Day in Davis

 As I mentioned, Saturday morning I was off to the UC Davis Arboretum for their plant sale.  Sophia was here to celebrate her sister's birthday so I was lucky to have her join me! They had fun live music.

I lucked out and got the very last (there were only 4 available) Grevillea 'Ivanhoe'. This plant has done well in my back garden, and I was hoping to get one for a privacy screen by the front fence. Score.  The sale was well run, and packed with great priced cool plants.  The check-out area. 

Then we were off to something even more fun, a visit to Gerhard, succulentsandmoreblog!  I knew he had made some changes (and had new siding installed on his house).  He has a few posts on that process, but my favorite is New planterscape. When you drive up to his house, you know immediately that a plants person lives there.  I couldn't get out of the car fast enough. Of course I failed to get a long shot of his border, I was too drawn to the agaves.  The AGAVES!  Last time I visited in March, Famous Davis and was so focused on the Aloes-some in glorious bloom, I failed to recognize the outstanding amount of agaves he has. 

I think he said something bizarre about this being the worst time of year to view his garden, WHAT?! No.  It's fantastic. *Agave impressa

*I'll apologize here for my lack of agave ID, I wanted to just enjoy -not take notes. ID from Gerhard *Agave potatorum 'Cherry Swizzle'

Look AT that, the agave goes insanely perfectly perfect in front of the Senecio skyscraper.  *Agave ovatifolia 'Jack Frost'

Oooh, those golden teeth 👇 Mangave 'Foxy Lady'

surrounded by golden barrels, I love this vignette. *Agave Ocahui

Entering the inner sanctum. If I'm not mistaken, this is where Gerhard created a new border - so rocks/planting material wasn't right against the house.  *Agave horrida, Agave bracteosa

Priceless.  what a treasure.   *Agave titanota 'Lion's Mane'

Around to the back, he's done a lot of work in the last year.  *Mangave espresso

Gorgeous, he gave me some of this outstanding Artemisia.  One of the prettiest silvery groundcover plants I've seen.  Oh, look at the way it hugs the rocks! *Mangave Cherry Choc. Chip & Artemisia pedemontana

I'd been in a creative gridlock (regarding my front garden) - this garden was the cure.  I left feeling so inspired, the timing could not have been better.  The textures, combinations, plant variety and the way he's added elevation where there wasn't any... It's truly one of my favorite gardens.  Year round interest, he's got it in spades! 

Thank you Gerhard! *I'll share the sale plants, and some great gifts from Gerhard as I get them in the ground.    I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work, and looking forward to another slice of birthday cake ;).