The Thrilla from Attila

Succulent expert and Australian garden designer Attila Kapitany gave a talk last Thursday night at the San Gabriel Valley Cactus and Succulent Society meeting. It was fascinating and it embraced what is sure to become a trend here: using succulent plants not as museum pieces but as design elements for a new paradigm of water conserving art that until now has been called 'landscaping'.

Using the textures, colors, shapes and emotional impact of succulent plants he toured us through a plethora of different outdoor design elements that are becoming popular in Australia and, in my opinion, are the key to the future of landscaping here in Southern California. Here is a video of Attila talking about these different design elements (FYI video has wind/audio problems):

Links for Fruit Tree Tour

Fruit & Rare Fruit

California Rare Fruit Growers is a horticultural society that meets here at the Arboretum; if you have over 5 fruit trees it pays to be a member: California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc.

There website has an extensive list of growers of rare fruit: CRFG Member Nurseries and Fruit Sources

Here's an example of a grower in San Diego who carries both rare fruit and palm trees: J.D. Andersen Nursery

University of California Riverside has an extensive avocado web site that has descriptions of many avocado varietes: UCR Avocado Page

 

L.E. Cooke is not the only game in town when it comes to wholesale fruit trees; but there web site is chock full of information:

L.E. Cooke Company - Welcome to L.E. Cooke Co

L.E. Cooke Full Catalog

And here are two links you'll find very useful:

Chill Calculators - Fruit & Nut Research and Information Center

U.C. Davis - Fruit & Nut Research and Information Center