San Diego baby!

Last week Andrew and I hopped on a plane and headed south for week of sunshine and (relative) warmth. We'd planned a week or so in Mexico City for our 20th anniversary trip, but that didn't work out (for now—we're determined to make it there eventually), San Diego to the rescue! It was a fun bit of déjà vu too, as we spent our 10th anniversary in San Diego back in 2014.

Mt Hood and the surrounding mountains were looking frosty as we flew out on the 13th...

But soon enough I'd put my flip-flops on and was basking in the sunshine...

I managed to squeeze in quite a few plant and garden related stops, including visiting four nurseries: Walter Anderson (where the above photo was taken), Bird Rock Tropicals, Jungle Music and Solana Succulents. I visited Jim Bishop's garden, spent an afternoon in Balboa Park, wandered the pathways of the Self Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens, and of course I tested Andrew's patience by stopping at several interesting street-side gardens along the way...

This garden caught my eye our first day on the ground. I don't know if later in the trip I would have stopped to take photos, but that first afternoon I was still in awe of the succulent selection all around. Blooming Agave attenuata were everywhere...

Is the coloration because the plant is dying as it blooms, or due to drought stress?

I also saw crazy numbers of variegated Euphorbia ammak.

And beautiful blooming aloes...

The garden also had several non-blooming Agave attenuata.

And a couple bloomed-out A. attenuata with pups (bulbils) on what was left of the decapitated bloom spike. Those things fall off really easy when you touch them—ask me how I know. (more on that below)

All was not attractive in this planting however, as there was a butchered agave in the mix. 

All I can imagine is that someone was worried about the spines being too close to the sidewalk? Poor thing!

Here's my modest haul from the trip, there was not much room in my carry-on.

From Bird Rock Tropicals (BRT) an Aechmea Bert (orlandiana x fosteriana)...

If I'd been driving I would have left BRT with a carful, but instead I just enjoyed looking at all that was on offer and photographing (there will be many San Diego blog posts in the future). I selected this particular bromeliad because it reminded me of one I lusted after in Jim Bishop's garden. Now that I look at his plant(s) though I'm not sure it's the same one.

Inspired by the plantings I saw at The Tropics, Inc. when I visited in November, I grabbed this Deuterocohnia brevifolia to pot up in a creative way. Andrew thought it looked like lots of little agaves.

Leaving Solana Succulents with just one plant was difficult, but I fell for this Hechtia tillandsioides (owner Jeff Moore ID'd it with a tentative "?") and was thankful I could squeeze it into my suitcase.

San Marcos Growers calls it a "an attractive and interesting grasslike terrestrial bromeliad"...

So remember the Agave attenuata bulbils I mentioned? Well two of them came home with me. I broke them off accidently and didn't want to just drop them on the ground where they'd languish so I took them with. There were others drying up in the same planting area so I really don't feel like I was taking something of value. I know, that's rationalization but there it is. (special thanks to Andrew for being my hand model)

Also from Bird Rock Tropicals, a Racinaea crispa (red clone). I've been lusting after this plant ever since I saw one on offer at the auction during the Bromeliad Summit in 2019. I'm hoping I can keep it alive.

In addition to the nurseries and gardens (and fishing from the piers) there were bookstore visits. I have so many books I haven't yet read that I wasn't planning to buy anything, but then I saw this. I read about this book somewhere recently and at used book prices I couldn't pass it up.

So, that's my San Diego haul and a quick overview of the trip. So much more to come! Meanwhile I'm back in chilly Portland where nights are frosty...

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All material © 2009-2025 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

The Bednarski and Pepper gardens, part of the '24 Garden Fling

The last time I visited Tanya Bednarksi's Seattle garden I ended the visit wondering about a neighboring garden across the street. This time (during the optional bonus day of the '24 Garden Fling) the neighbor's garden was part of the tour, and I spent a lot of time there, so I just made a quick zip around the Bednarksi garden. Afterall I had to wander in to gaze upon the playful clipped green balls and bright red glass spears. 

This tightly designed area is so fun to be in. I could never have a garden like this (so few plants), but it's a fantastic space.

At the opposite end of the long narrow front garden is this rectangular stone trough filled with water. There is also a sitting area I neglected to photograph.

From the back of the home there's an expansive view of Lake Washington and the tall buildings of downtown Bellevue, WA, in the distance.

On to the Pepper garden—my last garden visit of the '24 Fling (I still have several gardens to write about though). I first saw this garden the same weekend (in June of '22) that I saw the Bednarski garden. 

You walk down this narrow breezeway...

And emerge in the back garden right on the shores of Lake Washington.

During my first visit (here) I was very focused on the water view. This visit I took my time getting there...

The fence that separates the garden from the rocky shore is new, put in place to keep marauding beavers out.

(I think this was the only time the rainbow chairs were empty during our visit)

The garden description in our Fling booklet says those bad beavers hauled off most of the garden's woody shrubs, roses and small trees—and I thought my raccoons were destructive!

The groundcover on the granite stairs was in full shocking pink bloom during my last visit, this time the stone itself was my focus.

The Pepper's were kind enough to let us eat lunch in their garden, so that's why we're all gathered up around the house.

The garden between the lawn and the water is designed as a pollinator meadow.

At last, that water!

The strip of plantings is small, but packs a colorful punch.

Finally two stone/cement planters that caught my eye. I really liked this one.

And I used to have one like this. I hauled it (and a much larger, much heavier one) with me on my moves from Spokane to Seattle, back to Spokane, then down to Portland, and finally gave it away to a friend here. I loved that thing, but it didn't really fit the style of my garden in Portland.

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All material © 2009-2025 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

The Brindley Garden, during the '24 Garden Fling

My first visit to the Brindley Garden was in 2018, the same day that I first visited Dan Hinkley's Windcliff. This most recent visit was on Sunday July 21st, the last "official" day of the 2024 Garden Fling (there was a tour of Seattle gardens on Monday, but only a small part of the group was able to stick around for that). Sadly, once again, visiting the famous neighbor (that would be Dan) took precedence over this garden and my time was limited. 

Here's the gate between the two gardens, one that saves you having to walk all the way back up to the public street—much appreciated when you are exhausted from garden touring!

There were a lot of comments about how tall the area trees were, from Flingers who lived outside the PNW. As a lifelong PNW resident I guess I take them for granted.

I believe that's a secluded sit-spot that I never quite made it over to.

Maybe a Lomatia myricoides?

I do love a framed vignette...

And a dreamy greenhouse...

Walking around the side of the house the million dollar (+) view begins to appear...

Gah. Can you imagine seeing this on the regular?

Panning a little towards the house...

That's an Agave bracteosa tangle if ever I saw one.

Snow and Agave parryi

I love yucca flowers...

Ah yes, this is the photo! (the "money shot" if you will) That's Puget Sound as seen from Indianola, WA.

Sadly the madrone (Arbutus menziesii) that frames the view appears to be dying.

I wonder if it's safe to leave it to die, and eventually fall, in place?

Justin and Max Cannon, looking very at home in the garden with the palms.

This is where our group photo was to be taken and people were gathering.

Slowly gathering.

There we are! I shared this photo (from Becca Mathias) back in July, but thought it would be fun to share here again. If you're interested in attending a Garden Fling the 2025 event is to be held in Memphis, TN, on June 5-8, more info here. Sadly I'm going to miss this one.

After that shot was taken it was time to walk back to the bus and begin our journey to the hotel in Tacoma.

Heading up the drive Wyatt Emig, of Longwood Gardens, stopped to pose with a large tetrapanax leaf...

And then Becca stepped in for a selfie. I hope she didn't have a reaction to the indumentum on the underside of the leaf!

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All material © 2009-2025 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.