Old Newsletters 6
Succulent Extravaganza 2014
Succulents: The Landscape IS Changing
Photo: Jim McCann for Sunset MagazineDid you see the June
Sunset magazine article about drought?
The photo above is the front page of their special report on gardening during the drought plaguing the Western US. It's a succulent.
To me, that's phenomenal.
It probably doesn't strike a lot of people the way it would strike me.
But that picture right there indicates a sea change in the world of horticulture, particularly in the Western United States.
By publishing the article and using that picture, Sunset magazine is sending a message that our landscape is changing; wake up! The landscape is changing!
Here is the leading horticultural magazine in the Western United State saying "this is important."
What is "this?"
The drought.
One of our Master Gardener volunteers told me a story about one of her friends nursing a 30 year boxwood through the drought. She's thinking "If I can just get it through the summer, it will rain." Well, it will rain, but not enough.
I've been thinking about this stuff since the 1970s. There really is a difference in attitude toward the plant material (succulents) now. There's a change in people's mentality throughout the world about what's going on with water, its availability, and its use as a valuable resource.
If you look at the sequence of what
Sunset has done, you'll see that they've added many succulent varieties to their garden guide, succulents are on the cover, and they recently published a booklet on water conserving plants. Succulents are prominent in that.
The Succulent Extravaganza is an example, and this is year number four, of Succulent Gardens putting into practice the implications of the Sunset message.
Many of you already understand the challenges we face and and the way succulents can help meet the challenges in our gardens.
The 2014 Succulent Extravaganza is planned to help gardeners, landscape professionals, and plant enthusiasts learn more about the many aspects of using succulent plants in the garden.
Read on to see what's on tap this year. I invite all of you to be there. And bring your friends!
~Robin
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Succulent Extravaganza 2014
Succulents: The Landscape IS Changing
This FREE Succulent event will be held Friday, September 26 (8a-5p) & Saturday, September 27 (8a-4p)
 We are excited to announce the theme of this year's Succulent Extravaganza!
Succulents: The Landscape IS Changing
2014's event will focus on succulent landscaping--how to design, build, and maintain succulent landscapes that beautify without taxing already stretched water resources.
Look!  Speakers and Presenters
Kathy Brenzel the Garden Editor for Sunset Magazine will be our keynote presenter this year and will discuss the changing landscape in California.
Debra Lee Baldwin and Brian Kemble are also scheduled for repeat performances! We will look forward to hearing their commentary on the new gardens being installed during the event.
There will be several new gardens designed and installed before the event by landscape professionals. There will also be several gardens installed during the event. Each of these gardens will set the stage for an interactive event focused on answering questions about landscaping and gardening with succulent plants.
The gardens will demonstrate "designing with succulents" by offering different examples of how succulent plants can be combined. In some cases this will include non-succulent companion plants. Other issues to be addressed include plant palette and selection, handling, watering, fertilizing, growth rates, and pest and disease issues. 
 Do you know a great Succulent Designer?
Please forward them this newsletter and ask them to get in touch about participating!
They can email robin@sgplants.com
 Stay tuned for the event schedule to be emailed the first week in September.
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Watch the First Extravaganza Garden Installation
We will be installing the first Extravaganza garden today and tomorrow, August 1 and 2 from 8am-4pm (or until finished on Friday).
Out with the old; in with the new!
 On Monday, Ari and crew took out the plant material at the corner of House 2, including the Barrel Cacti, some Aeonium, Aloe plicatalis, and more. A new landscape is being installed today and tomorrow by Julia Bell, a local landscape professional.
This garden will be a "design in process" by Julia Bell, and she will be working with our crew to install the garden.
Come join us for an early peek, and, if you want, come watch the installation!
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Retail Details:
Container Crazy!
 Hello all!
I hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend. We were busy that weekend with many new folks finding us for the first time. We have also been busy planting up many beautiful arrangements around the nursery!
 Last weekend we had three classes here in the nursery. Our wreath class, container gardening class and living picture class! We will be holding classes through September so if you're interested in signing up please do so posthaste!!
~Tiffany  |
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Follow us on Pinterest
 Succulent Gardens is now on Pinterest! We'll be adding photos and we have several boards set up for YOU to contribute to, as well. Specifically photos of succulent container gardens and succulent landscapes. We're looking for the most interesting, most beautiful, and the best-sited (best match of plants/container or plants/landscape site) that you have.
If you'd like to "pin" with us, please send an email to social@sgplants.com and we'll add you!
If you pin succulent photos, email us, too, with your profile link so we can follow you!
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Around the Nursery
Aloes in Bloom!
Aloe distans is quite unique in a couple of ways. The Aloe looks very much like Aloe nobilis as a young plant, but as it matures, it will develop into a 10' to 12' long creeping, crawling, cascading growth form. The flowers are also spread out instead of tilted straight down. The plants were placed along this retaining wall to demonstrate their ability to cascade.
  Around the nursery there are many Hummers flocking to the Aloes in bloom. Aloe striatula comes in two colors. Here they both are in bloom!
 Still Growing Up
Even with our focus on succulent landscaping, we haven't forgotten about vertical gardening! Winnie still occupies a place of prominence.
The new succulent arbor is up and looking good. Having a wedding? It's for rent! Check with Tiffany if you have questions. Email her at info@sgplants.com.
 Need a Succulent Fix? And you're stuck thousands of miles away?
Check out our Online Store. We're packing orders and sending them out so place your order now.
 Of course, you could also come visit us!
The staff is always working on our displays so the displays change daily.
 It's easier to get around!
We've opened up the breezeway between the front and back areas of the nursery.
 What's next?
It is clear there is a big gap over the platform built to house the Globe. I have designed a new display for the Globe platform and it should be ready to put up in the late spring of 2015. It will make your heart skip a beat.
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