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The exhibit by the San Diego Horticultural Society features Torch Lilies, Kangaroo Paws and Aeoniums. |
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Quail Gardens exhibit was my favorite, showing especially rich textures, a perfect color palette, innovative plants and water conservation. |
The garden and horticulture exhibits at The San Diego County Fair in Del Mar are widely regarded as the finest of any fair in California.
If you haven’t taken the short drive south to see the fairs landscape displays, judged flower competitions and educational presentations do so right away. The fair only runs for nine more days, through Sunday, July 5.
If you want to make a really full day of the trip, do what I did and combine your visit to the fair with a stop at nearby Cedros Gardens (330 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach) and Solana Succulents (355 North Hwy. 101 in Solana Beach). Cedros is a great little treasure tucked into the trendy Cedros design district, while Solana Succulents is literally packed with hard to find succulent treasures.
Ron Vanderhoff is the Nursery Manager at Roger’s Gardens, Corona del Mar
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Tillandsias and other bromeliads are mounted on this old fallen tree stump. |
This living wall is a spectacular background to the Walter Anderson Nursery display.
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This old piano, by Cordova Greenhouses, is dripping with succulents.
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More music in the garden. This time a drum set helps create the rhythm in this garden.
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Questions from Readers: June 27, 2009
Question:
I have so many Calosoma beetles IN my house....besides vacuuming them up, any suggestions on how to get rid of them. Don't know how they walk in, but I get about three a day....annoying and ugly.
Judy, Irvine
Answer:
I don’t think there’s much you can do to prevent these in the house. Every few years Southern California experiences a population explosion on these critters. When this happens (last was summer 2007) they seem to show up everywhere. But the explosion only lasts for a few weeks and then things return to normal. Maybe this year is going to be another one of these “explosions”. We’ll see.
In the meantime, I know large, shiny black beetles running around the house are a nuisance, but they’re not there with any intention, they’re just lost. They are a beneficial insect and are predatory beetles, feeding on grubs and other ground dwelling soil pests.
