The garden show in a mall

While Southern California supports numerous Spring garden tours, we don't have much in the way of garden shows.  We have "home and garden" shows but their focus is most definitely on homes rather than gardens.  There used to be a few real garden shows here but most have disappeared.  The South Coast Plaza Spring Garden Show celebrated its 30-year anniversary in late April.  Held in an upscale mall in Orange County, it features a range of small display gardens and attracts a variety of vendors with plants and garden-related merchandise.  Sadly, in recent years the displays have been more about outdoor furniture (and furniture purporting to be of use outside), usually sold by one of the home goods stores occupying the mall.  I still go, mainly to check out the vendors' stalls, but I always check out the display gardens too.

Mall lighting makes it difficult to take photographs and many of the displays didn't warrant close examination anyway but I'll share a handful, as well as the central display created by a firm that constructs floats for our New Year's Day Tournament of Roses Parade each year.

The Under the Sea display was created by Fiesta Parade Floats

This was my favorite display, called 'Green Attitude'.  It was envisioned as a home office with a view into an adjacent garden.

This one was called 'The Secret Garden'

This one, featuring an outdoor bar, was called 'Taste of spring'

I liked the rustic succulent planter in this display called 'Meandering Time'

This one, featuring bar seating directly next to a humongous grill, was called 'Gather Round'.  I liked the variegated Furcraea, the lines of which were softened by Acacia 'Cousin Itt' and ornamental grasses.

There was also a display created with visitors in search of selfie opportunities in mind.

I don't do selfies

As I'd scheduled a lunch date with a friend and former co-worker several miles away, I had less time to shop the vendor stalls than I'd have liked.

Garden decor

Lots of plants

Mark Muradian's pottery: I own a few of his pots and was sorely tempted to buy another on this visit

At least the time limit kept my spending under control.

I passed on the pots on this occasion but picked up Begonia 'Little Darling', an unidentified variegated Hoya, and these nutshells strung together to support Tillandsias

I had a nice lunch catching up with my friend and then, since I was less than a mile from Roger's Gardens, I stopped there for a brief spin before heading to the freeway.

Cool (if expensive) hanging planter near the entrance

This vertical garden area is updated regularly.  Buddha holds court this Spring.

Views of 3 sides of the entry area demonstration garden, updated seasonally

This waterwise garden area was also updated since my last visit.  I loved this iteration.

Russell hybrid lupines - so tempting but so short-lived in my climate

Two planted chairs, one featuring herbs and the other featuring succulents

Although I spent no more than an hour at Roger's, I still managed to make a few purchases.

My takeaways: Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin', Achillea ptarmica 'Peter Cottontail', Aeonium 'Fiesta', and Zinnia and Helianthus seeds

For the record, I didn't buy any plants this week!  After all, I still have several that still need planting.

Enjoy your weekend!


All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party