Friday, December 6, 2013

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!

Of course these curly guys were appreciated as well.

Naturally entered the desert garden from the wrong side, so I missed this very important sign. Thank goodness I didn't get hurt!

Beautiful!

I took so many photos of these agaves! (A. stricta and A. parryi var. huachucensis, I believe)

Romneya coulteri

Or as I first heard it called 'fried egg plant'...

One last shot and then it was back on the bus and on to another garden...(ah, that's the life!)

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

33 comments:

  1. Sunset HQ? Magazine mecca. I'm sooooo jealous!

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    1. Wish you could have made it to the party Evita!

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  2. That's a lovely burst of sun, plants and friends on this cold, snowy Portland day. I feel warmer already!

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    1. Glad to hear it worked! Maybe I should start looking at my photos from the Ruth Bancroft garden next...

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  3. Jane's right, perfect timing for this warm post! Do y'all have snow? Lucky! It's just cold and clear here.

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    1. We got about an inch of show yesterday, its mostly gone now (from blowing more than melting) but still piled in places. I wouldn't say I felt particularly lucky...

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  4. And you didn't mention the heat! (Or did you?) Fun memories for a cold day in Austin as well.

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    1. I didn't, somehow I just couldn't remember what that heat felt like! Must have been the 23 degree dog walk earlier that morning.

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  5. Maybe you need a sign like Sunset's for your garden.

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  6. I've been to the Sunset HQ before and found the long border of the different west coast climate zones very interesting. I hope they changed it for the better. I need (and will find) that ‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia.

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    1. I've reliably seen them at Cornell Farms. Good sized too, but a little pricey.

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  7. OMG...it was so hot that day...I was one of the people sitting in those chairs!

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    1. I don't know why I didn't snap a photo of everyone!

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  8. So very, very glad you're not showing any snow on your blog today! This was such a nice, warm, sunny blast from the past.

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    1. I did snap a few ugly snow photos later in the day, when I finally decided I'd better suit up and walk the dog. Trying to decide if I'll post them next or just stay (mentally at least) in California.

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  9. Thank you for this! I needed to see something warm and happy. Those agaves are stunning! And the mahonia soft caress is such a cool plant! I'm definitely adding that to my list of must have plants. Who knows, with all this cold I might have a ton of new planting space come spring :S

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    1. Oh man, I totally forgot about my 'soft caress'...poor thing is probably frozen solid.

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  10. I can't describe how cold my hands are and have been, all day. Your pics help, reminded of that nice, toasty weather we had there! (I wasn't griping about it like some others did) How did I miss that part of the display gardens were by Calif. zone? Great scenes, esp the spiky areas...missed some of that, too.

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    1. Oh to have that heat back right now, even just a little bit of it!

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  11. Thanks so much for this, that was the day I was ill and I missed this one. Your photos are great.

    Agave 'Felipe Otero' I think is the one called 'FO-76', meaning collected by Mr. F. Otero in 1976. Much verbal wrangling seems to be drifting towards the conclusion its the green version of A. titanota, The one in your photo does look pretty titanota-ish.

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    1. Glad to fill in the blanks for you a bit Hoov, and thank you for the agave info!

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  12. I love portland so much that I can't imagine living anywhere else . . . but sometimes California seems appealing with its ginormous agave potential. Great photos!

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    1. I'm pretty sure I'd move in a heartbeat.

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  13. That vignette reminds me of your garden somehow, I think your space is not too dissimilar from it and both ticks the right boxes. And every time I see a well grown Agave parryi it makes me long for another one!

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    1. I've still not acquired an Agave parryi var. huachucensis, those perfectly inky black tips just send me. Must find one!

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  14. I admit, I'm drooling a bit here that you were able to visit such a neat place! I love the different textures they use for ground cover: glass, rocks, mulch and concrete. Really cool!

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    1. If you find yourself in the area Jenni you should check it out. The gardens are open for self-guided walking tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays: http://www.sunset.com/garden/landscaping-design/sunset-garden-tour-00400000015024/

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  15. Smart of you to hold these posts for a time when remembered warmth is so welcome. I just came in from shooting snow scenes with frozen fingers.

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    1. It's almost over, right? I just hope we've had our winter "storm" and the rest of it can be easier. I'm not up for more like this.

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  16. Oh, yes, the Agaves and Cacti are wonderful! I think this would have been one of my favorite spots if I'd been able to attend the fling. The trial garden looks like it was designed well.

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    1. In person I must admit I was a little stunned that so much space was given over to lawn, but when you realize how many parties take place there I guess it really makes sense.

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  17. Oh wow. I bet you are really happy you saved all the plats. I am the sure the snow would have done some damage. I cannot wait for it to get warmer and nature to be in full bloom again.

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