Hi tinyrose, I sent you an email. Also there's a Green Thumb literally right next to the I-5 at El Toro that's pretty nice, though Roger's is the star of this area.

Visiting garden shops = dream vacation! :)

International Garden Center
155 N Sepulveda Blvd, El Segundo, CAâ -
(310) 322-2886â

Plant Depot
33413 San Juan Creek Road
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Telephone: 949-240-2107

Sperling's Nursery, right off the 101 in Parkway Calabasas. The best in So Cal from my point of view.

Thanks for the information.

I just realized that my email address has changed. Hoov, will you please send your email again. I just re set my profile.

Thanks,
E

You might visit Armstrong Nurseries in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach,and Costa Mesa along the way.

Rodger's Gardens is a great stop for your nursery tour. I'd also add two San Diego nurseries to your list if you come that far south. They're not as fancy as Rodger's Gardens, but have large rose selections, cater to the rose community, and are family owned.

Tropic World - Escondido, intersection I-15 & Highway 78
Kniffings - El Cajon, intersection I-8 & old Highway 80

If you're interested in nurseries that are special, but don't necessarily specialize in roses, I can give you a few more names of truly unique nurseries in SD that are run by dedicated individuals with specific passions (irises, herbs, vegetables, drought-tolerant plants, etc.)

decagon: I'm interested in truly unique nurseries in SD that aren't rose-specialists! And thank you for the ones you already listed, because I hadn't heard of them before. I think I know where I'll be trying to go tomorrow. :D I live pretty close to El Cajon.

Thanks again for all the info.

I ended up only having time to make it to Rodger's gardens and two Armstrong's. I was so disappointed in Rodger's. They had such a small selection of roses. I remember a time when they had a huge selection of Austin roses, not to mention all the standards. They had four Austins. However, it is a fantastic nursery!

I will try the other recommendations on my way home.

Thanks again,
Eileen

I wish I had already visited Guerrero Rose Farm in Ontario so I can give more info, but that one is next on my list. I called them looking for several roses I hadn't found anywhere else, and they had them, so that is a good sign. They don't have Austins, I asked and they had stopped carrying them for some reason, only Sophy's Rose in case you are looking for that one. Does anyone know of nurseries that sell own root in Southern California? Guerrero's and everywhere else I've been are all grafted.

Guerrero Rose Farm Nursery

(909) 988-0015
2110 S Euclid Ave
Ontario, CA 91762

Weidner's Gardens gets my vote for prettiest nursery in these parts. It's located on a frontage road to Interstate 5 between North San Diego and Oceanside -- Here's how they say to get there --

"Interstate 5 between Leucadia and La Costa exits---We are on the corner of Piraeus and Normandy. [ 695 Normandy] on the east side of the freeway. Piraeus is the name of the frontage road. It only goes between those two exits."

Weidners specializes in rare plants, begonias and handing baskets, all of which they grow themselves. No roses (boo hoo). But still well worth the stop.

When you are there, ask them for their map to the other unique north county nurseries. Last time I was there, the map was at the checkout stand and free for the asking. There are all sorts of specialty nursweries right in that immediate area -- orchids, fuschias, bromiliads, bamboos, etc.

Also, if you are on the 15, stop at Plant World (across the 15 fwy from Tropic World). Plant World does great roses.

Here is a link that might be useful: Weidner's Gardens

What a wealth of information. Thank you so much. I make the trip from SB to SD pretty often. Now I have so much to look forward to on the hellish drive.
E