In November 2018, the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society (SCSS) created a demonstration garden at the Shepard Garden & Arts Center where our monthly meetings are held. Check out this post for all the details and to see photos I took on the day we installed the garden. I posted an update in January 2021, at the height of Covid, but have been remiss in keeping you informed on how the garden has evolved.
In 2023, the SCSS was invited to expand the garden to include the short leg at the far end of the L-shaped bed you see in the photo below:
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| Most plants were donated by club members; a few specimen-sized plants were purchased with club funds |
The SCSS demonstration garden faces McKinley Boulevard, a street that gets a lot of foot traffic. The garden has high visibility and is seen by many people walking by. Thanks to regular maintenance (weeding and general cleanup) by SCSS volunteers Dave, Bill, George and others, the garden looks fantastic.
Let’s take a look, beginning with the original section planted in 2018:
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| A perfect specimen of Agave vivipara ‘Marginata’ |
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| Aloe ‘Hercules’ in the middle, surrounded by Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’, Agave colorata, and Agave ‘Blue Glow’, among others |
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| Agave parryi and Agave macroacantha |
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| Agave parryi and Agave colorata |
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Agave colorata
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| The camellias you see in many photos were planted in the late 1950s right after the Shepard Gardens & Arts Center was built. Sacramento is known as “Camellia City” because of its long history with the shrub. Here’s more information. |
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| Because of their historical significance, the camellias had to be left in place when we created the garden |
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| Agaves and camellia petals – that’s not a combination you see every day |
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| In 2023, this interpretive sign was installed |
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| It gives an overview of the SCSS as well as general information about cacti and succulents. A QR code links to this page on the SCSS website, which IDs the plants in the demonstration garden. |
The next set of photos shows the new bed installed in 2023 – essentially the area in front of the bank of windows:
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| Similar materials (top dressing and rocks) were chosen to ensure continuity with the older area |
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| I love this triangular black rock. It’s a great foil for the Ferocactus acanthodes above... |
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| ...and the Cleistocactus straussi here |
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| Most, if not all, of the plants in the new section were donated by club members |
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| Gymnocalycium pflanzii |
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| There’s still plenty of room in the new area |
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| If this were my garden, I’d fill in the gaps, but I know not everybody is a fan of cramscaping |
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| Front of the Shepard Garden & Arts Center |
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| We don’t use the front entrance for club meetings |
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| Instead, we enter from the parking lot on Park Way |
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| The meeting hall is through the double doors |
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| One of dozens of camellias in the park adjacent to the Shepard Garden & Arts Center |
Close to 20
garden and plant clubs meet at the Shepard Garden & Arts Center, but the SCSS is the only one to have created a display garden of this size. The club has invested thousands of dollars in materials (soil, rocks, plants, etc.) and countless volunteer hours to showcase the beauty of succulents and their use in water-wise landscaping. Hopefully the SCSS demonstration garden has been an inspiration not just for members of the SCSS, but also for casual passers-by.
The Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society meets every fourth Monday of the month (except December) at the Shepard Garden & Arts Center. Doors open at 6:15pm for mingling and plant sales; the presentation begins at 7:00pm. You do not need to be a member to attend. For more information,
check out the SCSS website.
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Everything looks pristine! Even the Camellia petals look artfully displayed ;)
ReplyDeleteLOL, I promise I didn't arrange the camellia petals.
DeleteSCSS has done a great job with this garden. I love all the signage. Quite rare in many public gardens! I wondered why there is a little green stick and wire around the Ferocactus acanthodes. I'm not sure the stick would be strong enough to keep the plant up if it decides to lean! I see there is a green wire on the Gymno also.
ReplyDeleteThe signage wasn't there originally, but we felt it was important to let visitors know what the plants are.
DeleteI don't know why there's a stick and wire around the Ferocactus. I was gone when that part of the garden was planted. I agree, the stick wouldn't hold up the cactus if it decided to lean over
This is wonderful, I'd be walking by to check on it repeatedly if I lived near. The new area flows well, and looks so great with the style of the building. I don't mind the odd combo of Camellias, especially limbed up the way they are. Does the club meet often?
ReplyDeleteThe SCSS meets every fourth Monday of the month. It's an active and lively club. You should come for our big Show & Sale the first weekend in May (May 2-4 this year).
DeleteFallen Camellia petals is a lovely look!
ReplyDeleteI was searching for Aloe elgonica you donated in 2021. Have they been moved from their original planted position?
Chavli
I don't know where that Aloe elgonica is. I have to take a closer look...
DeleteThe garden is wonderful! Kudos to the club. I couldn't help notice the contrast with the green lawn in a couple of photos. Is the lawn irrigated in the summertime? One tidbit that stood out to me in this post, you say that over 20 plant and garden related clubs meet in the building, that sounds like a pretty robust gardening community!
ReplyDeleteThe lawn is irrigated; it's part of a park. We had the city turn off the sprinklers that watered the succulent beds. A couple of volunteers water with a hose every now and then.
DeleteYeah, there are all kinds of plants clubs. I suppose I should check out the bromeliad society and maybe the perennial plant club...
That is very impressive! Obviously a lot of love has gone into the garden--it looks splendid.
ReplyDeleteI have to giggle about the combination of Camellias and xeric plants--it's so very California!
(However do those Camellias tolerate Sacramento summers?!?!!)
You'd think camellias struggle in Sacramento, but they've been thriving here for 150+ years! Go figure.
Delete