Succulents and More™

When I started my blog in late 2010, Austin writer Pam Penick and her blog Digging were one of my earliest influences. I knew nothing about gardening in Central Texas (and not much about gardening here at home), but I immediately related to Pam’s writing about her own garden and others she was visiting. At that time, Pam already seemed like a veteran, with five years of blogging under her belt. Fast forward to 2025. Embarking on her 20th year of blogging, Pam recently invited a few other veteran bloggers to share their thoughts on what keeps them going: Carol Michel – May Dreams Gardens , Indianapolis, Indiana (21 years) Susan Harris – GardenRant , Greenbelt, Maryland (20 years) Dee Nash – Red Dirt Ramblings , Guthrie, Oklahoma (18 years) Gail Eichelberger – Clay and Limestone , Nashville, Tennessee (17 years) Loree Bohl – danger garden , Portland, Oregon (16 years) Denise Maher – A Growing Obsession , Long Beach, California and Tillamook, Oregon (16 years) Beth Stetenfeld – P...

On Sunday I gave a talk at the Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society . They meet every third Sunday of the month at the Grange Hall in Corralitos just outside of Watsonville . Renowned for its fertile soil and mild climate, the Watsonville area is a leading producer of fruits, vegetables, and berries, especially strawberries. It’s also home to a number of horticultural nurseries, including Monterey Bay Nursery , a wholesale grower whose plants are a staple of independent garden centers all over Central and Northern California; Sierra Azul Nursery , a retail nursery specializing in proteas and Mediterranean plants; Succulent Gardens , in the early to mid 2010s the home of the beloved Succulent Extravaganza ; and Navarro’s Mixed Nursery  focusing on succulents and other water-wise plants. I’d known of Navarro’s for a number of years, but for one reason or another I’d never been there. When I suggested a stop at Navarro’s to my frequent partner-in-crime Justin who accompanied...

You know what they say about mullets: business in the front, party in the back. What does that have to do with gardens, you might ask? You’ll see. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit the garden of Fred and Paul, members of the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society who had been at my open garden in early March.  Fred and Paul in their backyard Fred and Paul live in a mid-century modern house built in 1959 which they bought almost 13 years ago. At that time, there was lawn everywhere: in the front, along the side, and in the back. At the end of this post, I’ll show you some Google Street View images from 2011. The difference between then and now is startling. Fred and Paul’s house from the street The red heart is made of PVC pipe and foam pool noodles. It’s a beloved landmark in the neighborhood. In keeping with the house’s sleek architecture, Fred and Paul created a modern, almost minimalistic garden in the front. It’s dominated by concrete paths, steps, and planters wit...