Walter Anderson Nursery, serving San Diego since 1928

Before we left for San Diego last month, I had a chance to ask local like-minded gardener friend John Kuzma about nurseries he likes in the area, he mentioned Walter Anderson (John has been known to make occasional buying trips). I'd visited this nursery on his recommendation back in 2014, but didn't think I'd have time this go 'round. I was wrong. 

Ten years after my first visit and I'm now a fan of mounted staghorn ferns, I wasn't back then.

The selection was vast (if I organized my photos correctly this one was $75, which compared to the prices here in Portland was a HUGE deal)....

Of course I wasn't shopping, just curious and interested to see how they were growing.

After checking out the staghorns on the front wall of the nursery I turned to see a sign that promised even more, and bromeliads too!

Wowsa...

Even if I'd been driving and that thing was affordable there's no way I could have gotten it home.

Ginormous!

Definitely a different species from the common ones I'm acquainted with.

Such curly fronds.

These bad boys were off the charts cool.

Since seeing these plants I happened to watch a segment from Gardening Australia on YouTube called Iconic Stag Garden, check it out here. It's amazing!

Moving on, I have no photos of the bromeliad section to share, there wasn't much going on there.

In an another part of the nursery this strangely sausage-like (worm-like?) cactus was working its way up a palm trunk.

I followed it down to the base of the palm and then kinda lost it in the shadows behind the pansy tables. There was another staghorn however...

And another!

And more of the variegated Euphorbia ammak that seem to be everywhere in San Diego.

I didn't recognize it at first (until I looked up), it's trunk was so woody.

Onward! To the shady bits...

Phlebodium aureum

Begonia luxurians

Farfugium japonicum

More staghorns! (babies being grown on maybe?)

So many cycads...

Leucospermum gueinzii

A group shot of some of the sun-loving characters.

I was shocked at the price tag on this bowl of Deuterocohnia brevifolia, $299.99. Maybe it was a price really meant to say "not for sale"? This is where I bought my small 4" pot of the same (shown in this post), at a comparatively tiny price.

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

Sunny but chilly, a morning walk around the 'hood

Our days of perpetual sunshine (plus a record-breaking number of dry January days) had come to an end, replaced by low grey skies and threats of snow. So when last Tuesday was unexpectedly sunny I went for a long walk. I never set off intending to take photos for a blog post, but once I pull out the phone (camera), it's hard to stop!

How could I not document these stunning Agave ovatifolia? (plus a couple of A. parryi)

On the other side of the sidewalk there are a couple more (and they're a little tormented by conifer litter)...

How nice it would be to have this front porch fern grotto!

Yes, I am using the term loosely, it's kind of cave-like.

These folks are getting rid of their front lawn with chipboard and a very thick layer of woodchip mulch. 

I wish I knew when they'd started the project, it would be fun to watch the progress.

Oh my. How do I not remember these sculptures in the making?

Seems like a lot of work.

This house used to have a big healthy opuntia planting out front, and that cryptomeria used to be a lot smaller.

The opuntia is gone, but I see there is still an agave back there, can you see it?

There...

That's a sweet Yucca linearifolia!

Ditto for the Euphorbia rigida (same property).

And still the same property, a fine opuntia, trachycarpus (palm), and more...

I hope the Agave bracteosa doesn't get ran over.

Simple, but striking. There was a nice little patio up near the house and driveway, but I couldn't get a good shot.

It smelled even better than it looks (hamamelis species)

I wonder what's hiding under those frost-protection tents? I'll have to remember to walk this way again when it's warmer (our nights have been cool, a low of 25F recorded a couple times, but there's even more cool (with possibly snow and freezing rain) on the way).

It occurs to me as I work my way thru this post just how many brick homes I photographed! Andrew and I call this neighborhood the ranchlands because of all the ranch-style homes there, and a lot of them are either completely brick, or have brick accents.

This ranchlands garden has been featured many times on this blog, although it's been awhile. Things have grown substantially...

An other Agave ovatifolia, I believe.

The hellstrip with opuntia, arctostaphylos and barely visible at the far right a large cholla.

The Yucca rostrata here have attained tree-like height.

They're remarkable!

I crossed a street to get a photo of the green (next shot), but was also captivated by the contrast next door, with the hard lines.

Green!

Lots of green.

I have no idea what this is, but it makes a nice soft brown winter moment.

I drive by this structure at least once a week. I've been trying to figure out what's under there (I surely saw it before it was covered) but seeing it from the sidewalk side offered no more clues. I should have stuck my phone under there to get a photo or two, but the opening at the bottom is more narrow than it looks.

Oh hey... this one's familiar, home!

Before I end this post I wanted to mention that I'll be speaking at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival again this year. My topic; #fernsarethenewsucculents. This is the same talk I gave to the Hardy Fern Foundation last month, so if you missed it there (and you'll be at the show on Friday morning at 11:15), come say hi! Bonus; you don't even need a ticket to the show to attend the Plant Academy talks (where I'll be), they're FREE! More info on the seminars HERE.

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