I've visited
Sherman Gardens in Corona Del Mar several times. It's a very pretty and relatively small "horticultural retreat," just over 2 acres in size but jam-packed with lovely plants and lots and lots of flowers. My most recent visit last weekend with a friend was intended as an early celebration of my birthday. I took fewer photos than I have on previous occasions, partly because the sunlight was intense and partly because I've photographed the gardens so extensively in the past. You can find prior posts
here.
As in prior years, the Central Garden celebrated spring with a massive display of dahlias.
![]() |
| The centerpiece of the display changes from year to year but the color scheme seems to have been consistent, at least from 2017 to 2019 |
![]() |
| Pink and orange wouldn't be colors I'd have considered combining but it works |
![]() |
| Within the color scheme, the flowers vary in shape (cactus, decorative, etc) and size |
![]() |
| I found this display of cut dahlias floating in a birdbath near the rose garden |
![]() |
| The orange and pink combination was repeated in the area surrounding the entrance fountain but foxgloves, lupines and Gerbera daisies were used instead of dahlias here |
Due to the bright light, my photos of the Perennial Garden adjacent to the Central Garden weren't especially good but I pulled together a few shots to share with you.
![]() |
| Although orange and pink flowers were featured here too, a variety of other colors were thrown into the mix. Last year's "it" plant, Senecio candicans 'Angel Wings', is back (lower right). The ruby-colored goose-necked plant on the lower left looked familiar but neither my friend nor I could name it. |
A section of the Sun Garden was blocked off with caution tape so I collected only a handful of photos there.
![]() |
| The caution tape prevented me from getting a good photo of the garden's otter mascot so I pulled up a photo from my October visit as a tour of Sherman Gardens isn't complete without him. The passionflower, Aeonium and Plectranthus mash-up, and the red Alstroemeria flower are all current photos. |
The Tropical Conservatory is one of my favorite areas within the gardens. Although it hasn't changed much from visit to visit, I always enjoy it. If only I had another acre or so and a big pile of money, I'd like to have a space like this, complete with turtles and Koi fish.
![]() |
| I've never cared much for chenille plant (Acalypha hispida) but I always appreciate it in this context, surrounded by bromeliads, ferns and water |
![]() |
| These are the same 2 turtles I featured in my Wednesday Vignette this week, accompanied by some of the Koi occupying the pond |
![]() |
| A nice pairing of vibrant Croton and dark-hued bromeliads |
![]() |
| I put a Medinella magnifica like the one shown in the middle of this photo on my birthday wish list but I didn't receive one. However, my husband bought me several Mangaves so he's forgiven. |
![]() |
| I think all these orchids are kept in pots and changed out as their blooms fade |
![]() |
| The plant on the upper right is torch ginger (Etlingera elatior). The only orchids I can name off-hand here are the chocolate orchid (Oncidium 'Sharry Baby', second from the upper left) and the one on the lower left, called the hollow woman orchid (Coelogyne sp.). The latter was tagged and who can forget a name like that one? |
There's a good-sized Bromeliad Garden on the property, which now includes a display of carnivorous plants.
![]() |
| Once again the sun's glare interfered with my photos. I think the plant on the lower right is Dyckia fosteriana or a hybrid. |
The last area I photographed was the Tea Garden. Much of the area is shaded by lath structures so the photos aren't sharp but I think you can appreciate just how densely planted the area is.
![]() |
| Ferns rub elbows here with Impatiens, Fuchsias, Alstroemeria, Clematis and other plants too numerous to name |
![]() |
| The Clematis on the upper left looks as though it's growing in that hanging basket but it's planted in the bed below and is only using the basket as support. The basket on the upper right is brimming with what I think are Achimenes. There were also many hanging baskets of Fuchsias, including one (lower left) featuring red and near-black flowers. |
I somehow failed to take any photos of the Succulent Garden on this visit, a serious omission but one I suspect I'll remedy before the year is out.
That's my wrap-up for this week. I wish you good gardening. May the weather be with you.
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
