the first time ever. I’m so thrilled. I love this hybrid between Aloe arborescens (a larger shrubby species) and Aloe humilis (a dwarf species).

And finally a quick look at the back yard lawn. It was a huge eye sore, and our water conservation measures didn’t help it any.

Back yard lawn, February 8, 2016. Hard to believe, but in the summer it looked even worse.

Back yard lawn, February 8, 2016, looking toward the house

The goal was to replace the “lawn,” if you could call it that, with a carpet of Dymondia margaretae, a water-wise South African ground cover. It forms a dense mat that tolerates foot traffic.

To give the dymondia additional support, I asked our landscaper to install the pavers you see below. They’re typically used for “green” driveways. We then planted dymondia inside and outside the pavers. I originally bought 10 flats (about 500 plants) but that proved to be half of what we needed. In the end, we planted 20 flats, so about 1,000 individual plugs. My wife, bless her heart, did the bulk of the work.

Right now we’re giving the dymondia a light watering every couple of days to help it get settled as quickly as possible. The plugs, while still small, have grown visibly in just two weeks and some have started to flower. Very encouraging signs.

We left the original lawn sprinklers in place for easy watering. Once every 10 days should be enough after the dymondia has become established. I’m hoping that within a year the dymondia will have formed a continuous mat that covers both the bare soil and the pavers so all you’ll be able to see is a silver carpet (which, coincidentally, is the common name of Dymondia margaretae.

February may be the shortest month of the year, but I can’t remember the last time so much has happened in such a short period of time. I’m glad it’s over, but at the same time I miss the thrill of creating something new from scratch.

NOTES:

Corten planter

We originally wanted two 3-foot Corten planters (each about 20-24” inch high and wide) but when we realized what the costs for custom manufacturing would be (well over $1000), we decided to drop the idea. After all, we have three large raised vegetable beds in the backyard. They get a decent amount of sunlight in the summer although virtually none in the winter (hence the desire to have a veggie bed in the front yard as well).

Our contractor suggested looking online, and I found a company called Nice Planter. Their fabrication is in Indianopolis, IN, with a warehouse in Southern California. Nice Planter sells premade Corten planters for much less. The downside is that you’re limited to the shapes and sizes they carry. Here are their current offerings if you’re interested: http://niceplanter.com/store/.

We ended up picking one 20″ H x 46″ W x 20″ D Corten trough, which is what you see in the photos above. It came as a kit, but assembly (using included nuts and bolts) was fast and easy. The cost was $329.99, with free shipping. The planter arrived two days (!) after ordering. Impressive service—and product.

Soil for mounds

The soil for the mounds already came amended with pumice and pieces of lava rock. However, I ended up working in additional rock material (the 3/8” California Gold intended as the top dressing) to give the soil more structure and prevent excessive compaction in the years to come. In hindsight, I should have insisted on a 50:50 split, i.e. 50% topsoil and 50% lava rock fines, but it’s too late to start over now.

Plant list for mounds

Small mound

1. Agave ‘Blue Glow’
2. Agave guadalajarana
3. Agave vilmoriniana ‘Stained Glass’
4. Agave xylonacantha 2x
5. Albuca namaquensis
6. Aloe hereroensis
7. Aloe marlothii × globuligemma
8. Baileya multiradiata
9. Cotyledon ‘White Sprite’
10. Delosperma nubigenum 2x
11. Ferocactus herrerae
12. Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Goblin’ 2 x
13. Lachenalia aloides 2x
14. Papaper atlanticum
15. Yucca queretaroensis

Big mound

1. Agave applanata ‘Cream Spike’
2. Agave gracilipes
3. Agave ocahui
4. Agave parryi ‘JC Raulston’
5. Agave parryi ssp. neomexicana ‘Sunspot’
6. Agave parryi var. huachucensis ‘Excelsior’
7. Agave potatorum ‘Cameron Blue’
8. Agave shrevei var. matapensis × guadalajarana
9. Aloe ‘Hellskloof Bells’
10. Aloe deltoideodonta
11. Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia
12. Delosperma ‘Fire Spinner’ 4x
13. Dyckia sp.
14. Echinocactus grusonii
15. Echinopsis ‘Forty Niner’
16. Echinopsis ‘Paramount hybrid’ (peach/orange flowers)
17. Echinopsis hybrid
18. Encephalartos horridus
19. Euphorbia antisyphilitica
20. Ferocactus emoryi
21. Ferocactus glaucescens
22. Fouquieria splendens
23. Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Goblin’ 4 x
24. Gasteria acinacifolia × Aloe buhrii
25. Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor 3x
26. Lachenalia aloides var. vanzyliae
27. Lachenalia orchioides var. glaucina
28. Ledebouria sp.
29. Mariosousa willardiana
30. Oreocereus trollii
31. Oxalis flava
32. Pachycereus marginata
33. Senecio serpens
34. Zinnia grandiflora

Last week I wrote about four Lachenalia aloides I recently bought at the monthly meeting of the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society (SCSS). Two are the straight species and two are variety quadricolor, which has petals in four colors: red, yellow, orange and green.

The common name of this South African bulb is “cape cowslip.” I assume that means cow’s lip. Or is it cow slip? Personally, I haven’t seen too many cows wearing undergarments.

Anyway, Dave Vitolo who follows my Facebook page told me that the South African section at the UC Davis Arboretum, small as it is, has a large clump of Lachenalia aloides var. quadricolor that is in full bloom right now. I headed over there on Friday and took the photos you see in this post.

Cape cowslips may not be large in size, but in full bloom, their impact is undeniable—especially en masse. I can’t wait for my small plants to multiply. I wonder if each bulb splits into two or whether it produces multiples?

The aloe behind the cape cowslip is Aloe microstigma. It also was in full bloom.

Now is a great time to visit UC Davis. Many of the aloes are spectacular at the moment. I’ll have another post later in the week.

The Wednesday Vignette meme is hosted by Anna Kullgren over atFlutter and Hum. You can read her current Wednesday Vignette posthere. Be sure to check out the links to other blogs that are also participating.

The Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek and the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley have impressive aloe plantings, the best in Northern California. While the University of Davis campus isn’t quite in the same league, it’s still worth a visit at this time of year to see its aloes in bloom.

It took the photos for this post last weekend (February 27). If anything, the flowers should be even better this weekend (March 5).

Let’s start in front of the Sciences Lab Building along Hutchison Drive. It’s here on the interactive campus map.

Look at what’s waiting!

Getting closer…

…and closer…

…and closer

You know what’s most impressive about this bed? It gets watered once a year. Yes, that’s right. Once a year, usually in late August or early September. That’s what Ernesto Sandoval, the director of the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory, revealed at a recent presentation at the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society.

Aloe ferox (red) and Aloe marlothii (orange)

Aloe ferox (red) and Aloe marlothii (orange)

Aloe marlothii

Aloe ferox (red) and Aloe marlothii (orange)

LEFT: Aloe microstigma RIGHT: Aloe microstigma and Aloe × spinosissima

One last wide shot of the bed in front/next to the Sciences Lab Building

Next stop. the alley between the Sciences Lab Building and Haring Hall ( here on the map). Here you’ll find a bed planted with aloes, euphorbias and other African succulents.

Aloe ferox in bloom. The smaller aloes (done blooming) are Aloe suprafoliata.

Aloe ferox

Aloe marlothii, not quite blooming yet

Aloe humilis, also not quite there yet

Aloe africana

Aloe africana

Aloe arborescens, providing a touch of beauty in an otherwise drab spot

From the alley behind Haring Hall I walked over to the UC Davis Cycad Garden in front of Storer Hall ( here on the map). The African cycads are interplanted with many different aloes.

Glimpse of aloes through the pepper trees ( Schinus molle)

This large aloe is either Aloe marlothii or a hybrid with Aloe ferox

Wild turkeys busy looking for bugs. They were completely disinterested in the Aloe × spinosissima. There are wild turkeys all over town.

Partridge breast aloe. Its botanical name used to be Aloe variegata, but a few years ago it was moved to a new genus, Gonialoe. Its new name is Gonialoe variegata. Read this post for more information on the big aloe shakeup.

Aloe ferox and Encephalartos horridus

Wider view of this bed

The blooming aloe in the foreground is Aloe melanacantha. The pale-green aloe behind it is Aloe comosa.

My final stop was the Botanical Conservatory on Kleiber Hall Drive. There are a bunch of aloes right along the street, many of which are in bloom right now.

Aloe microstigma

Aloe microstigma and Aloe striata (foreground)

Aloe microstigma

Aloe littoralis, not quite blooming yet

A bunch of stuff here. Aloe arborescens on the right and Aloe littoralis in the middle (the tall one).

Aloe ciliaris

LEFT: Possible hybrid between Aloe ferox and Aloe arborescens (according to Ernesto Sandoval, director of the Botanical Conservatory). The tall plants in the distance on the right are Aloe ferox.

Aloe ferox

I love this view. This is the parking lot on the east side of the Botanical Conservatory.

If you want to check out these aloes in person, I suggest you come on the weekend. Parking is free on Saturday and Sunday. Otherwise it’s $9 for a daily visitor permit. Follow the driving and parking directions on the Botanical Conservatory website.

Time to take a break from aloe spotting and our front yard lawn conversion and go back to Arizona. I still have quite a few things to show you from my December 2015 desert trip.

On New Year’s Eve, I left Tucson early and took State Route 177 north. My first destination: Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park outside of Superior.

The interstate is great when you’re in a hurry, but otherwise I prefer country highways. There’s almost always a place to pull over when you see something worth photographing. Case in point: this hillside covered with saguaros near the town of Kearny, pop. 1950.

Saguaro-studded hillside near Kearny, AZ

Twenty miles north of Kearny is the town of Superior, not much bigger than Kearny but a bit livelier owing to the fact that it’s an easy 1-hour drive from the Phoenix metro area.

Abandoned Sprouse-Reitz store in downtown Superior, AZ. The chain went out of business in 1994, so this store has been empty for a long time. And yet the agaves and ocotillo are happy. I bet they don’t get much water at all.

The Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA) is located just west of town. Founded in 1925, it’s Arizona’s oldest botanical garden and at 323 acres also it’s largest. Click here to read more about the history of this fascinating place.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum Visitor Center

Arizona’s version of a traffic cone?

I had first visited the BTA in December 2013. In fact, it was the biggest surprise of my December 2013 Arizona trip, and I had been wanting to go back ever since. The location at the foot of impossibly scenic Picketpost Mountain is straight out of an old Western movie. And the plants are just as iconic.

Here is a handy map courtesy of (and copyrighted by) Arizona State Parks:

The gift shop at the entrance sells a nice variety of plants ranging from succulents to perennials, vines, shrubs and even trees. Unfortunately, many of the succulents were covered with frost cloth.

Saguaros are a very common sight, and yet I still stop and admire them

The South African beds at the start of the main loop trail, just behind the Visitor Center, were also covered with frost cloth. Temperatures had been in the high twenties in Tucson the two nights before, and I suspect conditions were similar in Superior.

Squid agave ( Agave bracteosa) doesn’t need frost protection. It’s hardy to 10°F.

The first area I explored in more detail was the Desert Garden. It is part of the Demonstration Garden whose goal is to provide design and planting ideas for residential landscaping. If I lived in Arizona and my own garden looked anywhere close to this, I’d be one happy camper.

Who wouldn’t want a garden like this?

Agave parryi

Agave parryi and Echinocactus grusonii

Agave colorata

Agave colorata. one of the nicest specimen I’ve ever seen

Agave parryi and assorted barrel cactus

What I call the OMG view

The desert equivalent of “ borrowed scenery”

Yucca rostrata

Agave salmiana

Leaving the Demonstration Garden behind, I rejoined the main loop trail.

Texas persimmon ( Diospyros texana). The berries it produces are edible but I was particularly fascinated by its striking trunk.

This could be straight out of a gothic movie set!

My next stop was at the Cactus & Succulent Garden, for me the main attraction at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. That will be the main focus of part 2 of this post. Please check back on Tuesday.

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• December 2015 Desert Trip index

In part 1 of this post I showed you about half of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. I should mention that you could easily spend an entire day there and not see everything. Most people I observed seem to treat it as a glorified outdoor gym: logging a few thousand steps in a brisk hour without paying much attention to all the wonderful things there are to see.

I’m just the opposite. It sometimes takes me 30 minutes to walk a few hundred feet. Call me a desert tortoise. I’m not claiming my way is superior, but sometimes it pays off to stop and smell the roses—even if the roses are prickly cactus. You know what I’m sayin’.

Anyway, let’s continue now at the edge of the Cactus and Succulent Garden. According to the BTA web site, it’s home to 300 species. My first reaction was, that’s not that much, but once you begin to list them (dare you!), it’s actually quite a lot.

But before we look at some of the spectacular specimens, let’s talk about the backdrop. It’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous. What you see there just an arm’s reach away is Picketpost Mountain, a wonderland of rocks and saguaros. Some day I’ll have enough time to explore it. For now, I have to make do with these photos.

Dried agave flow spike

Another dried agave flow spike towering over a tree-sized opuntia

Died and gone to heaven? No, but close.

Golden barrel cactus ( Echinocactus grusonii)

I’m not a fan of “pineappling” agaves, but I can see why they did it here

Agaves are stunning even after they’ve died

Ayer Lake is a man-made reservoir that supplies the BTA with irrigation water. This is where I usually turn around. Some day I’ll continue on to see what’s beyond the lake, but I simply didn’t have the time on this trip.

Adjacent to Ayer Lake is the Baja California section. My favorite feature here is this stand of totem pole cactus ( Lophocereus schottii forma mostruosa). They were adorned with black nursery pots. No, it’s not a fashion statement, it’s a simple but effective way to protect the growing tips against temperatures below freezing. (Elsewhere they use Santa hats, Styrofoam cups or dog food bags.)

Totem pole cactus ( Lophocereus schottii forma mostruosa)

Totem pole cactus ( Lophocereus schottii forma mostruosa)

Totem pole cactus ( Lophocereus schottii forma mostruosa)

But the biggest draw in this spot is a Boojum tree ( Fouquieria columnaris). I don’t know how old it is, but it’s been here a for a long time. You can spot it from quite a distance.

Boojum tree ( Fouquieria columnaris)

The Cactus & Succulent Garden has so many wonderful plants, my photos are only the tip of the iceberg. Although that’s probably not a good metaphor for a place that bakes in the desert sun all summer long.

Agave gigatensis, named after the Sierra de la Giganta in Baja California, Mexico, not because it’s a particularly massive species (it’s large alright, but not the size of a small car like others)

Agave gigatensis close-up

Agave lophantha

Another view of Picketpost Mountain

More golden barrels

Agave americana

Cactus wonderland

I loved this side trail that goes off toward Picketpost Mountain

Trichocereus terscheckii, commonly known as cardón grande or the Argentine saguaro

Trichocereus terscheckii

If I whetted your appetite and you want to see more of Boyce Thompson Arboretum, check out my previous posts from 2013.

RELATED POSTS:

• Boyce Thompson Arboretum (Superior, AZ)—Part 1 [December 2013]
• Boyce Thompson Arboretum (Superior, AZ)—Part 2 [December 2013]
• Boyce Thompson Arboretum (Superior, AZ)—Part 3 [December 2013]
• December 2015 Desert Trip index

The current California drought is the one for the record books. In December 2014, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution declared it the worst drought in 1,200 year—and that was over a year ago. 2015, year four of the drought, did little to change the situation. Water Deeply has an interactive timeline that shows 1011 consecutive days of severe drought as of today (March 11, 2016).

Everybody’s hopes have been on El Niño, the unusually warm weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean that typically brings us warmer and wetter winters than usual. But Mother Nature has not been playing by the book (when does she ever?). December did bring some rain, as did January, but nowhere near enough to even get us to normal. February, usually our wettest month of the year, was much drier (and warmer) than expected. Only 0.42” of rain here in Davis. Thing did not look good. Year five of the drought seemed inevitable.

But then came March and what I’m sure the weather folks on TV will soon start calling the “March Miracle,” at least here in Northern California. We’re only 11 days into March, but in Davis we’ve already had six days of precipitation (2.84” so far). That may not seem like much, and other areas in Northern California have certainly gotten much more than we did (up to 6” in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada), but it does bring us close to 100% of normal.

The fact of the matter is that it’s been raining on and off all week—something we haven’t had in a long, long time. I will admit that I’m a bit concerned about my succulents, especially in the newly planted succulent mounds in the front yard, but they should be fine, considering the soil is very well draining.

Photographing rain is hard, but here are some photos I took recently. I finally was able to put my water-resistant Olympus Tough TG-4 point & shoot to good use. The image quality isn’t the same as what I get from my Canon DSLR, but it’s fun walking around in the pouring rain with a camera that is impervious to the elements.

Oops, we have a problem. French drain not draining so well.

Fortunately, this doesn’t happen very often

Overflow from the downspout above flowing around the succulent mounds in the front yard

Corten vegetable bed in the front yard. The veggies are loving the rain!

Water flowing down the gutter into the storm drain down the street

Another downspout at the edge of the garage

The × Mangave I got from Greg Starr a few years ago is already flowering. Will it live like a Manfreda or die like an Agave? Stay tuned!

Alphonse Karr bamboo overhanging the walkway to the front door. This drives my wife crazy. I think it looks jungle-y, but I will admit that getting your face slapped by wet bamboo leaves isn’t for everybody.

Aloe × spinossisima is happy enough in the rain—at least for now. The orangey-yellow leaves in the foreground belong to Sedum nussbaumerianum.

Agave cupreata and Aloe ‘Fire Ranch’ looking slick in the rain

Dymondia margaretaein the backyard growing by leaps and bounds in the rain

The aloes along the street started to bloom almost a month ago. While they’re not quite done yet, it’s just a matter of time. Usually the bloom only last four or five weeks.

This year was the best display yet. That’s why I want to share these photos with you. I took them last week during a break in the rain. Since then it’s rained every day—something I’m sure these winter-growing aloes are enjoying.

Aloe ‘Moonglow’

Aloe cameronii

Aloe ferox

Aloe ‘Moonglow’

Aloe ‘Moonglow’

Aloe ‘Moonglow’

Aloe ‘Moonglow’

Aloe ‘Erik the Red’ (left) and ‘Moonglow’ (right).

The flower spikes of Aloe ‘Erik the Red’ started out perfectly vertical but they’re so heavy this year that they have flopped forward to the point where they are almost horizontal now

Aloe ‘Erik the Red’

Aloe ‘Erik the Red’

Both Aloe ‘Moonglow’ and Aloe ‘Erik the Red’ are complex hybrids from the breeding program of South African grower Leo Thamm. Check out the huge selection of aloes hybrids his company, Sunbird Aloes, has released in South Africa.

Aloe-Aloe Horticulture Pty Ltd. is distributing Leo Thamm’s hybrids in Australia. Aloe-Aloe’s web site has about a dozen aloe-related videos that are well worth seeing.

With just a few exceptions (including ‘Always Red’, ‘Erik the Red’, ‘Moonglow’), none of these hybrids are available in the U.S. I’m hoping that somebody will introduce more of these stunning bloomers to the U.S. I think they have the potential to become very popular in California and other parts of the country where winters are mild enough.

March continues to be very busy at work so gardening has taken a bit of a backseat. Hopefully things will calm down soon and I will have mustered enough energy to tackle our tax return—yet another unpleasant task I keep postponing.

This post is a potpourri of photos I’ve taken in the last week: some in the rain, some during breaks between storms. For now the rain seems to be over. We need more, of course, but our succulents are just as happy to have a sunny spell.

×Mangave ‘Macho Mocha’ and Arctotis ‘Wine’. Planted 11 months ago from a 4-inch pot, this arctotis has quadrupled in size. It’s been in bloom almost the entire time, no doubt because of my wife’s diligent deadheading.

Arctotis ‘Pink Sugar’, added just last month

The last two lemons left on this juvenile Meyer lemon tree in the front yard. If you look closely, you can see a bunch of new flower buds. They should open within the next few weeks.

NOID Aeonium on the front yard fence

Agave bovicornuta…

…and its smaller cousin, Agave cupreata

Western redbud ( Cercis occidentalis) across the street

This jade plant ( Crassula ovata) next to the driveway has been in bloom since December

Lilac in the backyard. This is a low-chill variety, ‘Blue Skies’, developed specially for mild-winter climates.

View from the kitchen window across the Dymondia margaretae “lawn”

Agave ‘Blue Flame’ and Geum coccineum ‘Totally Tangerine’. The branch on the left is from a ‘Black Lace’ elderberry ( Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’)

I’ve been cooped up at work all week but yesterday I was able to slip out for an hour to see what’s going on at Green Acres Nursery.

Green Acres has five locations now; the one closest to my house is the one in Sacramento on the corner of Jackson and Florin Perkins Rd. We drove by their brand-new location in Rocklin last Sunday but it was pouring down so we didn’t stop. I suspect it looks much like their other newish location in Elk Grove ( read my blog post) but I’ll find out for myself one of these months.

While the first thing you see when you walk into the nursery are still rows of brightly-colored annuals, these on-sale succulents from Altman Plants were right there next them:

There’s nothing rare or exotic on these shelves, but the price is very good: $2.50 per plant instead of $4.29. I bought a couple of ×Sedeveria (intergeneric hybrids between Sedum and Echeveria species) for the succulent mounds that replaced the front lawn.

The regular succulent section was better stocked than usual. These Echeveria ‘Black Prince’ were a real eye-catcher. There’s something about foliage that’s almost black…

Agave mitis ‘Multicolor’, not a common sight in our parts:

Veltheimia capensis, a bulb from South Africa, is even less common:

My Veltheimia capensis didn’t flower this year although it’s in plenty of sun

Agave lophantha underplanted with cushion bush ( Leucophyta brownii):

Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Brake Lights’, teasing me again:

I had been a doubter but the flower stalks (and flowers) on ‘Brake Lights’ are much redder than the species. I’d buy one if only I could find one in the 1-gallon size. I don’t want to spend money for 5-gallon plant when they grow fairly fast.

I’m always amazed by how large Green Acres’ Grevillea selection is:

Yet they don’t carry of the truly showy hybrids, like ‘Superior’, ‘Robyn Gordon’, ‘Peaches and Cream’, ‘Moonlight’ etc. I really don’t know why.

Grevillea dimorpha

I noticed a new display of dwarf conifers:

If I needed another plant obsession, it could easily be dwarf conifers.There is so much variety in leaf shape and texture. Check out of this positively drool-worthy ‘Whipcord’ Western red cedar:

On to something more practical, like these spurges blooming their heads off:

Euphorbia characias ‘Glacier Blue’

Euphorbia characias ‘Glacier Blue’ and Euphorbia characias ‘Purpurea’

I saw two kinds of California poppies: the ones with regular foliage and these, also labeled “California poppy:”

I have never seen California poppies with leaves like these. I wonder how they are different? Will they be smaller plants overall? The label wasn’t helpful.

A new-to-me shrub discover, silverberry ‘Olive Martini’ ( Elaeagnus ‘Olive Martini’):

I usually pay zero attention to these kinds of shrubs, and I still don’t know why I found this one interesting. Maybe it reminded me the large weeping fig ( Ficus benjamina) we once had as a houseplant. It, too, was basically boring but I liked it nonetheless.

However, this Alstroemeria ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ was anything but boring:

I’ve wanted one for a while since it reminds me of hostas (which are almost impossible to grow in our climate). But I’m not willing to pay $25 for a #2 plant. Maybe next year they’ll be cheaper.

Finally, another Arctotis hybrid from the ‘Raver’ series, this one called ‘Bumble Bee’. I bought two and planted them outside the front yard fence. It’s not the most exciting hybrid but I was drawn to the cheery yellow flowers. If it’s like the other Arctotis we have, it should bloom all year and need very little in return. These South African daisies truly are perfect for a dry spot that bakes in the sun most of the day.

Arctotis ‘Bumble Bee’

Now it’s time to work on our income taxes so you may not see me again for a while…

Below are all the posts from our spring break trip to California’s Central Coast:

Posts from the road:

• 3/20/2016: Morro Bay Embarcadero
• 3/21/2016: Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, SLO Botanical Garden
• 3/22/2016: Grow, Cambria Shores Inn, Hearst Castle
• 3/23/2016: Morro Bay, all day

Detailed posts:

• Succulent sights along Morro Bay Embarcadero
• More succulent sights in Morro Bay
• San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden

We’re spending spring break in Morro Bay on California’s Central Coast. I don’t know this part of the coast all that well. Typically we just drive through on the way to somewhere else. I’m hoping the next four days will change this.

Morro Bay has what few places on the coast have: a landmark that is instantly recognizable. Morro Rock, a 576 foot high volcanic plug, guards the entrance to the harbor. It’s this feature that gives the town of 10,000 its nickname, “the Gibraltar of the Pacific.”

We’re staying in a motel right on the Embarcadero. I love being able to walk to sights, eateries and (coffee) shops without needing to drive!

Here is a collage of photos I took this afternoon:

And here are two collages featuring—what else?—succulents. You do not to look hard to find succulents in public plantings here in Morro Bay. They literally are everywhere. The Central Coast has a chronic water shortage, so planting succulents make perfect sense.

I was very impressed with the variety of plants I saw. I think it has to do with the excellent nurseries in this area (such a Grow up the road in Cambria; I hope to stop there on Tuesday) and the outstanding landscape design talent.

As always, I will have detailed posts after I get back home..

If you aren’t already, please follow me on Instagram (from within the Instagram app search for “succulentsandmore”). When I’m on the road, I often post snapshots that don’t make it into my regular posts. I also post the same photos to my Tumblr account.

RELATED POSTS:

Spring break 2016 index

Day 2 of our spring break vacation on the Central Coast. My wife and I spent a few hours walking around Morro Bay this morning. Succulents EVERYWHERE. On Main Street there are succulent planters sponsored by local businesses. What a great idea!

After we grabbed the kids from the room we headed to Montaña de Oro State Park in nearby Los Osos. The Spanish name—Mountain of Gold—is from the hillsides that turn yellow in the spring from all the wildflowers. Unfortunately, the hillsides weren’t yellow, but at least they were green.

My two personal highlights: the eucalyptus forest at the park entrance (I know, I know, eucalyptus is an invasive non-native tree, but it’s both beautiful and smells heavenly), and the rock formations along the bluff trail. The world was shrouded in mist when we got there, which added to the sense of mystery. Plus we were among fewer than a dozen people on the trail.

We had a very late lunch at our favorite Central Coast eatery, Cool Cat Café in Pismo Beach. (They also have a location in downtown Lahaina, Maui, where we had an unforgettable meal in 2013.) I couldn’t believe the lines of people waiting to get into restaurants at 2:30pm. Of course I was well aware of the fact that it’s spring break, but I didn’t know Pismo Beach was such a popular destination. Our waitress said business has been off the charts in the last few weeks.

After lunch, we took a leisurely walk along the beachfront, and I realized why so many people flock to Pismo Beach. It truly is beautiful.

After dropping the family off at our motel in Morro Bay, I backtracked 8 miles to San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. It’s currently a small garden, about two acres, but they have ambitious plan to expand to 150 acres, showcasing plants from the five Mediterranean climate zones around the world. I look forward to following the SLOBG’s progress in the years to come. Which isn’t to say that what there is to see now is dull and boring. Quite from it. Just take a look at the collage below. I will have a detailed post in the weeks to come.

Tomorrow it’s off to Cambria (think Grow Nursery!) and Hearst Castle. I haven’t been to Hearst Castle since I went to graduate school in Monterey in the mid-1980s. That was 30 years ago, folks! Where has time gone? Fortunately Hearst Castle won’t look any different than it did then.

RELATED POSTS:

Spring break 2016 index

Another busy day today, proving just how much there is to see on this stretch of the Central California Coast. I took over 200 photos—more than enough for a handful of posts. Just when I thought I was done, there was something else wanting to be photographed.

Our first stop was the small town of Cambria, about 20 miles north of Morro Bay. I wanted to check out two places. The first was Grow, a small nursery that has an almost mythical reputation among succulent aficionados. Owner Nick Wilkinson is known for rare and usual plants, and Grow didn’t disappoint. But the plants weren’t the only thing that was cool. Grow is one of several complementary stores in this location, and the courtyard behind the Garden Shed showcases what each store does best. I could have spent another hour exploring but I knew my family was waiting for me with pastries at the nearby French Corner Bakery.

The other spots I sought out in Cambria was the Cambria Shores Inn. What makes this beachfront motel so remarkable is the landscaping. Designed by Grow, it’s a veritable succulent show garden—with a jaw-droppingly beautiful Leucospermum thrown in for good measure. The collage below gives you a taste. More to come in a dedicated post.

Our main destination today was Hearst Castle in San Simeon. I hadn’t been to Hearst Castle in 30 years, but little has changed—which is fine by me because it’s a unique masterpiece that can’t be improved. I know newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst’s “ranch” has its critics, mainly because of the mish-mash of styles of both the architecture and the art housed there, but I’ve always loved the wild abandon in evidence here. It’s a bit like my garden: I plant what I like, where I like it, with little concern for rules or what others think.

The stretch of coastline south of San Simeon is particularly scenic, and the Pacific looked like molten silver in the afternoon light. It’s vistas like these that make me fall in love with California all over again.

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Spring break 2016 index

We spent all day in Morro Bay today. I used the car to get to the first spot (below) but we were able to walk to everywhere else. Really refreshing!

My first destination today was a private garden that sets new standards, at least in my mind, for what residential landscaping can be. It was created by Morro Bay designer Gabriel Frank for homeowners Vince and Janet Marino and has received quite a bit of attention.

I was hoping to run into the homeowners, but unfortunately Lady Luck wasn’t on my side.

The plant palette used in this front yard ticks all my boxes: agaves, aloes, yuccas, euphorbias, grevilleas, leucospermums, etc. etc. This is truly one of the most spectacular succulent-centric private garden I’ve seen. And I only saw the portions of the front yard that are visible from the street! What other wonders might be there be in the back yard?

I’ll have a dedicated post soon, but here’s something to whet your appetite:

Destination #2 was the Garden Gallery. Located just down the street from our motel, it’s sells an intriguing blend of plants (predominantly succulents), pots, fountains, gift items and home décor. The Garden Gallery is much larger than it first seems. In addition to the outdoor area, there are several indoor areas to explore. This is not really my kind of store—I’m not into decorating—but I enjoyed poking around. More photos to follow in a separate post since I know that many of you like stores like this one.

We spent more time walking around Morro Bay and once again I found interesting things to see and photograph wherever we went.

The more time we spend here, the more I like this quaint town. In addition to the galleries and souvenir places, there are retail establishments I do enjoy exploring—like used book stores and thrift stores, not to mention independent coffeehouses. The pace of life is definitely slower and more deliberate. Perfect for vacation.

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Spring break 2016 index

As much as I like where I live, I always find it hard to go home after a vacation, even if it’s just a short one. So while I’m back in Davis physically, I’m still in Morro Bay mentally. It’s a good thing I took over 700 photos. I’ll have enough material for quite a few blog posts in the weeks and months to come.

Let’s start today with a walk along the Morro Bay Embarcadero, the street that runs along the waterfront. It’s lined with shops, restaurants and hotels. Our motel was conveniently located at the southern end of the Embarcadero so all the sights along the water were within easy walking distance, Even downtown, up the hill a few blocks, was less than a 10 minute walk away. I loved how we were able to do a lot of things without having to drive.

LEFT: Central Coast    RIGHT: Detailed map, with places we visited highlighted

The Central Coast of California is not only breathtakingly beautiful, it also has one of the best climates on the West Coast. Winters are mild, with virtually no frost, and summers are sunny and relatively cool (at least compared to the Central Valley), with temperatures rarely climbing above the mid-80s. However, the Central Coast is also one of the more arid parts of the state. Water is always in short supply, even in the best of years, so it makes perfect sense for succulents to be used both in private and public landscaping.

Carpobrotus edulis, with Morro Rock in the background (right)

In fact, I was amazed by the sheer number and variety of succulents planted everywhere in Morro Bay and other coastal towns. I don’t know if this movement evolved on its own or if it’s being driven by the local nursery and landscape designer community. Probably a bit of both. But many businesses and private residences have succulent-centric plantings, most of which are surprisingly sophisticated. I was in heaven!

As you look at the photos in this post, bear in mind that they were taken along one street in a small town of 10,000. That makes it even more astounding.

I’ve never seen a jade plant ( Crassula ovata) underplanted with Johnny Jump Ups

This colorful house was right across the street from our motel

Along the Morro Bay waterfront

The garbage can enclosures have murals on them

The largest pig’s ears ( Cotyledon orbiculata) I’ve ever seen!

Crown of thorns ( Euphorbia milii)

A trio of variegated foxtail agaves ( Agave attenuata ‘Variegata’). I was floored to see three of these highly sought-after agaves in such a public place.

The plantings outside this cluster of stores was particularly attractive. On the right, you see × Mangave ‘Macho Mocha’ and a ruffled echeveria hybrid that made me think of corals.

Echeveria ‘Arlie Wright’ (thank you for the ID, Hoov!)

A wider view of this planting

Aloe vaombe (ID by Hoover Boo)

The same ×Mangave and Echeveria from above

Looking in the other direction

Fan aloes ( Kumara plicatilis) in the foreground, the trio of variegated foxtail agaves ( Agave attenuata ‘Variegata’) in the background

Fan aloe ( Kumara plicatilis) and blue chalk fingers ( Senecio mandraliscae)

Blue chalk fingers ( Senecio mandraliscae) and variegated squid agave ( Agave bracteosa ‘Monterrey Frost’)

Blue chalk fingers ( Senecio mandraliscae) and Agave ‘Blue Glow’

Blue chalk fingers ( Senecio mandraliscae) and Agave ‘Blue Glow’

A very special kind of yoga

Agave attenuata and pride of Madeira ( Echium candicans)

Agave attenuata and pride of Madeira ( Echium candicans), looking in the other direction

The pink blobs are ice plants in bloom, probably some sort of Lamphranthus?

Succulent planter

Flowering Aeonium ‘Sunburst’, with an unusually small inflorescence

Morro Rock in the early evening

The much hated smokestacks of the decommissioned power plant. Yes, they’re unsightly and out of place, but for me they’re simply part of the skyline of Morro Bay.

Palm trees along the Embarcadero, early evening

Palm trees along the Embarcadero and Morro Rock, early evening

Another scenic waterfront view

Fog rolling in

Night-time view from our motel room balcony

Bamboos behind our motel

The rhizome barrier makes me think this is a running bamboo. I do think the area enclosed by the barrier is far too small to be a permanent solution.

I love these culvert sections!

Agave attenuata and colorful fire hydrant

Agave attenuata outside of Thai Bounty restaurant

Agave attenuata outside of Thai Bounty restaurant

Eucalyptus trees next to our motel, near the boat launch

Colorful house across the street from our motel; you already saw a close-up earlier on

Check out the size of this jade plant ( Crassula ovata) on the edge of a parking lot!

New succulent planting near the Sun-N-Buns Bakery & Espresso Bar. It may not look like much now, but it will be stunning in a year of two. Lots of interesting agaves here, including Agave desmettiana ‘Variegata’, Agave weberi, Agave weberi ‘Arizona Star’, Agave salmiana var. ferox ‘Butterfingers’ and Agave funkiana ‘Fatal Attraction’. Not to mention all the other succulents!

Sign near the public restrooms on the Embarcadero

Rain water storage tank outside the public restrooms. This is the size and shape I want.

Pride of Madeira ( Echium candicans)

LEFT: Pride of Madeira ( Echium candicans), underplanted with California lilac ( Ceanothus sp.)
RIGHT: Pride of Madeira ( Echium candicans), giant chess board, and Morro Rock in the background

In my next post, I’ll take you up the hill into the downtown area. Looks more succulents to come, as well as a garden wedding chapel behind a used book store!

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My last post ended at the bottom of a set of stairs that climb from the Embarcadero, Morro’s waterfront, to Market Avenue a block up and east. Right where you come out, next to DiStasio’s Restaurant, is yet another beautifully maintained public succulent planting.

The planter you see in the next few photos connects DiStasio’s with Dorn’s Original Breakers Cafe:

Dorn’s Original Breakers Cafe itself has several tall planters filled with aeoniums…

…and a few smaller pots also overflowing with succulents. According to a sign, the design for the planters was done by Gardens by Gabriel, a very successful local landscaping design firm headed by Gabriel Frank. They are also the masterminds behind the jaw-dropping residential succulent garden in Morro Bay I photographed during our stay ( see here for a teaser).

Leaving Dorn’s behind, we headed up the hill towards the downtown area. Because of the climb, it felt more like uptown to me. Here are some snaps along the way:

Leucadendron salignum looking a bit out of place in this spot but still a welcome sight

Agave attenuata growing like weeds in a narrow space…

…as are these aeoniums. There cannot possibly be much soil there!

Main Street has a number of planters sponsored by local businesses. All of them have at least some succulents; some are all succulents. I don’t know if or how they are watered, but the plants looked as happy as can be.

I’ve seen people use colored glass as a top dressing, but never jelly beans!

The whole family was gaga over the leashed dog sunbathing on the metal grate. I wasn’t going to take a photo but couldn’t help myself when this pug walked by. I thought of you, Danger Garden!

This shop window caught my eye right away: Guerrilla Gardening Thrift Shop?

This article posted near the door tells the story:

According to its website:

The Guerrilla Gardening Club Program allows young street-wise men & women an opportunity to learn about plants, biology, & community through the Learn-By-Doing process.

The club is a nonprofit organization that actively “Guerrilla Gardens” the local community, through many forms of cultivation.

What service does the GGC provide to the community? The club plans, plants, & maintains public & private property landscapes. The club provides labor, recycling, composting, & waste management services for businesses, productions, & events. The club provides urban farming products. The club provides composting services & education. The club provides laborers for hire.

What a fantastic effort! I don’t know of any other town that has anything like it, at least not as an organized entity.

Equally interesting in its own way is Coalesce New & Used Books, a “ Morro Bay Landmark since 1973.” Not necessarily because it’s a book store but because it has a garden wedding chapel in the backyard!

According their website:

The chapel was designed by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo architectural students as a school project, and was built in 1973 by a group of local carpenters and fishermen willing to work for beer and pizza.

This structure has been the site of many weddings and musical events. The building, which holds approximately 60 people, has walls of great artistic design and is surrounded by a welcoming garden.

The chapel was in use at the time of our visit (not a wedding but some sort of meeting) but I was able to take a few photos in the garden. It’s so lush, you might think you’re in Hawaii.

But there’s more. More. Always more.

One of several massive jade plants next to this dumpster. Look at the trunk of that beast!

Fan aloe ( Kumara plicatilis) in front of Shine Café

Fan aloe ( Kumara plicatilis) in front of Shine Café

Could people possibly be stealing plants? Surely not in Morro Bay!

Aeonium plantings in memory of somebody’s mom

Aeonium-filled wagon and stacked terra cotta pots

California poppies seem to grow best in cracks!

Plantings at the Morro Crest Inn

Plantings at the Morro Crest Inn

Plantings at the Morro Crest Inn

Two varieties of Leucadendron

Great contrast!

Agave americana and Aloe nobilis

Agave americana and Aloe nobilis

Aloe nobilis

Now we’re almost back down to the Embarcadero, the street the runs along the waterfront. Morro Rock sure makes an impressive landmark!

There’s plenty more to come. Check back soon.

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Spring break 2016 index

Happy April 1st to all you fools out there! I’m not saying that gardeners and plant lovers are fools, but a healthy dose of foolishness doesn’t hurt. Taking yourself too seriously is never a good thing.

This post has no real theme because, to be honest, after a long work week my brain is fried. As fried as the poppies you see in many of the photos below will be in another month if we don’t get any more rain. It’s been warm and dry—so much so that I will need to turn on the drip irrigation this weekend.

But for tonight let’s leave all the unpleasant things aside and look at some pretty flowers.

Front yard, outside the fence

The × Mangave ‘Macho Mocha’ is sending up a flower stalk. I’m ignoring it for now because it spells almost certain death.

Close-up

Even in spite of my ruthless thinning there are plenty of California poppies everywhere

I’m very excited: my Banksia blechnifolia is blooming for the first time

Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’ has 10 or 12 flowers in various states of development

This one will open first

Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’

Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’

Leucadendron ‘Jester’ photographed through ‘Safari Sunset’

Leucadendron ‘Jester’

Beavertail cactus ( Opuntia basilaris), loaded with flower buds

It’ll be spectacular this year

Gazania ‘Sunbathers Totonaka’

Athanasia pinnata

Meyer lemon in bloom

Mexican tulip poppy ( Hunnemannia fumariifolia) in front of Agave ‘Sun Glow’

Arctotis ‘Wine’

Aloe elgonica

Agave ovatifolia ‘Frosty Blue’ in front of Salvia officinalis

Leucospermum ‘Goldie’, my one surviving leucospermum with its one surviving flower bud. I check on it several times a day, keeping my fingers crossed that it will open.

There are plenty of botanical gardens in California that have a national or even international reputation. Beyond that there is another layer of regional gardens that may not have the same name recognition but are often just as exciting. Case in point: the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden on California’s Central Coast. I had never heard of it prior to our recent trip to Morro Bay. But now that I’ve been there, it has a prominent spot on my garden watch list. Read to find out why.

Located in El Chorro Regional Park on the outskirts of San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden (SLOBG) is an ambitious project that is still in the early stages of development. Take a look at the next photo to see what the long-range plans are:

The driving force is a non-profit organization called Friends of the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. They have a 99-year lease of a 150 acre site of which only 6 acres have been developed so far. The photos you see in this post were taken at the 2.5 acre Preview Garden, opened in 1997.

The focus of the SLOBG is on the world’s five Mediterranean climate regions: the Mediterranean Basin, California, central Chile, the Western Cape Province of South Africa, and parts of Western and South Australia. This makes it the only botanical garden in the U.S. devoted exclusively to these ecosystems.

Many plants native to one of these regions do very well in the other four since the rainfall pattern is the same: rain fall through spring; virtually dry summers; mild winters. Since I live and garden in a Mediterranean climate, and love plants from the other Mediterranean climate regions, I’m very excited about the potential of the SLOBG. If the Preview Garden, small as it may be, is any indication, the SLOBG could become a major horticultural destination in California.

So let’s look at the Preview Garden. At 2.5 acres, it’s the size of my dream property. I’ve often thought that two acres is large enough to plant a nice collection of shrubs and trees but not so large that maintenance becomes a nightmare. The Preview Garden confirmed this.

Like the planned SLOBG as a whole, the Preview Garden is divided into the five Mediterranean climate regions. The South Africa Region section to be the largest, but maybe it was because I spent the most time there.

But my visit began in the Australia section near the entrance. The variety of plants from down under is limited because of the available space but this scarlet kunzea ( Kunzea baxteri), a close relative of the bottlebrush (genus Callistemon) was a showstopper:

Scarlet kunzea ( Kunzea baxteri)

Scarlet kunzea ( Kunzea baxteri)

Scarlet kunzea ( Kunzea baxteri)

Representing the large genus Eucalyptus is a Forrest’s mallee ( Eucalyptus forrestiana):

Creeping banksia ( Banksia repens) is closely related to Banksia blechnifolia, which we have growing in our front yard. Its sole pollinator is a mouse-like marsupial called dibbler. Since California doesn’t have dibblers, I wonder if mice take over that role? Most likely there aren’t enough specimens of Banksia repens growing in all of California to know the answer to that question.

Creeping banksia ( Banksia repens)

Creeping banksia ( Banksia repens)

Creeping banksia ( Banksia repens). The flower spike seem to emerge directly from the ground.

The center piece of the Mediterranean section is this magnificent cork oak ( Quercus suber):

Cork oak ( Quercus suber)

LEFT: Cork oak ( Quercus suber)  RIGHT: Mayten tree ( Mayten boaria)

The mayten tree ( Mayten boaria) on the right in the photo above is from the Chilean Region, as is the freely flowering rock purslane ( Cisthanthe grandiflora, formerly known as Calandrinia grandiflora):

Cisthanthe grandiflora

Looking back at the Chilean section:

The first showstopper in the California section was this Arroyo Grande lilac ( Ceanothus impressus var. nipomensis). It’s native to southern San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties where it grows in deep sand. Like most ceanothus, it wants lean soil and little to no irrigation in the summer.

Arroyo Grande lilac ( Ceanothus impressus var. nipomensis)

Arroyo Grande lilac ( Ceanothus impressus var. nipomensis)

Arroyo Grande lilac ( Ceanothus impressus var. nipomensis)

Arroyo Grande lilac ( Ceanothus impressus var. nipomensis)

Standout #2 in the California section was a ‘Pacific Sunset’ flannel bush ( Fremontodendron ‘Pacific Sunset’). This introduction by the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden is a hybrid between Fremontodendron californicum and Fremontodendron mexicanum. Like ceanothus, it needs superbly draining soil and has poor tolerance for summer irrigation.

‘Pacific Sunset’ flannel bush ( Fremontodendron ‘Pacific Sunset’)

‘Pacific Sunset’ flannel bush ( Fremontodendron ‘Pacific Sunset’)

‘Pacific Sunset’ flannel bush ( Fremontodendron ‘Pacific Sunset’)

‘Pacific Sunset’ flannel bush ( Fremontodendron ‘Pacific Sunset’)

‘Pacific Sunset’ flannel bush ( Fremontodendron ‘Pacific Sunset’)

Other final California native: western redbud ( Cercis occidentalis), in full bloom:

Western redbud ( Cercis occidentalis)

As expected, the Southern Africa section was heavy on succulents. I saw some nice aloe specimens, including these:

LEFT: Aloe speciosa  RIGHT: Aloe marlothii

LEFT: Aloe speciosa  RIGHT: Aloe marlothii

LEFT: Aloe speciosa  RIGHT: Aloe marlothii

Fan aloe ( Kumara plicatilis)

Fan aloe ( Kumara plicatilis)

Fan aloe ( Kumara plicatilis)

Fallen Aloidendron ramossisimus, not sure what’s going on here, but it seems to be alive

Noble aloe ( Aloe nobilis)

More interesting plants from Southern Africa:

Veltheima bracteata, one of hundreds of flowering bulbs from South Africa’s Cape Region

Three crassulas: Crassula arborescens (left), Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ (back) and Crassula ovata(right)

The Southern Africa section also has several specimens of Leucadendron. They’re still fairly small but impressive nonetheless.

Leucadendron ‘Jester’

This one was labeled Leucadendron salignum ‘Stunning’. I couldn’t find any info about a specific cultivar named ‘Stunning’ so I don’t really know what it is exactly.

My favorite was this Leucadendron discolor ‘Pom Pom’. ‘Pom Pom’ is a male selection, which has showier “flowers.” What a stunner!

A couple of other shrubs from South Africa:

Honey bush ( Melianthus major)

Sweet pea bush ( Polygala myrtifolia). I liked this one so much that I bought a dwarf selection called ‘Mariposa’ this past Saturday and planted it inside the front yard fence. It’s supposed to flower virtually year round.

More photos from the Mediterranean section (this particular bed borders the South Africa section):

Mediterranean spurge ( Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii)

Mediterranean spurge ( Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii)

Mediterranean spurge ( Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii) and Jerusalem sage ( Phlomis fruticosa)

Jerusalem sage ( Phlomis fruticosa)

My final stop was Eve’s Garden Shop, located a mile down the road from the Preview Garden in the Oak Glen Pavilion and Administration Building. Unfortunately, it was closed already and the plant selection was very limited (probably because of a major plant sale the weekend before). But I enjoyed looking at the building, which is impressive in its own right: It’s LEED Gold certified and designed to “provide 85% of its own heating and 95% of its own cooling without consuming any energy.”

Oak Glen Pavilion and Administration Building

The grounds are nicely landscaped:

Aloidendron ‘Hercules’?

These aeoniums were so perfect, they almost looked fake:

The climate is so mild on the Central Coast that I’m sure aeoniums would grow like weeds if given the chance!

I urge you to stop by the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden if you’re ever in the area. It may still be in its infancy, but there’s a lot to see already.

Directions to the SLOBG can be found here. It’s open during daylight hours and admission is free—yes, free!

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