2016 Succulent Extravaganza plant porn (1 of 2)

The 2016 Succulent Extravaganza at Succulent Gardens in Castroville, California has come and gone. I’ve been so busy this year that I completely forgot to advertise it here on Succulents and More. I did remember to post an advance notice on my Facebook page so I’m hoping many of you knew about it and attended.

Succulent Extravaganza started in 2011 when Succulent Gardens, Northern California’s largest succulent grower, was still owned by the legendary Robin Stockwell, plantsman and surfer extraordinaire. In October 2014, just after the fourth Extravaganza, the nursery was bought by brothers John and Dennis Rodkin, and John's wife Megan. The 2016 Extravaganza was the Rodkins’ second, and even though things that used to be free (like the Friday evening BBQ, and coffee and donuts on both Friday and Saturday morning) are no longer free, the event is still compelling for its lineup of speakers and, of course, for the extraordinary plants in the demo gardens (and for sale). Personally, I think the nursery has never looked this good—and the demonstration plants this well cared for.

Even though I was there for all the previous Extravaganzas (2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015) and have taken thousands of photos at Succulent Gardens, I managed to add 300 more this time. The wonderful thing about gardens and plants in general is that they are in a constant state of flux. Nothing ever stands still, and plants that you thought couldn’t look any better sometimes get even more attractive over time.

I have very little self-control when it comes to taking photos (or editing them) so I will regale you with a cornucopia of photographic treasures from this year’s event. I’m aiming to spread out the wealth over two posts but I’m not done working on my photos yet so there may be more.

Without any further ado, let’s get started.

This is one of the first sights you might see as you walk up to the nursery:

This row of agaves is truly impressive. In addition to Agave ‘Blue Flame’ and Agave parryi var. truncata…

…there is Agave weberi ‘Arizona Star’ (and yours truly):

I’ll have more photos of this bed in part 2.

From here I took a circuitous route to check out the demonstration gardens installed for the 2014 Extravaganza as well as the growing grounds. There is so much to see, photograph and be inspired by, that it’s easy to lose track of time even though the nursery is only three acres in size.

Leaning Flagstone Succulent Bench by Andrea Hurd of Mariposa Gardening & Design

Agave attenuata ‘Ray of Light’ and Aloe arborescens ‘Variegata’

Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ and Agave attenuata ‘Ray of Light’

A Living Heart Through Succulent Art, created by Robin Stockwell in cooperation with Gary Snyder of Gary Snyder Fabrication

Speaker tent,8:15 a.m.

Agave attenuata ‘Ray of Light’ next to the speaker tent

Agave attenuata ‘Ray of Light’

This combo got everybody’s attention

Agave attenuata

Senecio vitalis and Agave attenuata

 

Rustic Rampage by James Pettigrew & Sean Stout of Organic Mechanics

Agave attenuata ‘Ray of Light’. It flourishes in the mild coastal climate of Castroville while struggling in my backyard in Davis.

Tumbled glass

Old metal pipe

Cow horn agave (Agave bovicornuta) at its absolute best

I believe that’s Aloe ‘Blue Elf’ there in the middle in yet another old metal pipe

 

Now you know why Agave bovicornuta is one of my favorite agaves

Another pipe repurposed as a planting container

 

Aloidendron ‘Hercules’ with Ferocactus peninsulae

Ferocactus wislizeni

Agave ‘Kichiokan’, thought by some to be a cultivar of Agave potatorum while others think it’s a form of Agave isthmensis. Whatever it is, the plants at Succulent Gardens are out of this world.

Agave ‘Kichiokan’

Agave ‘Kichiokan’

Echinocactus grusonii

Springs from an old mattress, planted with tillandsias

Tillandsia xerographica

More Aloidendron ‘Hercules’

Aloidendron ‘Hercules’, Agave ‘Blue Flame’ and Agave ‘Blue Glow’

Agave ‘Blue Glow’

Meditative agaves

Agave geminiflora

Aloes and grasses in John Greenlee’s demonstration garden

Aloes and grasses in John Greenlee’s demonstration garden

In-ground plants ready for digging. Talk about instance impact in the the landscape!

Agave attenuata ‘Boutin Blue’, the largest and most stunning specimens I’ve ever seen

Agave flower spike towering about this pickup truck

Boxed Agave attenuata along the fence

Agave attenuata ‘Kara’s Stripe’

Aloe vanbalenii in Danielle and Michael Romero’s undersea demonstration garden installed for the 2014 Extravaganza

Go to part 2 to see a whole lot more succulent goodness.

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All Succulent Extravaganza posts