Visiting Sunset Headquarters, during the Garden Bloggers Fling

The second day of the 2013 SF GB Fling, Saturday, we visited the Sunset Headquarters in Menlo Park, CA. As a long time subscriber to the magazine I was thrilled to get a chance to lay eyes on this place I’d heard referenced time and time again.

We de-bused (kind of like deplaning) and fanned out across the trial garden.

I’ve been lusting after one of these planters for years now. They are always too expensive for my blood!

Here part of our group is listening to Janet Sluis, a program developer with Plant Development Services Sunset Western Garden Collection. She might be talking about that blue flowering monstrosity behind her, Salvia 'Amistad'– evidently I’m the only one that didn’t fall head-over-heels in love with it.

I did love this little vignette though...

And I couldn't refuse testing the tumbled glass with my bare-feet, It was quite wonderful.

'Silver Shadow' compact Astelia (Astelia chathamica x nervosa 'Silver Shadow' PP22195) from the Sunset Western Garden collection. I do love the silver cast to this Astelia foliage.

As well as the highly puckered foliage of this colocasia (I didn't get the name).

‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia (Mahonia 'Soft Caress' PP#20183)

One of the advantages of waiting 5 months to go through your photos is the little jolt of happiness you feel when you come across an unexpected photo of friends...

Such a fun bunch of people that I love hanging out with!

And I had to include another look at the vignette I liked so much, from the other side.

Now THAT is a lawn! It's huge, perfect for all the big parties and special events they have at Sunset Hdqrtrs.

Shortly after I look this photo other bloggers found the nice cushy chairs in the shade and took advantage.

There was also a huge outdoor kitchen and seating area.

But of course it was the plants I was really interested in.

A little back-story: "The original Sunset display garden was designed by Thomas Church, the dean of Western landscape architects. It included a border that followed the contours of San Francisquito Creek, with distinct areas representing the major climate zones of the West, from the deserts of Arizona and Southern California to the cold, wet areas of the Northwest.

Many of these original trees and shrubs still stand, retaining the regional flavor of the border. But a major renovation in early spring 2000, under the direction of Chris Jacobson and Beverly Sarjeant of Garden Art, brought a fresh new look to the garden." (source)

The sign said Agave sierra metexa which Google wants to change to Agave 'Sierra Mixteca' which it looks like might actually be Agave 'Felipe Otero' - whatever the heck it is I like it!