I have two sides going so far--lots of seedlings going in the areas that look bare. side 1 (this was the 1st side I did back in March): And this is side 2 (I had a bunch of herbs and potatoes but decided to go above ground with those (I just threw together the wood planters from scraps we had laying around-now ISO soil): I have corn, greens, beans, and a few other sprouts coming up--I threw the straw down (from when I cleared our side yard in May) to give them a bit of shade and extra water---this side gets like 6 hours of INTENSE sun this time of year (especially this year). I have some raspberries to plant in the back corner on side 2--I'd love to have a little berry patch. But through research I've found very few varieties grow in a 10a zone (this part is all new to me) Those retaining wall planters are my next big project but the dirt is so compacted I can't even dig---but I'm thinking of just top filling it after I pull everything...just can bring myself to get rid of all my aloe and succulents that grow up in the shade. I'd love to do something vertical... (Side 1) (Side 2) This is the first year I'm doing this---I pulled the existing shrubs (2 10 year old hibiscus, a 10 year old rosemary, among others) all by hand and turned the soil myself---my husband's around to help but it's mostly a project I've taken on myself. I'd like to get a bit more organized as far as what grows where and when, more vertical growth, etc...one thing at a time I suppose. I've shown you mine--who's showing theirs? (I apologize for any typos, I didn't proofread this)

From my upcoming class, "Gardening Resources" (contact them for EXACT dates) ... CALIFORNIA PLANT AND GARDEN SALES AND SHOWS January -- South Bay Spring Home & Garden Show Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, CA www.southbayhomeshow.com February -- Alameda County Spring Home & Garden Show Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, CA 510-682-7227 www.capitalshowcase.com/alameda.html February -- Peninsula Spring Home & Garden Show San Mateo Expo Center, San Mateo, CA 1-800-765-3976 www.peninsulahomeshow.com February -- Markham Regional Arboretum The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html February -- Descanso Gardens Camellia Festival and Camellia Plant Sale 1418 Descanso Drive La Cada Flintridge, CA 91011 818-949-4200 March -- UC Irvine Arboretum Spring Plant Sale North Campus Drive and Jamboree Road, Irvine Early spring perennials and spring bulbs will be on sale (949) 824-5833 March -- Fresno Home & Garden Show Fresno Fairgrounds, Fresno, CA 800-897-7899 www.fresnoshows.com/cgi-bin/sitepage.pl?pg_id=2 March -- San Francisco Flower & Garden Show Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA 800-829-9751 http://www.gardenshow.com March -- Ventura County Home & Garden Show Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, CA 800-222-9351 www.capitalshowcase.com/ventura.html March -- Yuba City Total Home, Garden & Recreation Show Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, Yuba City, CA 530-671-9600 www.totalhomeshow.com/Spring_Home_and_Garden_Show.htm March -- Long Beach Home & Garden Show Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA www.sbhomeshow.com/mar28-30-show.asp March -- Contra Costa Spring Home & Garden Show Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, CA 510-682-7227 www.capitalshowcase.com/contra.html April -- American Bamboo Society; The Northern California Chapter "Annual Spring Bamboo Festival, Sale and Auction" San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. ncal-chapter@americanbamboo.org April  California Horticultural Society "Specialty Nursery Plant Sale", In collaboration with a variety of specialty nurseries Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland April -- AnnieÂs Annuals "Spring Party" 740 Market Ave., Richmond, CA http://www.anniesannuals.com/info/ohouse/default.asp April -- Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Spring Plant Sale 1500 N. College Avenue Claremont, CA 91711 909-625-8767 or website: www.rsabg.org April -- Fullerton Arboretum "Green Scene Plant Sale & Garden Show" $6 admission 1900 Associated Rd. Fullerton, CA 92831 714-278-3579 A large multi-vendor sale April -- Markham Regional Arboretum The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html April -- Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Spring Plant Sale 1500 N. College Avenue Claremont, CA 91711 For further information, call (909) 625-8767 or check our website: www.rsabg.org Native California plants April -- San Jose Home & Garden Show San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, CA www.sanjosehomeshow.com April -- UC Berkeley Botanic Garden Spring Plant Sale 200 Centennial Drive #5045 Berkeley, CA 94720-5045 510-643-2755 http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/program/index.shtml April -- UC Santa Cruz Arboretum Spring Plant Sale Held in the Eucalyptus Grove. 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 427-2998 phone (831) 427-1524 fax http://www2.ucsc.edu/arboretum/calendar.html arboretum@cats.ucsc.edu. May  Cabrillo College Annual Spring Plant Sale (MotherÂs Day Weekend) Environmental Horticulture Center & Botanic Gardens 6500 Soquel Drive (top of campus), Aptos, CA (831) 477-5671 Over 1000 different annuals, bedding plants, culinary & medicinal herbs, cut flowers, natives, perennials, salvias, species & hybrid fuchsias, succulents and vines. May -- AnnieÂs Annuals "MotherÂs Day Party" 740 Market Ave., Richmond, CA http://www.anniesannuals.com/info/ohouse/default.asp May  Huntington Botanical Garden Annual Plant Sale (the BIG one) 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108 (626) 405-2100 Questions? publicinfo@huntington.org Free with museum admission. May  Quail Botanic Garden Palm and Cycad Sale 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas CA 760-436-3036 e-mail: info@qbgardens.org May  Los Angeles Arboretum Annual Epiphyllum Show & Sale Ayres Hall & Gate & Patios 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007 626-821-3222 http://www.arboretum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=getcatheadlines&Catagory=events&CFID=2027410&CFTOKEN=22730740 May-June -- Inland Empire Home & Outdoor Living Show Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA www.thorschproductions.com/index_hols.html June -- Theodore Payne Foundation Plant Sale For more information go to their website www.theodorepayne.org Or call 818-768-1802 10459 Tuxford St. in Sun Valley. June  San Diego County Master Gardeners "Summer Plant Sale" Casa del Prado, Balboa Park http://www.mastergardenerssandiego.org/ June -- San Francisco Botanical Garden General Sale with emphasis on Perennials located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. June -- Markham Regional Arboretum The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html June -- Lompoc Valley Flower Festival Flower Show Ryon Park, Lompoc, CA 805-735-8511 flowerfestival.org/festival.htm July -- Aril Society International Aril iris bulb and plant sale; open to members only. Each June, a price list is mailed out to all the ASI members. New members can join the ASI at the same time they place their order (see membership info for details). Sale chair: Betsy Higgins, higgins881@mchsi.com 608 S. Buena Vista Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 July -- Huntington Botanical Garden Cactus & Succulent Show and Sale 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108 (626) 405-2100 Questions? publicinfo@huntington.org Free with museum admission. July -- San Francisco Botanical Garden General Sale with emphasis on Salvias & Shrubs located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. July -- Northern California Cactus & Succulent Association Annual cactus and succulent show and sale San Francisco County Fair Building 9th and Lincoln Way in Golden Gate Park July -- Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Show and Sale Sepulveda Garden Center 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino, CA Contact: Artie Chavez 818-363-3432 August  San Francisco Botanical Garden Summer Gardening Fair located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. August -- San Francisco Botanical Garden General Sale with emphasis on Shade Plants located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. August -- Markham Regional Arboretum The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html August  Los Angeles Arboretum Inter-City Cactus Show and Sale Ayres Hall, Gate, Kitchen, Patios 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007 626-821-3222 http://www.arboretum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=getcatheadlines&Catagory=events&CFID=2027410&CFTOKEN=22730740 August -- Southern California Home & Garden Show Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA www.southerncaliforniahomeshow.com August-September  UC Irvine Arboretum Summer Bulb Sale North Campus, UCI - building 96 Irvine, CA 92697 Contact: Laura Lyons ldlyons@uci.edu 949-824-5833 Annual sale of dormant bulbs from our winter growing southern Africa bulb collection, evergreen and summer bulbs in containers, and perennials for planting with bulbs. September  UC Davis Botanical Conservatory Specialty Plant Sale Driving east on Interstate 80 from the San Francisco Bay Area or driving west on I-80 from Sacramento, take the UC Davis exit onto Old Davis Road to the campus. In conjunction with the International Carnivorous Plant Society, Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society and Bay Area Carnivorous Plant Society. A huge selection of cacti, succulents, Sarracenia, and house/greenhouse plants at this sale. September -- UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Annual Fall Sale Features a large selection of perennials, including extensive selections from the gardenÂs Mediterranean, South American, and Australasian collections. Numerous cacti and succulents from the gardenÂs collections will also be on sale, as will orchids, tropicals, California natives, grasses, vines, trees, and shrubs. The sale for the general public will be preceded by a members-only sale and silent auction from 9 to 10 a.m. Memberships are available at the gate. For a list of plants available at the fall sale, see botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu. September -- San Francisco Botanical Garden General Sale with emphasis on Native Plants & Succulents located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. September -- Diablo College Fall Sale 321 Golf Club Road Pleasant Hill, California 94523 Email: kechols@dvc.edu Phone: 925-685-1230 ext. 1958 Diablo Valley College Horticulture Club offers new and unusual plants for the garden. Other plant Sales are 4 times a year with thousands of unusual plants for sale. September -- Markham Regional Arboretum The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html September  Quail Botanical Gardens "WorldÂs Greatest Bamboo Sale" Presented by the American Bamboo Society - Southern California Chapter Quail Botanical Gardens 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas Admission: Members: Free to Bamboo Society & Quail Gardens Members. Non-Members: $8 for adults, $5 for Seniors, Students and Active Military, and $3 for children 3-12. Under 3 is free. For more information call: (951) 359-1706 Over 100 species grown by collectors and local growers with a special auction of rare bamboo. Most items not yet commercially available. September  Los Angeles Arboretum Fern & Exotic Plant Show and Sale Ayres Hall & Gate & Kitchen 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007 626-821-3222 http://www.arboretum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=getcatheadlines&Catagory=events&CFID=2027410&CFTOKEN=22730740 September -- UC Berkeley Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale 200 Centennial Drive #5045 Berkeley, CA 94720-5045 510-643-2755 http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/program/index.shtml UC Berkeley also has several special/themed plant sales (e.g., drought-tolerant plants, bulbs) several times a year. September -- Mendocino Coast Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale In the "Gardens Nursery" 18220 North Highway One Fort Bragg, CA 95437 (707) 964-4352 http://www.gardenbythesea.org/ info@gardenbythesea.org All plants 20% off for nonmembers and 30% for members September-October -- AnnieÂs Annuals "Fall Planting Party" 740 Market Ave., Richmond, CA http://www.anniesannuals.com/info/ohouse/default.asp September-October -- Fullerton Arboretum "Fall Vine Sale" Free admission 1900 Associated Rd. Fullerton CA 92831 714-278-3579 October -- Chico Total Home and Garden Show Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, Chico, CA www.chicohomeshow.com October -- Quail Botanic Garden "Annual Fall Plant Sale" 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas CA 760-436-3036 e-mail: info@qbgardens.org Fee: Members Free; Non-members: Free with Garden Admission A very wide range of plants, at extremely reasonable prices because all plants are donated. Over 100 growers, wholesalers, retail nurseries, and individuals donate to this event. October -- Theodore Payne Foundation "Fall Festival" For more information go to their website www.theodorepayne.org Or call 818-768-1802 10459 Tuxford St. in Sun Valley. October  Huntington Botanical Garden Fall Plant Sale 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108 (626) 405-2100 Questions? publicinfo@huntington.org Free with museum admission. October  UC Davis Arboretum "Plant Faire" At the Arboretum Orchard Park Nursery. I-80 to Hwy 113 North to Arboretum A great selection of the Arboretum plants. October  San Francisco Botanical Garden Trees, Ferns & Rhododendrons Sale located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. October -- Merritt College Annual Fall Plant Sale Held in conjunction with the California Native Plant Society on the Merritt College campus in the Oakland hills. Admission to the sale is free and ample parking is available. For more information, call Molly Sealund at (510) 436-2418 or e-mail her at msealund@merritt.edu. More information: www.merrittlandhort.com. (Merritt college plant sale) October -- Ruth Bancroft Gardens Fall Plant Sale http://www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/pages/plantsales.html A wide assortment of succulents and other drought tolerant plants for sale as well as gardening books, t-shirts, note cards, gardening gifts, and more. Guided and self-guided tours will be offered throughout the day. Reservations are not required for this event. October  Los Angeles Arboretum Winter Cactus Show & Sale Ayres Hall & Gate, Kitchen 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007 626-821-3222 http://www.arboretum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=getcatheadlines&Catagory=events&CFID=2027410&CFTOKEN=22730740 October -- UC Santa Cruz Arboretum Arboretum Fall Plant Sale Held in the Eucalyptus Grove. 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 427-2998 phone (831) 427-1524 fax http://www2.ucsc.edu/arboretum/calendar.html arboretum@cats.ucsc.edu. October-November -- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale 1212 Mission Canyon Road Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Phone: 805-682-4726 fax: 805-563-0352 Web: http://www.sbbg.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=calendar.main email: info@sbbg.org November -- Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale 1500 N. College Avenue Claremont, CA 91711 909-625-8767 or website: www.rsabg.org November  San Francisco Botanical Garden End-of-the-Season Sale located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. November -- Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Fall plant sale 1500 N. College Avenue Claremont, CA 91711 For further information, call (909) 625-8767 or check our website: www.rsabg.org Featuring thousands of native California plants December -- Markham Regional Arboretum "Half-price Sale" The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 Web: http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html If anyone can offer corrections/updates, I would really appreciate it. Joe

I know this thread is pretty old by now, but just in case anyone else gets here looking for Hoyas I'll leave this here. I live in LA and found a nursery that carries some Hoyas, it's called Mickey Hargitay's Plants and they had Lanceolata Bella's, Carnosas including Compactas and even ones that looked like Javanica's. Also I've seen the Hindu ropes downtown at the flower market. People there are friendly and most vendors will look for plants for you if you ask. I got my Lacunosa today beautiful and big, with buds! I asked 2 weeks ago. Good luck!

Lars- There were many wine-tasting places of course with the many vineyards in the area but, wine puts me out like a light. We went to "The Solvang Restaurant" which is quite popular and has been shown on a number of tv shows especially for their Æbleskiver but honestly, it was nothing to "write home about." Other restaurants I tried "Bit of Denmark," and the "Viking Brewing Company," were outstanding. They make a killer hot pastrami on rye with red cabbage. A decent pastrami is practically impossible to find in the southern part of California, so I was more than pleased. The succulent café made a decent cup of coffee : ) I admit I only stopped in because of the name <g> Have you been to "The Succulent Café" in Oceanside? I've heard that's a hundred times better! Pismo Beach? I don't get what the big attraction is over there. Every time I pass by coming from the north or the south I run into a traffic jam. I agree with you on Vista/north SD and Rainbow Gardens would be an awesome place. La Jolla! I miss the old La Jolla. It's still a beautiful town but, I did notice quite a number of homeless people on some of the main avenues such as La Jolla Shores Drive. I wish there was an easy solution to help them and at the same time maintain the integrity of our neighborhoods.