I've paid a few visits to the
South Coast Botanic Garden of late, most recently at the end of March for the garden's spring plant sale. The garden is undergoing major renovations so I didn't wander far beyond the Volunteer and Desert Gardens but I snapped some photos, which I thought I'd share with you in what's becoming an ongoing ode to spring.
The
Wisteria is in bloom in the Japanese Garden near the front entrance.
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| In addition to the Wisteria, note the impressive Holly Leaf Cycad (Encephalartos ferox) on the left |
The Volunteer Garden had lots of color, although I fixated on a huge
Echium candicans.
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| The area surrounding the Echium (aka Pride of Madeira) was punctuated with Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) |
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| The same Echium can be seen in the background here, fronted with Euphorbia |
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| This is the garden's Mexican Tree Marigold (Tithonia diversifolia, aka Bolivian Sunflower), which it appears the garden cuts WAY back each year |
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| Here are photos of the Mexican Tree Marigold I took last July for reference |
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| I can't entirely explain why but I really liked this particular mash-up, which includes a huge artichoke, Echeverias, Limonium perezii, and Kalanchoe |
The Rose Garden next to the Desert Garden is one of the areas undergoing a complete renovation and there was a lot of construction activity so I spent less time there than I usually do.
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| California poppies and lupine peppered the succulent beds |
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| Succulent Euphorbia xanti surprises me every time I come across one in spring covered in small pink flowers |
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| This Pseudobombax ellipticum (aka Shaving Brush Tree) was just beginning to bloom but the bees were already swarming the flowers |
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| I'm not usually excited by bottlebrush trees, having grown up surrounded by them, but this one looked stately and I loved the way the bed was bordered with succulents. The huge Callistemon did a pretty good job screening the construction crew vehicles too. |
Even the parking lot was colorful.
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| I hope my Aloe striata look this good one day |
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| Handroanthus impetiginosus (formerly Tabebuia impetignosa, aka pink trumpet tree and pink ipe) |
The Cactus & Succulent Society is holding its annual show and sale at the garden this weekend so I'll be back there again tomorrow. There's a chance of rain, though, so I may not do any wandering in the garden proper but I'm sure I'll be back again soon - it's only about 5 miles from home as the crow flies.
Enjoy your weekend!
All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
