Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Serendipity

Today I had intended to write more about Stanford University or about our weekend in Los Angeles, but I just have to tell you about a place we visited on Sunday afternoon on our way home from Long Beach.

We often drive up and down Pacific Coast Highway when we travel to and from Los Angeles. PCH takes us right along the coast and through Malibu.

On Sunday afternoon, we meandered home slowly, choosing the scenic route. The weather was a bit cloudy and foggy, but the ocean was a beautiful blue and the coastal vegetation looked fresh and sunny.

We stopped at our usual stopping place, the Starbuck's at Trancas Canyon, at the north end of Malibu. I cannot tell you how many times we have pulled in to that parking lot, gotten out of our car and turned our backs on this little nursery tucked in behind the back parking lot.

This time, I decided I'd like to take a peek in Malibu Gardens Nursery, just because we weren't in a hurry and just because it was there and I was a little curious. I mean, what kind of a nursery would Malibu, the famous home town of more movie stars than Hollywood, have?

Well. Wow.

The owners of MGN obviously love their garden and someone who works there is obviously an artist. The whole nursery was filled with color! Pots and plants everywhere in a casual, Southern California, everything arranged in easy going, seemingly haphazard way that is really the carefully thought out work of the true artist.






I was enchanted. The Professor came looking for me and there I was staring at osteospermum in all these colors! Who knew?



Even the lettuces were beautiful!

I wonder if the cat is for sale.

If you are ever in Malibu sightseeing and you get tired of looking for movie stars, take a peek at Malibu Gardens Nursery. If you meet the owners, tell them that the lady who bought beets and lobelia sent you.

19 comments:

ellen b. said...

Beets to plant or beets to eat right now? What a cool nursery! I'm glad you meandered!!

ancient one said...

Yeah, I like the out of the way places... the ones we don't see enough of..

Anonymous said...

Those pots are fantastic and what a wonderful nursery! :)

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful place! I love all those colours- so inspiring. I have some of those blue pots- unfortunately because of the narrow neck, I have to make sure I transplant what I put in before it becomes too big to get the roots past it.

I loved the colours of the pots against the plants.

Thom said...

What great pictures. It looks like a fantastic place. Isn't it amazing what really is out there :)

Dorothy said...

What a lovely nursery! I do wish I could go visit it right now!

violetlady said...

What wonderful pictures. Thank you for sharing them with us. I certainly would have liked to have been along for the ride. I have never traveled that part of the country.

Robin said...

I love those big colorful cup and saucer looking planters in your photo. You are right - incredible colors!
And the ocean looks so beautiful too! What a gift to be able to look upon it as often as you do!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous pictures Willow, thank you for taking us there.

Jane said...

Oh a little bit of heaven. I love wandering around the Gaden centres. The Osteo's are lovely my favourite has to be the white with deep blue eye. Jane x

Flower said...

Take me! It's just the kind of place that inspires us to keep growing a garden!!! One month until planting season!!

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

A lovely spot to visit, to be sure! The little yogurt place isn't too bad a spot for stretching your legs either (next to Coogies) :)))

I used to play tennis on Pepperdine's courts (USTA league tennis) the first few years we lived out here. Gorgeous setting.

Ally Jay said...

The garden centre looks like a fun place to visit, it's great to discover new places.

Tracy said...

Was the cat for sale?! ;o) I love places like that, that you just HAVE to stop and see...Malibu Gardens looks like dream nursery. Love places like that! Thanks for taking us along, Willow! Happy Day ((HUGS))

Knitting Linguist said...

What a gorgeous place! Your photos are lovely -- and beets and lobelia are two of my very favorite things :)

Beatriz said...

Thanks for the tip, Willow. This is very lovely indeed!

Brenda said...

I will keep that in mind, those out of the way places are often the best.

Barbara said...

Interesting to do these 2 tours of Long Beach area with you. Lovely photos and I can see you had a real good time.

Sharon Lynne said...

Nice daisy shots. It seems as though God is saying..."if you don't like this color...try this...and if you don't like that shade try this..."

How nice that you can get out with your husband and take some day trips. I wish my husband and I could do that more often. In Southern California, one doesn't have to go far to find something interesting to look at!