Looking back now the whole thing seems a little surreal. There I was at Annie’s Annuals for the second time, ogling amazing plants while surrounded by dozens of my online friends. How lucky am I?
My first visit to Annie’s (in 2012) was a little rushed, we squeaked in just before closing time. This visit was long and luxurious and even included a moment with Annie herself.
To be honest there was one thing which would have made this visit even better, if I could buy all those Zone 9 plants and plant them in the ground without a care! Ah well, we can't have everything right?
This dyckia was just insane...
Okay let's look at the plants!
Oh man...I LOVE this one! I think I may have actually drooled on this page of my paper catalogue at home. There's that darn Zone 9 issue though...
Can you read the part about "if you're reading this sign & there are plants left on the table, consider yourself chosen"...it's like buying it is my destiny...
So many different colors of aeoniums...
And aloes!
Mountain roses...
I don't remember seeing these before. Guess what zone?
I'm a sucker for pleated foliage!
The dudleya were all such gorgeous colors...
I can't tell you exactly what Proteaceae this is but it continues the color trend nicely doesn't it? If you've never been to Annie's, and find yourself in the Bay Area, you really should make the drive to Richmond to see all this exuberant plant madness in person! If not, make sure you're signed up to get their catalogue!
So are you wondering if I bought anything? Yes I had to grab one of those Phylica pubescens. And look I even put it in the ground! I thought the spiky agaves could use a little but of fuzzy company.
I also picked up one of those Mountain Roses, Greenovia aurea 'Gran Canaria Form.' It was hard to chose which one though because they all had such unique shapes. Check out this image to see an especially fine form.
All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I'm keeping everything crossed for your Phyllica. It looks awesome amongst the agaves. Come on, mild winter!
ReplyDeleteI do love it so and hope it doesn't go away...
DeleteI feel like a kid in a candy store everytime I go!!
ReplyDeleteI've looked at those greenovias many times. Maybe I'll pick up a few the next time, now that I've had so much success with aeoniums.
Funny how you're envious of the plants we can grow down here. I'm always envious when I see what *you* can grow that would die in our climate :-).
The grass is always greener isn't it? I am still in love with my greenovias...you should buy several.
DeleteOptimistic on putting it in the ground, but pessimistic on how much space it's going to need, aren't you?
ReplyDeleteI'd love to visit Annie's, but I think it would be much too frustrating -- unless there are actually lots of cool annuals there, or plants that will survive colder zones. Sigh.
Or maybe just pessimistic figuring I'll enjoy it for a while and it will expire before size is an issue? (see the Acacia pravissima for how that works out).
Deletewow plant lust! That is insane! I'm glad you got the phylica ... its super cool!!!
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I was thinking you'd been there Louis? Guess not.
Deleteannies is very conservative with their zone ratings. lots of things marked by them as 9-10 have survived our recent 8a type winters in portland. so double check things before you pass!
ReplyDeleteAnd what exactly do you double check against? (just curious what you feel is a reliable source).
DeleteI'm envious! I live in California and have yet to make a pilgrimage to Annie's. Luckily, one semi-local (Orange County) nursery offers Annie's plants for sale. And I mail order several times a year - in fact, there's an order on its way...
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I saw an Annie's tag at a local nursery (Portland Nursery) I was so excited! Hope you'll share the contents of your order on your blog!
DeleteI adore succulents and here I have to overwinter them under cover each winter as they don't like our wet cold. Could you not do the same?
ReplyDeleteOh Helen...you have no idea. It's a huge pilgrimage around here come late October. I overwinter them in a couple of places including our basement for the tender ones.
DeleteYes, Annie's is one of my weaknesses. I hesitate to buy from them because of the Zone 9 factor but dang, sometimes a gardener's gotta have what a gardener's gotta have. Love your photos and choices.
ReplyDeleteGotta have what we've gotta have...oh how I understand.
DeleteIsn't there a part of southwest Oregon that is in zone 9? Couldn't we move there? How about starting a movement called GGW (Gardeners for Global Warming?) It would be so wonderful to be able to grow most of what Annie's sells in the ground! We always talk about how much fun it would be to live inside a conservatory so this whole greenhouse effect is a good thing, right? Your purchases look wonderful and I wish them long and happy lives in your garden!
ReplyDeleteYou want to live in Brookings Oregon? No thanks. However if you do think of a way to create a greenhouse over my entire lot I am SO into it. We could be rich!
DeleteToo bad they are zone 9... awesome plants!
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteLong and luxurious is definitely the way to go. Hard to pull off with husband in tow.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a good book, a cool beverage, and the shade of an umbrella would help?
DeleteThat whole Berkeley-Oakland-Richmond-Vallejo climate thing is so near yet so far ...30 minute drive gets me into that plane of existence, where overnight temps in the 20's don't happen and the Echeverias and Aeoniums can live outside all winter. Oh well. Winter chill has it's benefits if you still like herbaceous perennials.
ReplyDelete30 minutes, what a difference! And I think you do still like herbaceous perennials, right?
DeleteAnnie's Annuals regularly gets featured on several blogs but the treasures and charm of the place never ceases to amaze. Hopefully we can see it in the flesh one day...
ReplyDeleteCalifornia here you come! (someday)
DeleteTheir plant signs were so full of detail and humor -- the mark of a nursery that really knows and loves its plants.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of anyone more in love with plants than Annie!
DeleteThat Phyllica pubescens isn't going to be hardy for you, so best treat it as a movable container plant if you want it to be around next spring. That unidentified Proteaceae is a Mimetes cucullatus, and Annie's is really about the only nursery here in California where you can find it. I remember being with Annie on a wholesale nursery expedition to Watsonville and telling her she would be remiss if she didn't get that red Dyckia, and was also the one to encourage her to sell more succulents and terrestrial bromeliads. Back when I was working weekends there, she wasn't really enthused to grow/sell them. I just finished redoing her home's side yard tocomplete the previous work in the back, and she encouraged me to go "tropical style" for this area, and it was fun to design.
ReplyDeleteDavid in Berkeley
Oh well, I put it (Phyllica pubescens) in the ground expecting it wouldn't make it through the winter so c'est la vie! Thanks for the protea identification. I know plenty of wonderful gardeners and plants people who couldn't care less about succulents and terrestrial bromeliads so Annie is in good company, although personally I don't understand them.
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