Trip to Mendocino

Main Street, Mendocino Village

Ok... of the four new nurseries and one new winery I wanted to visit, I managed to make it to two of the nurseries, Fuchsiarama and Hortus Botanicus, and the Pacific Star Winery. Three out of five ain't bad and there's always next time to conquer Digging Dog and Simply Succulent. I made it to Hortus Botanicus and Fuchsiarama in the last hours on the last day of my seven-day stay.

When traveling with friends and family, I often forget that I'm mostly going to be spending time relaxing and enjoying their company... their very slow-moving, indecisive company. And that's ok! I wouldn't trade that time for all the nursery visits in the world.


Here I am at the house, reading my Mendocino Coast Glove Box Guide: Lodgings, Eateries, Sights, History, Activities & More
Buy this book before you go. It's excellent.

Candles were burned... wine was enjoyed.
Dinners were backlit by fiery sunsets. Sigh...

Either I'm shrinking, or my baby boy (the blond one) is sprouting like a weed.

Nasturtiums abound in the village

So does montbretia/crocosmia

MacCallum House Garden



Snake!

View from the Pacific Star Winery... It was overcast on this day, which was not only fine but quite welcome considering the heat wave back home. I went another day and it was sunny.

It's a beautiful drive and a beautiful destination.
Taste some wine while you're there.
Spit only if you're the designated driver.
I didn't spit because I'm too much of a lady (ha ha).
I was the driver, however, so I only took two sips.
Buy a few bottles to take home!

Hortus Botanicus
707-964-4786
20103 HANSON RD
FORT BRAGG, CA 95437
10.2MI from Mendocino

Hortus Botanicus was my first nursery stop and the most exciting new nursery conquest for me. I can now tell people, "You must visit this nursery." Tucked into the woods of Fort Bragg, this hidden gem is an avid gardener's amusement park. From carnivores to orchids to succulents... to unusual perennials to seeds hand-packaged at the nursery... you will surely fill one or more of their little red wagons with botanical wonders that will take your garden to the next level.

After being dropped off at the nursery entrance, I was greeted by Dorothy, who showed me around and even fetched me a wagon. She introduced me to Robert, the owner. Both were kind enough to answer my questions while propagating plants and answering the phone. I went on a quiet Monday, but have a feeling weekends are quite bustling.

The entrance

Robert Goleman, owner

Peruvian Lily Vine (Bomarea species)... I bought seeds!

The water garden

Orphium frutescens

Isn't this a clever idea for edging a bed?

Alstroemeria 'Danny Boy'... I bought seeds of this one too!

Fuchsiarama
707-964-0429
23201 N HIGHWAY 1
FORT BRAGG, CA 95437
10.2MI from Mendocino

Fuchsiarama was more of a quickie because I had my teenage son and his best friend getting antsy in the car... and eventually on the car.


The nursery was worth a stop because of the sheer numbers of fuchsia cultivars all in one place. You're sure to find varieties you like even if you're not a fuchsia maniac. I'm not and I bought two. There's a nursery and gift shop. I barreled through the gift shop and headed straight for the plants. Who knew fuchsias came in so many shapes, colors and sizes?

Fuschiarama is right!

View from the parking lot. That's the ocean in the background!

In other local nursery news, North Star Nursery (across from the botanical garden) in Fort Bragg has moved down the street and a new nursery is opening in its place.

In Mendocino, the Mendocino Garden Shop has moved to Main Street right off Highway 1 and now shares space with a bike and electric car rental company. We rented one of their little electric Zap cars for tooling around town. You haven't lived until you've driven one of these little cuties. Fifty bucks a day. Yes, it's a splurge, but so worth it for tooling around the village in an open-air fashion. They rent bikes too. And sell plants! In fact, you can drive your plants back to your rented room or rented house in your rented Zap car! Does life get any sweeter?

At the Garden Shop, I picked up a Kniphofia uvaria 'Flamenco', Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Burgundy' and a bottle of Tiger Bloom fertilizer. Is it weird to buy fertilizer on your vacation? Hey, I had just used up the last of my bottle at home!

Here I am on Main Street with my aunt, Pat, in the back of the little Zap car! I was a little shy at first about taking the wheel ... but got over that in about two minutes. It's soooooo fun to drive a Zap.

How fast can 5 women go...
uphill... in a tiny electric car?
Not very.

A gorgeous sunny day at Jughandle beach. As always, I was torn between companionship and taking pictures. I didn't take nearly as many photos as I'd hoped, but did manage when I could. Yet another reason to go back. Soon.

I can be both photographer... and assistant