Visit to Otto & Sons Nursery

10 years ago

Hi all,
Those of you anywhere from Santa Barbara to San Diego really ought to make it out to this amaaazing rose nursery in Fillmore (halfway between 1-5/Valencia/Magic Mountain and Ventura/the coast). This is prime citrus country, a gorgeous and still mostly unspoiled green valley between picturesque mountains, with orange groves all along the road.
Otto & Sons grow something like 45,000 roses. They're a David Austin test garden as well (going to post on this in the Antique Roses forum). From 4/24 through 4/26 they're having Rose Days, with all kinds of wonderful educational seminars and juicy discounts on their enormous selection.
I need a large, eye-catching rose to replace what turns out to be a ridiculous Dr. Huey just under my living room window. It used to be a white rose ... then it seemed to die ... then it came back with leaping flowerless canes and puny-red blossoms.Thanks to the Name That Rose forum, I now know its shameless identity. I'll be digging it out tomorrow, or in a few days at least, and I'd like to put something somewhat orangey in that space. At Otto and Sons, I was impressed by:
About Face
Precious Moment
Pat Austin
and, although not orange, Francis Meilland.
I've read the comments about FM on this forum and it seems that blooming consistently is not its forte, About Face seems to go nonstop. The folks on the Antique Roses forum seem to universally hate Pat Austin, so although I thought it was a simply beautiful rose, that may not be the best choice.
How about Precious Moment? How tall does it get? I need something at least 5' high. It could be a climber too, up to maybe 8'.
Thanks,
Sylvia

Comments (11)

boncrow66
10 years ago
I have strike it rich and chiluly, both are kinda of orangey and have done very well for me.
seil zone 6b MI
10 years ago
Sounds like you had a wonderful rosey day!
Related Discussions
Local Nursery visit
Q
Comments (14)
Woody, that's exactly why I pass on those pots too. I have the large ceramic pot our son gave me for Christmas this year and wow is it heavy when it is full. We use what we call a 'two wheeler'. It's a handcart. I have no idea where we came up with that name. But the pot is sort of a bell shape that is wide and it's not easy to keep it on it. I am enjoying the fiberglass pots that we leave out all winter. Norma, quite an eye to catch the cover of that Cats book. Is that what your Niki does in your pond? Looks like she's fishing. Marie, I decided to use the photo of the steps on my laptop desktop. It makes a nice one. Would be happy to send you the full photo file. Michelle, I didn't think of that. That's quite a price on the corn stalks, isn't it. You almost wouldn't need to have a crop, just the stalks. lol Yes, Kathy, I did see some of the pots were from Vietnam which surprised me. I forgot about the shipping, they are very heavy. Marian, you don't sound the least bit worried about that bear. I would be worrying about the bear trying to get in somewhere to find food. Cindy, it was an amazing kitchen, I don't know why I didn't get more photos of it. It had a huge stainless grill and a granite island with a sink across from a large stone fireplace. I always thought it has to be a lot of money for something that you have to wonder how often you would use it. Especially in our climate. Chelone, goats seem so relaxed and quiet every time I've seen one. I have heard so many stories of how they will eat anything, that I wonder what mischief they would get into. I have always wanted a sheep. I would enjoy having a source for wool too. ....I wonder if after disassembling all her current pots, if Deanne would be in the mood to buy more. [g]
...See More
Broken Arrow Nursery visit yesterday
Q
Comments (1)
Just posting a follow up to move it along down the list... I planted all that I bought at Broken Arrow...hooray, nothing in the driveway holding area.... ha ha ha. JoAnn
...See More
A visit to a local nursery.
Q
Comments (25)
Hi Jentsu926' You must be somewhere around Atlanta too. We are north up in the hills. It is a drive to get to the closest Pike in Cumming. i agree, aspidistras are pricey but slow growing. Those large ones were 40.00. Still mulling it over. Ha Mentha, I am so excited to find this little guy. The picture is deceptive, the pot is 6 inches. I was reading the link to Frilly Filly and I feel like it's a match. The story behind it is interesting too. There are some Google pics of the different ways they have grown them. One looks lik a Christmas tree. Have you been able to root any cuttings yet?
...See More
If you are near So Cal visit Otto & Sons!
Q
Comments (6)
@Diane Brakefield - They had several bushes of Jude, and they were mature, and in full bloom -- so it was much like being in the David Austin Catalogue! The one that was labeled Jude was lovely -- and then one kind of across from it looked like Jude, but the flowers smelled like lemon furniture polish to me -- which was a tiny bit off-putting and puzzling to me -- and the fact that I was trying to compare the one labeled Jude with the one not labeled and trying to figure out if it was the same bush -- that's probably why I didn't take a photo. I have a Jude now because my good friend moved from SB to Oregon, and had to leave her garden behind, so we dug up Jude and her Eustacia Vye to move to my garden -- so then Jude had a bit of a shock to the system. I'm hoping eventually he looks like the one at Otto & Sons! But, I hope he doesn't smell like Lemon Pledge! :-/ Yes -- I love love love love roses -- but I love them best when they are interplanted with other things -- so that new garden going in will probably be my favorite. I've been here 3-4 times to pick up plants, but never knew they had a demo rose garden until I got a flyer in the mail for rose days! I can't believe I've been missing out! I was going to head down to Huntington Rose Garden for my birthday (birthday was last week, but Saturday was my free day), but the tea room, and parts of the garden were supposed to be closed, so that's why I went to O&S instead. Had planned to stop by an Irish Pub in Santa Paula on way home, but I think they didn't make it through covid...sadly. I will be in N. Ireland end of May -- wondering if roses at Austin in England will be open yet...could maybe stop by there on the way home! :-)
...See More
Kippy
10 years ago
Did you buy any Tomatoes? It was tomatomania weekend. Mine are planted so I don't need anymore.

My baby 1g Cl Cecile Brunner has a 9 foot cane that is thicker than my thumb (bought it last rose days for $10)
nastarana
10 years ago
Pat Austen, in the hot CA sun turns into a disgusting pink. I never thought a pink flower could be ugly until I saw a faded PA.
rosydreams SoCal (10a Sunset 19 HeatZone 8)
10 years ago
Hi there SFv4life,
Coming out from years of stealthy lurking to ask a question, if you don't mind... :)
Judging from your location, could you tell me, if I wanted to go to Otto&Sons from the Woodland hills/west hills/Calabasas area, would I have to take or cross thru any mountainy or twisty-path-hanging-on-a-cliff roads?
I've been wanting to visit but I'm embarrassed to say, those kinda roads get me white knuckled. If so, I have to have my husband take me. Thank you!
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author
10 years ago
Rosydreams, there really aren't any mountain roads out to Otto and Sons. You would take the 405 to the 5 and turn west at US 26. This is a wide, paved road, from which you'll branch off on other paved roads that hug the base of the hills. No dirt roads. Some twists and turns but you're never really off the ground -- more like driving along the valley floor.

Nastarana, that's what I've heard about Pat Austin. Not having the resources (and staff) of a huge nursery like Otto's, I guess I'm really better off without her.

Kippy, I've sworn off tomatoes for a while, but the place was certainly buzzing.

When I return for Rose Days, I'll take another look at Strike it Rich and Chiluly. The latter in particular looked good to me.

Thanks all,
Sylvia
boncrow66
10 years ago
Have a great day looking at roses! Hope you find THE one :)
rosydreams SoCal (10a Sunset 19 HeatZone 8)
10 years ago
Sfv4life(Sylvia), thank you so much! I've been wanting to visit for ages, I should have asked earlier. :)
Thanks Boncrow66, probably more than one. ;)
nancylee2
10 years ago
Went to OAS on Thursday. Such a wonderful place. Picked up Boscobel and Heathcliff,
my two wish list roses. Then added South Africa as it sent out a call to DH. And, Kippy, we did get 4 tomatoes.
seil zone 6b MI
10 years ago
Roses AND tomatoes! Now I'm really jealous! Woke up to a new snow record this morning here.
Kippy
10 years ago
I am headed right past there this morning...sigh they will be closed.

Visit to Otto & Sons Nursery

Comments (11)

boncrow66

seil zone 6b MI

Related Discussions

Kippy

nastarana

rosydreams SoCal (10a Sunset 19 HeatZone 8)

SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author

boncrow66

rosydreams SoCal (10a Sunset 19 HeatZone 8)

nancylee2

seil zone 6b MI

Kippy

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Visit to Otto & Sons Nursery

Comments (11)

Related Discussions

SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCalOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author