That was some 15 or 16 years ago but the comparison came to mind when I stopped at a Starbucks south of Olympia, Washington, on my way home from Seattle. Starbucks shared a parking lot with Taco Time where I saw these plantings...
Yes! Opuntia and Cylindropuntia...
Not common plantings in Washington and I dare you to find a Taco Bell with anything that comes close.
Taco time rules! Of course the Saguaro on their logo only reinforces their coolness...
All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Your Taco Bells don't have plantings like that? ;) Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteDo yours?
DeleteJust as long as you skip the food. That planter looks great, and wise to buffer the spines with Nandina. The local Chipotle (no, I don't eat there either) started with some Hesperaloes, pulled them all out, and put in a lawn. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteChipotle, now you're really talking new...they make Taco Del Mar seem old school.
DeleteUgh. Taco Time. You name will forever have an asterisk next to it in my book. :-) I'm a Taco Bell gal. But, when in SoCal, El Pollo Loco rules!
ReplyDeleteOh no, another Taco Bell lover!? I think my primary aversion comes from remembering the one on Broadway (which I'm sure isn't there anymore) which was disgusting.
DeleteI've never even heard of Taco Time. Is that a PNW thing?
ReplyDeleteAnd does Taco Time serve nopales? Now THAT would be cool.
Ya, I think it is a PNW thing...sadly no nopales - that I'm aware of. It's been awhile since I've even there...
DeleteIn Vancouver I saw a cafe called Cactus Club Cafe. Wanted to stop but there was no parking.
DeleteIt's been years since I've eaten at either Taco Hell or Taco Time but the plantings at this one are cool!
ReplyDeleteMe too (thank goodness)
DeleteI never thought I'd see cacti and Nandina growing together. As for the food franchises, I can't remember the last time I ate at either, if I've even eaten at both. I do remember that whichever one I last ate at I didn't like, but I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food. I hate refried beans and sour cream and get tired of trying to find a menu item that doesn't have them, or asking if I can order something without. And don't get me started on that generic taco seasoning. So far my preferred Mexican chain is Qdoba.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of great Mexican restaurants here in Portland, but I do lean towards the ones that don't put a lake of refried beans on your plate. I don't think I've ever actually eaten at Qdoba.
DeleteTacos....quite fancy some now that you've mentioned it. Nice surprise planting there!
ReplyDeleteHope your hankering was rewarded!
DeleteI've stopped at that Taco Time in order to get food and prepare for the awful traffic north through Seattle. Taco Time is my absolute favorite restaurant actually. :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously!? That's fabulous. I knew I liked you.
DeleteYou caught me with your post title, and kept me with your words and images. I've never eaten at Taco Time, but I like just about every Mexican, Tex-Mex, or Ameri-Mex place I've ever tried. There's usually something decent to eat. My favorites, though, are the smaller, local or regional restaurants. And, wow, having those plants out front would definitely be a draw, too! ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou're right of course, it's the local restaurants that get it right. Which was part of the joke to me, that we were seriously discussing fast food like it had merits!
DeleteYou know succulents and cactus have gone mainstream when they get planted in front of fast food joints. I wonder if the Latin-themed restaurants are more inclined to use them than the Asian-themed ones?
ReplyDeleteHmm...can't say I've seen any asian-themed restaurants with succulent plantings. Have you?
DeleteHave you tried Baja Fresh? It's got really good food and a great salsa bar too. You'll have to try it and tell me what you think. But I daresay the plantings probably won't be nearly as exciting as the cuisine or the photos you took. Ironically, just today I was working on a few Cylindropuntia entries for PL. I have so much to learn about dangerous plants. (Thanks for your kind words about my raised bed makeover.)
ReplyDeleteI have, as far as fast food goes they're not bad. I'll be curious to see if your spiky pl dealings turn you into an appreciator....
DeleteAmapola Rico Taco. Cuca's. Del Taco in a pinch. Taco Hell, never (ok, hardly ever).
ReplyDeleteEl Burrito (also good), local home of an old landmark-y cactus, recently added a bunch of Kissho Kans out front. Pretty nice, I thought. But Taco Time looks terrific, and wins this round of cactus-at-a-Mexican-eatery by a mile. (Even after deducting a few points for the nandina.)
Del Taco is the only one I've heard of, oh wait, El Burrito too. Kissho Kans in a landscape...I'd like to see that!
DeleteHahaha, I´ve never tried Taco Bell nor Taco Time. I think we don´t have them here in Spain. But I do like the opuntia and cylindropuntia in the picture very much! they look like an scene of the desert.
ReplyDeleteI think you're probably better off not having tried either!
DeleteHahaha, it could be...but I'll never know if I don´t try :)
DeleteWait! There's a Taco Time AND a Taco Bell? I guess I always just lumped them all together and drove right on by...now THAT'S pretention for you.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I can't wait to tell Andrew I have competition.
DeleteIs that where we stopped for lunch on the way to Seattle from Portland that time?
ReplyDeleteOh my, you have an excellent memory! No, we ate at Taco Del Mar BUT when we got off the freeway I'd intended (based on a freeway sign) to take you here - just couldn't find it so we ended up at Del Mar...
Delete