Insider’s scoop at Annie’s Annuals…
.
By now, most of you know what an amazing place Annie’s Annuals is. The sheer amount of plants for sale is mind-staggering…and the full, lush planting beds provide enough eye-candy to let you feast there for hours, completely losing track of time…
.
I was fortunate enough to attend a little soiree there last night, in celebration of wrapping up a long, rainy day of filming an episode for Growing a Greener World (to be aired SOON!), and noticed a few things about this place that many of you may not know…
.
.
Here are some amazing photos of their to-die-for planting beds. Inspirational, to say the least! BUT….
,
...did you know if you look hard enough, you’ll find little hidden treasures throughout the beds – kind of like a Treasure Hunt. They’re genius for doing this, as I can’t imagine a kid on earth not wanting to spend a good solid hour hunting around to find these creatures while mom & dad shop for plants!
.
.
.
Even Pee Wee lounges among the flowers…
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
And if you’re there, like we were, when there aren’t hordes of customers demanding Annie’s attention, you can learn some pretty interesting things.
,
.
For example, in the amazing flower bed above, the number one plant that customers want to buy is the one that’s not for sale and has no flowers!
.
No one’s really sure why, but everyone wants it! (it’s the plant in the middle, under the moon, that looks like a Protea….)
.
It’s nice and all…but really? Go figure…
.
.
.
.
(update alert!!) – I stand corrected…I just received this photo from Annie’s and THIS is why everyone wants that plant!
,
Well, no wonder – I want one too!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
And this is Annie’s personal favorite red poppy (they sell a few different varieties) because it’s the one that grows all over Greece…
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
And upon hearing my complaints that while I LOVE Dianthus, I rarely plant them in clients’ gardens because they act more like annuals instead of perennials, Annie informed me that the Dianthus varieties they sell are the TRUE BLUE, tough as nails perennials that will come back year after year. Not the over-bred dianthus that are so common at nurseries today.
.
Needless to say, I loaded up!
.
.
.
.
.
And finally…get ready for it…here’s one of the most talked about plants yesterday. The plant that smells like dog doo.
.
Seriously – smells just like someone stepped in it. And you know what? You should’ve seen all of us run over when she said ‘Who wants to see the plant that smells like dog poo?’. It was a stampede!
.
And here’s proof that Annie is no WIMP!
,
She’s going in for a deep nose-full….
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I can’t emphasize enough what a spectacular field trip this was. And I highly encourage you to make the trip – no matter what the weather, no matter if it’s crowded or not, I guarantee you’ll thoroughly enjoy your day!
,
April 22nd, 2010 saat: 10:50 am
Thank you for the scoop, Rebecca! I’m just not sure of the dog-do-do plant… Perhaps it would make a good companion next to my Stink Lily! (Dracunulus vulgaris) ;o)
April 22nd, 2010 saat: 11:34 am
My daughter LOVES going to Annie’s- they are so kid friendly! Between the chickens, children’s toys and the wagons to cart your plants around in- I often find it hard for me to act like an adult when I’m there!
April 22nd, 2010 saat: 11:36 am
I hope to visit there for the first time next month. I love all of the colors and lushness. I just hope I have enough room in my trunk for all the plants I’m going to buy.
Thanks for sharing.
April 22nd, 2010 saat: 11:39 am
Well, I guess it’s good that I bought my Dianthus at Annie’s then! Thanks for giving us the inside scoop and sharing their beautiful display gardens – not sure when I’ll be back for a visit. Maybe next year…
April 22nd, 2010 saat: 11:46 am
I am going through major withdrawal that I’m not in CA anymore and can’t just hop on over to these kinds of things when they come up! I’m so jealous that you all have the grooviest nursery ever. Thanks, Rebecca!
April 22nd, 2010 saat: 2:59 pm
Dang it! You know how much it pains me to miss a good time like this. Thanks for filling us in on the important details. A dog poo plant though? Whatever floats your boat i guess. Glad you all escaped the rain for this great trip.
April 22nd, 2010 saat: 8:56 pm
And to think we drove by it on our California trip last fall. If I had only known about Annie’s then!
April 23rd, 2010 saat: 11:18 am
LOL I love how we took pictures of the same place that came out so TOTALLY different (nary a gnome in mine!) I was so inspired by this visit, and can’t wait to find spots for the wagon-load of 4″ pots I bought. That’s one of my fav things about Annie’s, btw, I love buying plants small (OK, yeah, I also hate digging big holes!) Thanks for this view! (And thanks again for driving!)
April 23rd, 2010 saat: 7:47 pm
Annie’s is truly a fabulous place. That is why we filmed there. I am so glad that we are going to expose a whole PBS viewership to them.
Can’t wait!
And it was really wonderful to see you again.
Hugs!
April 24th, 2010 saat: 10:28 pm
I’m so happy you get to finally go there Kristi! Have fun and let me know what you find!
April 26th, 2010 saat: 10:56 pm
I love roaming around Annie’s. Thanks for the inside scoop. Those little hidden treasures are so great!