Rainy visit to Annie’s Annuals

Yesterday I met an old friend from San Francisco and took him to Annie’s Annuals in Richmond, CA. Annie’s is one of my favorite nurseries. Their selection is vast and quirky; check out their plant list to get a taste. The retail nursery also carries plants that either aren’t on the website or are listed as unavailable and the prices are lower than online, so a personal visit is the way to go.

The weather was fine when we arrived—overcast but bright. However, half way through our visit the sky opened up and the rain ultimately cut our visit short. Still, here are some photos to give you idea of what wonders await at Annie’s. Also check out my previous posts: 1 | 2 | 3.

140228_Annies_017

140228_Annies_067

140228_Annies_004

Beschorneria albiflora in the parking lot

140228_Annies_007

Beschorneria albiflora in the parking lot, getting ready to bloom

140228_Annies_006 140228_Annies_005

Cussonia paniculata planted outside the wall along Market St. The towers and the barbed wired on top of the wall create a rather startling prison look but the security is apparently needed.

140228_Annies_010

Not sure which Cussonia this is but possibly Cussonia spicata

140228_Annies_009

I was oddly attracted to this thorny thing but I have no clue what it is. Does anybody know?

140228_Annies_011

Euphorbia characias

140228_Annies_056

Sea of 4-inch pots. Virtually all plants sold at Annie’s are in 4-inch pots, with prices ranging from $3.95 (yellow tags) to $9.95 (purple tags).

140228_Annies_014

So much promise and potential!

140228_Annies_018

One of the many demonstration plantings

140228_Annies_019 140228_Annies_021

LEFT: Ribes in flower  RIGHT: Agave vilmoriniana and Aeonium nobile

140228_Annies_025

Crassula erosula ‘Campfire’

140228_Annies_022

Cotyledon orbiculata var. orbiculata

140228_Annies_024

I love how this miniature aeonium is forming on top of a thick stalk

140228_Annies_028 140228_Annies_030

Turquoise-flowering puyas

140228_Annies_037

In addition to the usual suspects, I also found myself attracted to plants I wouldn’t ordinarily pay much attention to, like these primulas

140228_Annies_035

Primula polyantha

140228_Annies_033

Primula polyantha

140228_Annies_043

One of the prettiest edibles I’ve ever seen: Mustard ‘Ruby Streaks’

140228_Annies_042

Mustard ‘Ruby Streaks’

140228_Annies_049

What a riot of color! Maybe too much for my veggie bed.

140228_Annies_050

Peak inside the hoop house with rare treasures…

140228_Annies_051 140228_Annies_052

…such as these acacias and cussonias

140228_Annies_055

This is where you pay for your purchases

140228_Annies_057

Helleborus orientalis ‘Peppermint Ice’

140228_Annies_061

Quite possibly…

140228_Annies_064

…the most beautiful hellebore I’ve ever seen

140228_Annies_058

Helleborus orientalis ‘Yellow Lady’

140228_Annies_063

Helleborus orientalis ‘Yellow Lady’

140228_Annies_068

Malcolmia maritima, another plant I wouldn’t originally look at twice but beautiful when massed like this

140228_Annies_066

This hypertufa pot caught my eye. The next time I make hypertufa pots I will try incorporate a row of contrasting rocks.

140228_Annies_053

My purchases

This is what I bought:

Most of these plants will go in the xeric planting bed I’m creating in the space currently occupied by a Japanese mock orange hedge (Pittosporum tobira). With any luck, the hedge will come out early next week.

Comments

  1. Someday you'll need to take me there too. :) I love visiting nurseries in the rain (as long as I have an umbrella or raincoat)!

    Echium russicum is the only thing on that list that I also grow!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan, I'll be happy to show you around the next time you're in the Bay Area. I didn't have a raincoat, just a hoodie. The temperature was in the high 60s so quite comfy.

      How is that Echium russicum growing for you? I've never actually seen one flowering, just in photos.

      Delete
  2. Didn't get the beautiful helebore I see, :^(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, hellebores don't do that well here. I have two, and they never flower the way they do in cooler climates.

      Delete
  3. Both times I've been there I meant to go back outside the gates and look at the plants, but then once inside I'm overwhelmed and forget all about it. Thanks for the visit...and wow! You made it worthwhile with those purchases.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great visit and love the photos! Can't to visit!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Google strikes again, my previous comment disappeared! Annie's Annuals reputation is reasonable well known even here. Great haul btw and that pot with the band of pebble looks great and also reminds me of 'rammed earth'.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sorry Laura and I missed out this time - Next time when it is not raining!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment