I visited South Coast Botanic Garden earlier this week, primarily as another exercise in the use of my new camera but also because it's only going to get hotter as the summer progresses so the clock was ticking if I wanted a pleasant stroll. Even though the garden wasn't at the top of its game, I took a lot of photos (practice!) so I'm going to split them into two separate posts. I'll post the second half next Friday.
I left the house later than I'd planned, arriving around 10am, but the marine layer was still firmly in place. I didn't expect it to be crowded on a Wednesday morning, even though Juneteenth is a federal holiday, but the parking lot was nearly full and the garden was packed with families. The schools are out and summer vacation season is clearly already in gear.
The garden is still touting its BLOOM event, which kicked off in April and runs through the end of this month.
![]() |
| This Bloom Watch poster listed the following top picks among the flowers in the garden: Fuchsia, Sparaxis, Opuntia x 'Beaver Rita', Lathyrus odoratus, Collinsia heterophylla, mixed Ixia, Eschscholzia californica var maritima, Datura wrightii, and Layia platyglossa. According to the poster, most of these flowers were to be found in the Amphitheater Lawn so I headed there. |
![]() |
| Most of what I found there were members of the Clarkia genus, aka farewell-to-spring |
![]() |
| There was a large display for use as a photo opportunity |
![]() |
| The beds formerly filled with bulb flowers had neatly braided foliage. I've read that this isn't ideal but I have to admit that it looks a lot better than my messy bulb foliage, which I usually end up cutting back earlier than I should. |
The Banyan Grove, one of my very favorite spots in the garden, was nearby so I checked out its current status. It's intended to become a central part of the new children's garden currently under construction so I wasn't sure what to expect.
![]() |
| This was one of many banners advertising the plans for the area. It was affixed to the construction fence. |
![]() |
| As was the case the last 2 times I visited, the main section of the Banyan Grove is blocked off. It looks like the bulk of the earth moving activity may be finished but I didn't see any sign of building activity. The signs still claim that the children's garden will open in 2024. |
![]() |
| On the other side of the tram road, the Ficus petiolaris (left, often called the "ghost tree") and the variegated Ficus benjamina (right) appear unaffected by the building plan |
![]() |
| Fortunately, not all the Moreton Bay fig trees (Ficus macrophylla) were cordoned off |
![]() |
| The Moreton Bay figs were always popular with kids when I conducted tours of the garden as a docent years ago and I was pleased to see that they still have a chance to clamber over those massive roots even as changes are in progress |
Of course I had to check out the Desert Garden too.
![]() |
| View facing the front of the main section of the Desert Garden |
![]() |
| One of several huge Agave shawii surrounded by barrel cacti (Echinopsis grusonii) |
![]() |
| Euphorbia xanti (aka Baja spurge) always delights me when it's covered with pink and white flowers like this |
![]() |
| The California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) seemed right interspersed among the Aloes but the Buddleia was a surprise |
![]() |
| I'm not especially impressed by Alluaudia procera (aka Madagascan Ocotillo) in its leafless state during the winter months but it's attractive when it greens up and blooms |
I also checked out the Living Wall, in the area opposite the Desert Garden.
![]() |
| The Living Wall looks great, although it seems to be covered in far fewer succulents than was originally the case. It's heavy on ferns and includes Ficus elastica (rubber tree plants) and what looks like it might be small-leaf Scheffleras. |
I took random photos of plants in various areas that grabbed my attention as I continued my stroll.
![]() |
| I loved this tree, Calodendrum capense, aka Cape chestnut |
![]() |
| Jacarandas are slowly coming into bloom all over my area. They seem a little late to me, but perhaps that's attributable to the cooler temperatures that have accompanied the marine layer. |
![]() |
| Seeing these Romneya coulteri (aka Matilija poppy and California tree poppy) reinforces the fact that I was foolish to plant one on my back slope |
![]() |
| Other flowering plants, clockwise from the upper left, included Brugmansia, Justicia carnea, Lathyrus odoratus (planted much later than mine), and Plumbago |
That's it for part one of my visit. Best wishes for a pleasant weekend. Wherever you are, I hope it's not too hot!
All material © 2012-2024 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
