Succulent Destinations
South African Succulents at the Safari Park Garden
In my latest video, we explore the Old World Succulent Garden at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Here succulents small and large look good year-round, need minimal care or water, and are ideal for dry (but not desert or frost-prone) landscapes. You’ll see tough specimens to consider when planning or refreshing your own garden.…
Read MoreVisit Botanic Wonders & See Al Klein’s Succulent Rarities
You think you like succulents? Al Klein of Botanic Wonders nursery calls them “an addiction.” Al is a comet on the cactus and succulent scene. It seems he’s everywhere, doing speaking engagements, selling on the show circuit, greeting nursery visitors, and sharing a lifetime of info and enthusiasm. Al’s story bubbles out of him as…
Read MoreUpcoming Succulent Shows & Sales
Find a list of upcoming succulent shows and sales on the main website of the Cactus & Succulent Society of America. Go to: CSSA & AFFILIATED SOCIETIES EVENT CALENDAR To request or update a listing, email Laurel Woodley at calendar@cactusandsucculentsociety.org. Related Info on This Site Garden Etiquette Gaffes No one wants to commit an etiquette…
Read MoreSee Succulent Topiary Musicians & Dancers
In this Southern CA destination garden, life-sized topiary figures of Mexican mariachi musicians and dancers wear colorful, ingenious costumes planted with succulents.
Read MoreSee Josh Allen’s Rare Aloe & Cycad Nursery Near San Diego
Josh Allen is making his dream come true: Developing a nursery and botanic garden specializing in rare succulents and cycads. “There’s a big market for beautiful, hard-to-find plants,” he says, adding that creating new hybrids and “playing with plant genetics” are what he does best. He especially enjoys Aloe hybridizing and breeding rare and desirable…
Read MoreAnnie and Me at The Succulent Cafe
During succulent celebrity Annie Schreck’s week-long visit to Southern CA, of course we went to The Succulent Cafe in Carlsbad near San Diego. As we sit amid walls of succulents and chat over lavender mocha coffee, Annie tells how she has “the coolest job in the world” despite its location
Read MoreHow to Grow Tree Aloes (Aloe barberae)
If you have room in your garden and a mild climate, consider adding a tree aloe or two. Aloe barberae (Aloe bainesii, Aloidendron barberae), Africa’s largest aloe, is sculptural,
Read MoreTom Cole’s Remarkable Rare Aloe Nursery
Tom Cole’s aloe-collecting hobby has turned into a unique nursery. Hundreds of seed-grown African aloes thrive in pots or in the ground at his Cold Spring Aloes near Lotusland in Montecito, south of Santa Barbara, CA.
Read MoreSeaside’s Superb Botanical Garden Near Santa Barbara
Seaside’s display gardens have always been lovely, but I was amazed at how world-class they’ve become. The nursery itself also is grander and more impressive
Read MoreSee Hidden Agave Nursery’s Rare Agaves
Hidden Agave Nursery is more than a source of rare and unusual agaves, it’s fast-tracking this popular succulent genus to its full potential. Owner Jeremy Spath specializes in species and cultivars that don’t get overly large, perform well in gardens, and are exceptionally beautiful. I share his fascination with
Read MoreLaguna Beach Succulent Gardens
On the Laguna Beach Garden Tour I go hunting for succulents. Nearly all varieties thrive in Laguna’s mild coastal climate. But what gets me every time are the flowering annuals and perennials that snuggle up to the succulents.
Read MoreVisit Pigment, San Diego’s Chic Succulent Boutique
See Pigment’s simple-but-sophisticated pots that frame succulents perfectly. Colors range from intense hues to white, cream and pastels. Many customers are young professionals living in apartments and condos with no space for gardening. Succulents are their pets,
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