Learn more about the speakers and garden designers >>
We are so excited for all of you to visit and attend the fourth annual Succulent Extravaganza! This year's theme "Succulents: The Landscape Is Changing" is resulting in great changes all over the Succulent Gardens Growing Grounds.
Top landscape designers are busy installing brand new gardens for the event!
Here's John Greenlee working with our crew. You'll have to visit in person to see the finished product!
We have three types of "talks" during the 2014 Succulent Extravaganza.
- Tour: Visit several gardens or locations with one or more speakers during the same hour. Meet at the shed outside of the retail greenhouse/ checkout area.
- Garden Talk: Visit one garden and listen to one or more speakers (including the designer) talk about the garden. Meet at the featured garden.
- Tent Talk: Talk or demonstration in or right next to the Speaker Pavilion. Meet at the Speaker Pavilion
Designers will also be at their gardens throughout the day so that you can stroll and ask questions.
Succulent Extravaganza Schedule
Friday, September 26
8:00 a.m. Coffee, doughnuts, and local strawberries
8:00 a.m. Brian Kemble walk and talk. Tour around the new 2014 garden installations. (Tour)
9:30 a.m. Robin Stockwell, Welcome, Walk and talk visit with Organic Mechanics, Michael & Danielle Romero and Hill and Dale. (Tour)
11:00 a.m. Kathy Brenzel Keynote Succulents: Driving Change in California Landscapes (Speaker Pavilion)
12:00 p.m. Saxon Holt "Finding the Photo" (Tour)
1:00 p.m. Debra Lee Baldwin, Succulent Container Garden Demonstration (Speaker Pavilion)
2:15 p.m. Kathy Brenzel and Robin walk and talk. Visit John Greenlee, SSA (Steven Sutherland), Mandala, Julia Bell, and the triangle gardens and a visit with the OrganicMechanics (Tour)
3:30 p.m. Brian Kemble walk and talk. Visit Under Sea Garden, Prehistoric Chillin', Featuring Martiniasaurus.and Ebony and Ivory Gardens. (Tour)
4:00 p.m. Bar-B-Q.
Simone working on a triangle garden:
Saturday, September 27
8:00 a.m. Coffee, doughnuts, and local strawberries
8:00 a.m. Brian Kemble, A world tour of the Succulent Gardens (Tour)
9:15 a.m. John Greenlee talks with Robin about Grasses and Succulents. (Garden Talk)
9:45 a.m. The Organic Mechanics talk with Robin about sustainability and succulents. (Garden Talk)
10:15 a.m. Debra Lee Baldwin, Succulent Container Garden Demonstration (Speaker Pavilion)
11:15 a.m. Organic Mechanics - recycled, up cycled, repurposed etc etc materials for hardscape and sculpture. (Garden Talk)
11:30 a.m. Anita McCarty how to work with giant Agaves and other succulents. (Speaker Pavilion)
1:00 p.m. Steven Sutherland on WoW designs with succulent plants. (Garden Talk)
3:00 p.m. Robin visits with Julia Bell at Rebecca Sweet's Garden. (Garden Talk)
4:00 p.m. Robin Stockwell, closing remarks (Speaker Pavilion)
Landscape Gardens
1. Bell & Flourish with Makers West 'Repurposed Riot'
2. Rebecca Sweet, 'Harmony in the Garden'
3. Bell & Flourish with Ross Landscape Construction 'Echeveria Extravaganza'
4. Simone Lajeunesse 'Prehistoric Chillin'
5. Dat Pham, 'Ebony and Ivory'
6. Michael Romero 'Under Sea Garden'
7. Senecio crassissimus
8. Organic Mechanics, 'Rustic Rampage'
9. Bell & Flourish with Ross Landscape Construction 'Aloe, Agave, Aeonium Landscape
10. Desert Mandala, 'Living Mandala Garden'
11. John Greenlee, 'Grasses, Succulents and...'
12. Steven Sutherland and Associates (SSA), 'Succulent Sculpture'
SSA Landscape Architects has developed the design of a succulent garden that is both a painting and a sculpture. Utilizing the soil as the sculptural and three dimensional element of the garden in conjunction with succulents as the paint for the subject of a breaking wave, utilizing the vast color palette succulents provide we are able to create an impressionist vision of this iconic scene. SSA Landscape Architects, Principal, Steve Sutherland believes the possibilities for utilizing succulents to create works of art are endless from reality to abstract. SSA worked closely with Coastal Evergreen and their talented team to install and implement the design.
13. Hill & Dale Landscape, 'Xeric - Mix: Plants, Patterns, and Sticks'
The ideas for this garden start with the basic found shapes in this functional space : a water tank as circle, the trailer as square, the posts and telephone pole as line. Repetition of shapes, plants and garden elements, as well as contrasting textures and colors of plants and painted objects create an overall composition of basic elements. The garden design is a collaboration between Tim Hill and Christine Watten of Hill and Dale Landscapes and the artist Robert Armstrong . Native Californian plants work well with succulents and Mediterranean-climate plants to create a ʻxeric-mixʼ of plants, patterns and sticks.
Vital Information
We have your FAQs here.
How much does the Succulent Extravaganza cost?
It's FREE!
How can I pay for all of the plants I plan to buy?
Cash or check only. No credit cards!
Do I have to pay for the Bar-B-Que?
Nope! That's free too! There will be a taco truck onsite for purchasing lunch.
Where do I park?
We will have parking attendents to direct you to parking across the street.
How should I dress?
Prepare for a rain-or-shine event that is largely outdoors. Wear good walking shoes and bring sunscreen and a hat!
What should I bring?
We suggest wearing layers and bringing your own shopping wagon. Bring your camera, of course, with extra batteries.
Where can I eat while in town?
Good thing you asked! All Extravaganza attendees will be given a discount at the Haute Enchilada if they make a reservation and say that they are Extravaganza attendees while making the reservation.
Places to Stay
Holiday Inn Express Marina
This is a newer hotel, minutes from shops and restaurants and only 15 minutes away from our nursery!
Sanctuary Beach Resort
This one is for those of you looking to splurge on your weekend in town. Beautiful hotel, right on Marina State Beach, minutes from shops, restaurants and only 15 minutes away from our nursery!
Best Western Watsonville
This hotel is located in Watsonville and only 18 minutes from our nursery!
Captain's Inn Moss Landing
If you are looking for an older quaint place to stay this might be it! Only minutes from several of our favorite places to eat in Moss Landing. This is the closest to the nursery at a mere 3 miles!
Best Western Seacliff Inn
