It was time to take a road trip to the Bay Area this weekend so I could stock up on plants from Annie’s Annuals for my garden. I decided to take the scenic route up Route 1.
I stopped at Ragged Point and took a bunch of pictures of this hummingbird zipping around the Echium candicans. Even though there are several species of hummingbird in California I always assume they are Anna’s hummingbirds I am seeing because I believe they are the most common year round residents.
They are fast little buggers but I got a couple of decent pictures. Pretty sure this is the same guy but the red around their throat is only visible when the light hits it from a certain angle.
I pulled over to take a picture of this huge lupin.
Aside from lupins there were Oxalis, Ceanothus, mustard, and California poppies in bloom along the coast. On my way back I took the interior roads and there were tons of almonds, cherries, and plums in bloom. It will always be a bit strange to me that fruit trees bloom in the middle of winter here in California instead of in early spring on the east coast.
Since it was a Sunday I didn’t make too many stops because there were a lot of cars on the road and most of the parking lots were full. So I skipped the elephant seals and Nepenthe. I did stop at the vista point to take a picture of Big Creek Bridge. It was a beautiful clear winter day.
wooly Indian paintbrush
I believe this is Castilleja foliolosa but I’m not an expert on them. I do know that they are hemiparasitic (derive some of their sustenance from the roots of other plants) which is why you don’t see them for sale as a garden plant.
So happy! Every time I drive up the California coast I feel very lucky to be living here.
The waves were insane! I tried to get a picture of some of the big ones but of course they wouldn’t cooperate. The huge waves were shy and only came out when I put my camera away.
I spent Sunday night in Berkeley and woke up bright and early Monday morning and headed to Annie’s for a full day of shopping.
I made a beeline for this Athanasia pinnata. I think it will make a really nice specimen planting in my mediterranean garden so of course I had to have one.
Megan from Far Out Flora (one of my favorite garden blogs) works at Annie’s so I let her know I was coming so I could say hey.
I had a long day ahead of me. I was there for a total of 5 hours. Even though I came prepared with a list and Annie’s is very well organized I always end up running around in circles like a fool. Everyone that congratulated me for being a grown up and not buying that Globularia a few weeks ago can go ahead and revoke my adult status. Things I didn’t plan on buying were literally leaping into my cart when I wasn’t looking. To be fair it is a four hour trip so I need to stock up. And there is no other nursery in the world like Annie’s Annuals (and Perennials). The type of plants they grow are the exact sort of plants that I am in love with. It was a beautiful overcast day for taking pictures but of course it is February so the display gardens are not at their bloomiest best. There are always display plants in containers in bloom though so I did take the time to snap a few pictures.
Platystemon californicus – cream cups
Nemophila menziesii ‘Penny Black’
Lupinus succulentus – arroyo lupine and Gilia tricolor
Nemophila menziesii – baby blue eyes
Alonsoa meridionalis ‘Apricot’
I set a new record for amount of the amount of plants I can fit in my VW Golf! Twelve and a half flats. That is TWO HUNDRED four inch pots!
I purposely traveled light so I would be able to stuff plants in every available spot. I had added so many extra plants I was afraid I was going to have to balance a few on my head but as it turns out two hundred is pretty much the exact amount of plants that will fit in my car without resorting to heroic measures.
They all made it home with me safe and sound. I spent all of today placing and planting and I have a lot more planting to do tomorrow. My spring garden is going to be out of control! Thanks Annie’s Annuals!
Garden Propaganda 