Succulents and More™

As I reported earlier this month , Annie’s Annuals and Perennials shocked the gardening world when it closed its doors on October 3 with no advance notice (apparently not even to its employees). Annie’s was the most beloved nursery in Northern California and adored by mail-order customers around the country. To many, including myself, losing Annie’s was almost like losing a friend. A lot of people were hoping that a white knight would magically appear at the 11th hour, but in reality, the future looked grim. After all, miracles don’t happen. Except sometimes they do. Look at this post on Annie’s Facebook page from today, October 24: Here’s what it says: “Big, Joyful News from Annie’s Annuals! We’re beyond excited to share that Annie’s Annuals is entering an incredible new chapter! For decades, Annie’s has been a cornerstone of California horticulture, inspiring joy and discovery with its rare and heirloom plants. The Hageman Family (owners of Grow Organic) have proudly acquired Annie’s...

When one door shuts, the saying goes, another door opens. But sometimes all we get is one door shutting without another one opening. In fact, that one door slams shut so forcefully that chances are it will never open again. That’s what happened this past Thursday, October 3. With no advance notice, Annie’s Annuals in Richmond ceased to exist. And just like that, the gardening scene in Northern California is changed forever. In fact, the shockwaves will be felt far beyond our area, seeing how Annie’s had loyal mail-order customers all over the country. The next day, customers received the official email: “Beloved” is not an adjective typically applied to a business, but in this case, it fits perfectly. Annie’s Annuals – technically Annie’s Annuals & Perennials, but for most of us simply Annie’s – was something as rare as a unicorn: a nursery with a selection so large that there was something for everybody, with all plants grown right on site in the Goldilocks climate of Richmond, C...

Mention Annie’s Annuals to any garden enthusiast in the Bay Area or Sacramento, and they get a dreamy look on their face. I had never been there before, but I’d been drooling over their catalog and web site for years. Located in Richmond in the East Bay, Annie’s Annuals is less than an hour from my house, but it took a visit from my plant-loving mother to get off my duff and go. Davis was basking under a perfect blue sky when we left, but when we got to Richmond, the area was shrouded in high fog and temperatures were in the low 60s, 20 degrees lower than at home. Richmond gets this kind of fog quite frequently in the summer, and it contributes to what is one of the best growing climates in the entire state. Temperatures rarely drop below freezing and rarely go above 90. No wonder the plants at Annie’s Annuals looked perfect. They truly are in paradise there. Virtually all plants Annie’s Annuals are in 4-inch containers and were grown at the nursery, typically from seed. Prices at t...