When I visited South Coast Botanic Garden in late July, my focus was the new pollinator garden but that doesn't mean I entirely ignored the rest of the garden. Even in the early morning hours, it was hot so I didn't try to cover all 87 acres; however, I did stop to take photos here and there. These are the best of them.
![]() |
This shot of kids running across the upper meadow captures what's best about summer
|
![]() |
The palm circle, near the front entrance, had recently been refreshed to fit the season
|
Construction of the new children's garden, scheduled to open on a date yet to be determined in 2024, is still underway and many areas are blocked off.
![]() |
Since my last visit, the focus seems to have shifted from bringing in additional soil to grading the new area
|
Many of the most attention-grabbing sights were flowering trees and tree-sized shrubs.
![]() |
NoID Acacia in the parking lot
|
![]() |
Albizia julibrissin (aka mimosa tree)
|
![]() |
All the Jacarandas, trees Southern California is known for, bloomed late this year, presumably due to the unusually long stretch of cooler temperatures
|
![]() |
White-flowered Lagerstroemia (aka crape myrtle) line one edge of the rose garden
|
![]() |
NoID Senna or Cassia - I don't know enough about them to judge which is which
|
![]() |
One of my personal favorites, Tithonia divesifolia (aka tree marigold and Mexican sunflower)
|
Despite the heat, there were other flowers scattered about.
![]() |
Just about all the plants in the Fuchsia Garden were blooming
|
![]() |
Dahlias were planted in the Garden for the Senses this year. With the changes planned for other areas of the garden, I'm wondering if the Garden for the Senses will be supplanted.
|
![]() |
A wide shot of the rose garden promenade
|
I didn't spend much time in the Desert Garden on this occasion but I didn't ignore succulent plants altogether.
![]() |
The Living Wall
|
![]() |
This area between the parking lot and the garden's formal entrance was particularly colorful with Crassula perfoliata faltata (aka propeller plant) and Euphorbia milii (aka crown of thorns) in full bloom
|
In a recent Instagram post, SCBG reported that the Pollination Garden's phase one planting is now in full bloom. I hope to get back there for a second spin by the end of this month.
All
material © 2012-2023
by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
