If you are near So Cal visit Otto & Sons!
DDinSB (Z10b Coastal CA)
2 years ago
Today was "Rose Days" at the nursery -- and the roses are still just gorgeous. Plus there is a new informal garden going in that has a lot of perennials and mixed beds. The Jude the Obscure was amazing, but for some odd reason I didn't take a photo!
Wollerton Old Hall
Eden
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7 days in So Cal makes one weak
Comments (9)Even here in northern California the rhododendron planted beneath the palm tree is an all-too-common sight. It is so easy to grow so many things here (compared to western Massachusetts, where I gardened for 10 years) that it is difficult to avoid. My yard admittedly suffers somewhat from "plant ecologist syndrome", but at least I try to keep biomes consistent. Water conservation is also a concern. So, the front-front yard is "the Southwest (U.S.) meets South Africa", and the hill in the back is "multi-cultural chaparral", with elements of California soft-scrub and hard chaparral (Artemisia californica, toyon, coffeeberry, Rhus integrifolia, Ceanothus, Salvia mellifera, manzanita, larger Eriogonum sp., and more-- whatever will withstand Livermore's heat and clay-ridden soils!) cheek-by-jowl with the rosemaries, Grevilleas, and Eleagnus pungens which were already here. The CA natives replaced literally 1000+ sq. feet of blindingly fluorescent magenta mesembryanthemum and invasive gorse that were also on the hill and almost immediately ripped out. A large valley oak at one end and a really old CA pepper at the other anchor the more-or-less native part of the garden. Like Kim says, it's a real challenge to plant within the severe constraints out here (of course, in Massachusetts, I always thought there was too much rain and lived in what was practically a swamp, but the peonies were beautiful). The roses here mostly hang out in the irrigated flatlands of the yard with the fruit trees and berries. The fruit plants sort of provide infrastructure or divisions for the various "rooms" of roses and keep the color schemes from getting too crazy. Some "non-biome-correct" plants seem to look okay with roses, such as caespitose Yuccas from the southeastern U.S. (e.g., Yucca filamentosa, and where else am I going to put them, she asks?!). -- Debbie...See MoreAustin Sizes in So Cal/Compact, Front of the Border Austins
Comments (23)Hello all! We got a chance to make it out to Otto and Sons today (just missing the sale unfortunately). We took a look at quite a few roses new to both of us and ended up generally going in a different direction from Austins. The Austin test bed there afforded my mom a chance to see Munstead Wood blooming in person which was very elucidating. She liked it, but didn't love it like the photos of it she had seen. She would probably still like to try it, but not enough to get several. We did get several Rose de Rescht to try however. The scent and color was very nice in person, and the shrubs looked quite nice. We also picked up a Distant Drums which is one of her favorites. I really did know it when I saw it from a distance! There were almost too many interesting things! We nearly got a Rosa Viridiflora, Rosa Rubrifolia/Glauca, Lady of Shallot, and George Burns. The one Austin we did get that most impressed my mother in person was an Ambridge Rose. I know some have reported rust, but neither I nor my mom recall ever seeing it on even the most neglected of roses that we've tried. You have to take some chances in the long run, so this will be one. Queen of Sweeden was a close second for those who had mentioned it. Much more apricot in person than most photos suggested. It may have just been the one left was not the best shrub, but Sharifa Asma didn't catch my mom's eye. It was a nice plus to add a new OGR cultivar to the ranks of the couple of true Teas, one HP, and a few older Polyanthas present (not true OGRs I know). Thanks for all of your input! Jay...See MoreThree cheers for Otto and Sons
Comments (0)The fantastic South Africa has just popped up on Otto's current availability. This has been hard to come by and is a great rose for So Cal. Time to visit Filmore!!!...See MoreOtto’s -Never say never!
Comments (12)Saving the best for last— Otto’s has a DA test garden. This rose looks so much better in person than in any photo! Here’s a row of roses for sale — HTs. This lucky person (you can see her over the bed of the truck, to the right of the flag) just bought a LOT of roses. Wish it were me. Enjoy, everybody! Sylvia...See MoreDDinSB (Z10b Coastal CA)
2 years ago
sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
2 years agoDDinSB (Z10b Coastal CA) thanked sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
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