CAST - Day 4

I'm happy to be heading home tomorrow (flying out of San Jose) with a return to work on Thursday.  This morning I toured a couple more sites of the California Spring Trials and took some additional photos.  I then shot north of Santa Cruz and visited Big Basin Redwoods State Park which has the biggest coastal redwoods south of San Francisco.  I lucked out and went on a hike with three volunteer guides at the park (Afa, Paul and Diane...seen below).  They knew their plants so we did some botanizing, observed wildlife and enjoyed the hike.  My return trip to Salinas included some coastal fresh air and scenery.  I can see why so many folks want to live in this area which was also very evident with the rush hour traffic!  Some of the plants further down I photographed along the coast and will try to ID them later.  It was a very eventful trip to the California Spring Trials and I maximized my time by meeting lots of contacts and wasn't shy with the camera for 2017 ideas!  I also think some sweet plant donations for the gardens might be in the offing.  

 the trunk diameter of this redwood above at the ground was over 12'!

 we spotted the elusive Western rattlesnake!

 I must have seen a thousand banana slugs (many over 7" long!)

 above is a huge redwood which doesn't rival cousins further North

 my hiking pals above (Afa, Paul and Diane..left to right)

 lupines!

 lupine? above

 no doubt which way the breeze is blowing!

 right near the coast...? cool looking

coast along Santa Cruz

CAST - Day 3

Today was another eventful one at the California Spring Trials (CAST).  I hit three more sites with many featuring more than one grower/company.  The weather was partly sunny and 70 degrees F and just beautiful.  I had excitement on Highway 101 (70 mph) when the vehicle two ahead of me had the hood fold up and bash down on the windshield.  Not sure how the seven or eight of us in the vicinity didn't get in to a crash with this car swerving off the road (safely stopped).  I toured, photographed and chatted with folks at Benary, Volmary, ABZ Seeds, Speedling, Hem Genetics, Plant Source International, Thompson & Morgan, Vista Farms and Proven Winners today.  The three sites weren't far apart but distance can't be measured as "a crow flies" as the rolling topography is a big factor.  I was able to see more of the countryside and certainly had no shortage of seeing new and exciting plants!  It was nice to chat with so many "green industry" folks who I'll continue to maintain are some of the nicest people around.  

Benary created a "Museum of Plants" (above and below) and even had a Plant Fashion Show (second photo down)

 trailing begonia display at Benary (above)

 Speedling was set in the countryside you see below!

 'Orchid Cream' nasturtium (Tropaeolum sp.) - annual

 Chiba Series pinks (Dianthus sp.)

 coleus galore!

 'Fingerpaint' coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) - not new but cool

 The Proven Winners display was set up at Kiligin Cellars Winery

 'Dolce Appletini' coral bells (Heuchera) - perennial

'Invincibelle Ruby' smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)

CAST - Day 2

Today was rainy all day but it was no problem as the trials are all indoors right now.  With temperatures in April in the 60 degrees F during the day, creating these displays inside with greenhouse-forced plants makes sense (Floricultura above).  Regardless, I saw plenty of plants at three primary sites which ultimately featured over seven different nurseries.  I took many more photos and met some very neat folks.  "Green industry" people are very genuine and friendly and all of my experiences thus far confirm that theory.  I'm gallivanting to many other sites over the next two days and will continue to look for more exciting plants to satiate my obsession.

 Petunia Crazytunia 'Moonstruck'

Pixie grapes (very compact)

 look how the containers are hung above

 trailing Egyptian starcluster (Pentas lanceolata 'Falling Star Pink Bicolor')

 Danziger product above and below (displayed at Headstart Nursery)

I stopped by the John Steinbeck Center (museum) later this afternoon which was pretty cool