Last September I finally got to visit The Dry Garden in Oakland. I say "finally" because my last attempt was thwarted by a transit strike and the time before that my travel companion dismissed the nursery as being a little less than polished, in other words...not worth stopping for. What!? Polish? Who needs polish when you've got this...
Sure I like visiting designy places like Flora Grubb, but true eclectic plant madness is worthy of a visit too. Very worthy...
There were treasures everywhere! Cryptbergia 'Red Burst'
Leucadendron argenteum
Protea somebody something or another
This is where I purchased my Sonchus canariensis.
Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light' (L) and 'Kara's Stripes' (R)
Salvia apiana, one of these came home with me too.
Phylica pubescens
I was tempted, but it's not hardy here and my visit fell at the wrong time of the year to experiment.
Setaria palmifolia var. rubra
So lovely, only hardy to 20-25F...
The nursery turned out to be twice as big as I thought it was when I first walked in, that means twice as many good things!
Euphorbia atropurpurea
Their signs were very helpful.
I came close to leaving with one of these Agave celsii var. albicans 'UCB'. However at $50, I decided to leave it behind.
Opuntia robusta
They really are round!
Echeveria cante
Kalanchoe synsepala var. dissecta
I forgot to ask why these guys were in their own little house. Tender? To stay dry?
Most crested cactus give me the creeps, these I like.
Who wouldn't love this place, right?
Aloe peglerae
Grevillea petrophiloides 'Big Bird
Someday I'm going to find one of these beautiful bromeliads in a smaller size, so I can afford it!
Someday.
Have you noticed the artwork throughout this post? If you've visited (or mail ordered from) Cistus Nursery I bet this image is familiar (it's on their tags and old t-shirts). Perhaps that's why I really enjoyed seeing the work of the artist, Mark Bulwinkle, all through The Dry Garden. It reminded me of a favorite place and made this nursery feel all the more like home.
Do yourself a favor and visit next time you're in the Bay Area!
All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.