2015 Succulent Extravaganza plant porn (2 of 2)

Day 2 of the 2015 Succulent Extravaganza (see posts 1 and 2) started bright and early at 8 a.m. I left the motel in Marina at 7:15 a.m. so I’d have extra time in case I saw anything worth photographing along the way. And I did.

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Sunrise over the Elkhorn Slough, an estuary on Monterey Bay, just a few miles down the road from the nursery

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Moss Landing in the early morning light. This small community on Monterey Bay is literally minutes from Succulent Gardens.

I joined the 8 a.m. nursery tour led by Brian Kemble, the curator of the Ruth Bancroft Garden, who talked as eloquently as ever about the many types of succulents growing at Succulent Gardens. Afterwards I walked around on my own, letting myself be pulled here and there by whatever happened to catch my eye. That’s how the photos in this post were taken.

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Honey bush (Melianthus major) growing in one of the most striking pots I saw at the Extravaganza

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Plectranthus coleoides ‘Variegata’

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The nursery is making a concerted effort to showcase companion plants that have similar growing requirements as succulents

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California fuchsia (Epilobium sp.) is a logical choice and looks great next to this fan aloe (Kumara plicatilis)

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The most pristine Agave guiengola ‘CrĆØme BrĆ»lĆ©e’ I’ve ever seen. The leaves on this agave bruise or break very easily so most plants you see in nurseries aren’t that attractive.

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A good example of how to dress up a stacked rock wall with succulents and driftwood

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Cactus for sale in the retail greenhouse

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Euphorbia bracteata (previously Pedilanthus bracteatus)

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Not sure I’d have a bottle border in my own garden but it looks good here

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Echeveria subrigida on fire in the morning light

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Ruffled echeverias

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Carunculated echeverias—I’m still not sure whether I like this effect or not. But I’m definitely fascinated by the warty growths.

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Ruffled echeveria in Danielle and Michael Romero’s undersea demonstration garden—a great choice!

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Aloe vanbalenii in Danielle and Michael Romero’s undersea demonstration garden

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Agave lophantha ‘Quadricolor’

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Fan aloe (Kumara plicatilis)

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Agave guadalajarana

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Agave ‘Blue Flame’ (top) and ‘Blue Glow (bottom)

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Field-grown aeoniums behind the propagation greenhouses; the black netting on the right protects larger aloes in 15-gallon pots

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Aeoniums in half barrel

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Aeonium tapestry

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Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’

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Aeonium tabuliforme

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Aeonium in a partially buried pot

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Dudleya brittonii

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Plantings along Elkhorn Road

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Agave ‘Mr. Ripple’

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Aeoniums come to life when backlit

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Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ underplanted with Senecio serpens

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Perfect for Halloween!

The date for the 2016 Succulent Extravaganza hasn’t been announced yet but most likely it will be September 30 and October 1. 2016. Be sure to sign up for Succulent Gardens’ newsletter to remain in the loop.

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Comments

  1. Replies
    1. Oops, I forgot to mention that. I only bought two plants (both #1 size): an Agave 'Blue Glow' (I didn't have one, can you believe it!) and another Kumara plicatilis because it was too nice to pass up.

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    2. I didn't buy one plant. Your photos make me wish I had. :)

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    3. Deana, many of the plants I wanted were only available in larger sizes and wouldn't have fit in my car.

      By the way, you were wondering about the 2011 Extravaganza, the first one. Here are my posts:

      Part 1: http://www.succulentsandmore.com/2011/10/succulent-gardens-extravaganza-part-1.html

      Part 2: http://www.succulentsandmore.com/2011/10/succulent-gardens-extravaganza-part-2.html

      Delete
  2. You didn't have a 'Blue Glow'?!?

    Great photos.

    Maybe next year...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! Hard to believe! I have several 'Red Margin', which somebody sold me as 'Blue Glow'. But the two are NOT the same. 'Red Margin' is nowhere near as attractive.

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  3. Great photos, as usual. While I enjoyed the succulent shots (particularly the back-lit Aeonium 'Zwartkop'), I loved the sunrise shot and the shot of Moss Landing.

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  4. I am just dying over that ‘CrĆØme BrĆ»lĆ©e.’ I can never post photos of mine now! Simply gorgeous. Everything looks beautiful, but the companion plantings are especially swoon-worthy. Thanks for this great series!

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  5. That first "cactus for sale..." photo (the ninth if I counted right) is so great! A terrific combo of different colors and textures (and lighting). Big smile!

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  6. That warty stuff is hard for me to love. It's like the evil twin of all the other beautiful, smooth-leaved plants. Nice to see the majestic Mr. Ripple again. I had vague plans to attend this year but couldn't justify two trips north in two months. Love the plectranthus near the SF pot. So glad you're out there roving with your camera!

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