My nursery and garden center forays generally keep me close to the coast. Last Saturday, following spontaneous recommendations received from 2 neighbors at different points in time, a friend and I ventured inland to check out a nursery new to both of us,
H&H Nursery in Lakewood, California. The nursery itself isn't new. According to its website, this family owned and operated nursery was established in 1976. Getting there involved a 20 mile drive and 2 separate freeways. Its location under a grid of electrical wires isn't particularly scenic but the 5.5 acre growing operation was impressive.
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| The back half of the property was occupied by hoop houses used for growing |
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| A peek into one of the growing areas |
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| Another growing space |
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| This appeared to be a staging area |
H&H is a general nursery, offering everything from bedding and house plants to trees and succulents.
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| A view of the indoor plant area |
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| A particularly nice looking Schefflera |
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| Gobs and gobs of shade plants |
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| Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia) |
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| A mix of cactus and succulents, including barrel cactus, which I don't often see in local nurseries |
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| The large barrel cactus come at hefty prices - I didn't notice the prices on the smaller ones |
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| More succulents |
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| Note how everything is labeled |
There were also decorative items, although not so many that the plants took second billing.
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| I'd have loved to take one or more of these glass globes home but they were pricey |
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| There were an unusual number of Chihuahua dog statutes of various kinds, perhaps signifying a soft spot in the heart of the owners |
In addition to the sheer size of the operation, I was impressed by the evident helpfulness of the staff, the wide selection of plants and their overall good health, the ready availability of plants in 4-inch pots (the size at which I prefer to buy), and the reasonable prices for plants in large pots. I was tempted by numerous plants.
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| Clerodendrum ugandense - I passed because the one I thought I killed appears to have revived |
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| Russelia equisetiformis - I don't need a 3rd one but this one in a hanging container certainly looked good |
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| Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' - now I know where I can find them if I decide to add more to my garden |
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| Dendromecon harfordii - an extremely drought tolerant plant under consideration |
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| Agave 'Blue Flame' - I may add one or more of these to my dry garden this fall |
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| Agave guiengola 'Creme Brulee' - I'm regretting my failure to take this one home. Look at all those offsets! |
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| Aloe elgonica hybrid - I think I may "need" this too |
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| Lagerstroemia 'Muskogee' - if the ailing Arbutus in my side yard fails, I may buy a lavender crape myrtle like this one |
Unlike any nursery I can recall visiting, everything appeared to be labeled, even the succulents in 4-inch pots. I can't say I conducted an audit in this regard but there wasn't a single plant I personally picked up that didn't have a label and I consider that utterly remarkable.
What isn't remarkable is that, despite a recent statement on this very blog that I didn't intend to buy any plants other than succulents until September or October, I did just that. Here's what I took home:
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| 3 Coleus 'Chocolate Splash' and a bright green pot to put them in |
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| 3 Alternanthera 'Hoya del Loro' (aka Brazilian Red Hots) - how could I resist? |
However, absolutely no further nursery visits are planned for a full 2 weeks...
