Hi and welcome! I live in Orange County and can tell you that you might be able to find Milkweed at Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar (call first). The Fullerton Arboretum's Potting Shed (open on the weekends only) also sometimes has Milkweed. If you wait for the Green Scene (HUGE garden show/sale) then you will probably be able to find loads of the stuff that weekend. The Green Scene is coming up: April 21 & 22 and tix are available now (see link below). I can send you some Asclepias curassavica seeds (Tropical Milkweed) if you are interested. Monarchs like the stuff, for sure, and it is really easy to grow. Drop me a line at tifannytdog@yahoo.com if you want some. The Fullerton Arboretum sells the seeds as well. :) tdogmom aka CalSherry Here is a link that might be useful: Green Scene info

I volunteer at the Huntingtonn Botanical Gardens, our cactus nursery is 10-12 acres about. We have a large world class Japanese Garden, we now have 1/3 of a finished World ClassChinese Garden which will be the largest outside of China, we have a tropical greenhouse World Class, we have a Shapespear Garden( I'll explain that if needed) we have an Australian Garden, we have a World Class Rose Garden, we have a childrens garden, and learning center, we have the largest plam garden west of the Rockies. We have several speciality greenhouses for the public, Calif, has many worthy gardens, one in San Francisco, one at U.C.L.A. yes the Quail Gardens, and the Drescendo Gardens, to many to name here. Sorry may hands are not able to type that long. The Huntington is considered a world class garden because they have close to 1000,000 plant documented and recorded. We have a Herberium, have lecture halls, and training centers, we take in students from all over the world to train. It is a must see. It opens at 10:30 and closes 4:30 it has a cafteria, and a tea room, wear very comforatble walking shoes, and if you need a wheelchair be sure to reserve it. We have free lecture days, check what is in flower the month that you plan to visit. Oh, yes they have docent tours. I forgot out famous library, and art galleries. Norma

Hello ... Cambria is an interesting place ... Monterey is also one of my favorites ... the climate in California can change significantly over a short distance ... it is a very hard to generalize california's climate ... and so many kinds of plants can find a nook to live even in a small local area .. during the summer one can go from cool pleasant ocean weather to very hot dry desert in just a few hours drive. The aquarium in Monterey is cool place to visit if you are a science type ... the Hearst Castle in Cambria is also interesting in terms of gardening .. history and architecture. If you wait a few years and find the love of your life the Moon Stone Inn in cambria is a very magical place ... although I have not been there in quite a number of years .. so things could have changed. Cambria is a small town with lots of creative energy .. perhaps it is where you will live when you become a mathematics wizard ! Good Day ...

If you would like to see pictures of this event please follow the California Gardening thread Sanda