Just back from Los Angeles and wrapping up the third phase in my parents’ gardens. More on that to come. While there, we stopped by the South Coast Botanic Garden in between nursery runs. I’ve been there several times – it is a wonderful refuge on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Particularly the succulent and cactus collection, which boasts some pretty amazing specimen. The desert landscape feels otherworldly to me – perhaps I just have too much water on the brain from living here. The plants beg to be touched – though you have to watch out for the teeth and spines. Agave spines can pierce deep before you know you’ve been hit. Weeding around them is good fun.
Everything was set against an impossibly blue sky…
Mom showing scale on this bad boy...its like a deep sea monster. Forget about a security system. Put this thing in the front garden and no one will come near your house.
Beautiful! I went through a short phase trying to grow those kinds of plants up here, blew a large hole in my wallet for naught!
Just another note- your blog is really good. You might want to post it on some gardening blog directories. Blotanical and Garden Stalking are my favorites.
hmmm – I did not even know there are directories. good to know.
yes, I have a very sad agave that wants to live with its friends a sunnier climate. It is cold hardy though and has pupped so I guess its reasonably healthy. The key here for the cold hardy succulents is super sharp drainage.