I recently had to find some unusual cactus plants for a client. My search took me on a treasure hunt where I discovered a wonderful hidden hideaway nursery: The California Cactus Center in Pasadena. (Just 10 minutes from the Huntington Botanical Garden near Los Angeles)
You would never find this place unless someone told you where to look. It is very inconspicuous from the street. So much so that I drove by it twice while trying to find it! And I had the street address!
But once you get off the busy street and inside the tiny gate….It was amazing!
This nursery features cactus and succulents from around the world. I found the most amazing plants. And the people there were so helpful and knowledgeable. It was a joy to visit and I am not even a big fan of cactus!
I realize that most of you can't visit this nursery. But I just wanted to share what a gem it was. It is the small nurseries like these that keep us gardeners passionate about gardening.
For those of you in Los Angeles, here is their website with directions and hours:
About the Author
Theresa Loe blogs here about taking the garden full circle while striving for a more local, fresh-from-the-garden lifestyle. She is a TV producer, video host, freelance garden writer and a wrangler of chickens and children. (Not necessarily in that order.) For more information on these topics, you can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter.
Theresa Loe is the award- winning Co-Executive Producer & Canning Expert on Growing A Greener World TV. She blogs here about Living Homegrown®, local and fresh-from-the-garden. 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
That is so great that there’s a place like that…people living in the drier areas of CA should grow more cacti for zeriscaping!
Um…xeriscaping…sorry!
What a fascinating place! Of course, you have such different plants than here in North Carolina.
My husband and I are trying to decide whether to visit CA in February.
Cheers,
Cameron