![]() |
| Christmas trees fill Roger's Gardens' North Forty area |
You may have noticed that I haven't been blogging as much. That's partly due to the prolonged process of completing our renovation project (still not 100% complete!). The work associated with putting the house back in order is another factor, as is the time spent tackling the collateral damage to the garden caused by our renovation in addition to normal end-of-year clean-up. I haven't gotten out and about as often as I normally do at this time of year either, limiting my usual rounds of nurseries and garden centers until I felt I could install new plant material without risking it being crushed by someone or something. That delay has found me searching for plants at a time of year when stock is particularly low as space is cleared for Christmas trees.
Deciding that there should be a break in freeway traffic related to the Thanksgiving holiday on Saturday, I hopped into my car and took off for
Roger's Gardens in Orange County. Now, I know that Roger's goes all-in during the holidays but it's a big garden center so I thought it was still a good bet. Traffic was light but, when I arrived just before 11am, I was limited to valet parking, which didn't make me happy. Unfortunately, the nursery plant stock wasn't all that exciting either.
![]() |
| I spent a few minutes considering whether I had a suitable spot for this variegated Ceanothus thyrsifolius 'Zanzibar' but, remembering my poor luck with variegated 'Diamond Heights', I passed on it |
![]() |
| I loved the bromeliad kokedama but wasn't willing to pay the price |
![]() |
| This orchid and succulent combination was also something it'd be more cost-effective to make for myself |
![]() |
| The vertical garden was looking good even if the strong mid-day light doesn't show it off well |
I spent a few minutes checking out holiday decorations.
![]() |
| Expensive light-filled bulb featuring a Tillandsia |
![]() |
| A wreath that made me wish I hadn't already pruned my Leucadendron 'Chief' |
![]() |
| This fellow was my favorite among Roger's Christmas/Winter decorations but, cute as he was, I couldn't justify laying out $60 to bring him home |
I left with a few plug plants in 6 packs, mostly to justify the 2 hour round-trip. It looks as though I'll have to wait for the garden centers to restock after the holidays to find prospects to fill those bare spots in my garden; however, I realize that I'm luckier than many gardeners who can't do much of anything in their gardens during the winter months. We have a 2-day break in the rain right now so I best get back out there and make use of it.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
