It seems fall has finally settled in for the season. Mornings are consistently brisk, with a few in recent weeks reaching nearly freezing! Unless rain clouds intrude, dusk and dawn shines golden with the unmistakable glow of short days and long nights. Bathed in such light every morning are the dewy petals of cold-weather bloomers sharing their cheery color with the world. Every season has its charm!

We're open 9am-5pm, every single day, year-round, even during rainy winter days! Unless there's some really extreme weather, we're always here to welcome you to our little slice of paradise and offer a retreat from the busy pace of life. There are only two days we plan on being closed each year: Thanksgiving and Christmas. The other 363 days around here are packed full of garden whimsy!

Perhaps the biggest highlight at the nursery this month (and in the months to come as well) are Camellias! In mid-October, we recieved a HUGE order of dozens of different stunning varieties from Monrovia. A select few were excitedly blooming when they arrived, but now, a mere two weeks later, the upper terrace is nothing less than a camellia explosion! All of the reds, whites, and pinks appear to be glowing in the soft autumn lighting, accented by vibrant yellow centers and contrasted against deep green, leathery leaves. Everything from mini shrubs reaching only 3' high & wide, to 10' tall giants, or elegantly espaliered shrubs, even tree form camellias! It's a floriferous winter wonderland up in the shaded terrace. Whether you're in the market for one of these beauties or not, we invite you to come enjoy their glorious presence this season! Check out our Camellia Page to see what's currently in stock.

 

Housplants are of year-round intrigue, with bi-weekly restocks keeping the store fresh and unique! Look out for seasonal classics debuting soon: poinsettas, christmas cactus, amaryllus, and more. Of course, this is in addition to the usual tropical beauties cruising through here. And, in case you haven't heard, we've been able to source stellar cymbidium orchids recently. These entry-level orchids are incredible and will thrive when grown outside in our climate. Blooms are extremely long-lasting, left on the plant or used as cut flowers, and come in a variety of stunning colors. These come and go fast, so be sure to check our houseplant list to see what we currently have in stock! For more information on caring for your cymbidium orchid and other tropical houseplants, take a look at our conveniently organized houseplant playlist!

In the central store, you may also notice more non-houseplant goodies appearing. We love to search out and share with you the cutest decor items, especially when they're on-theme for the season! Browse companion items for your plants, like decorative pots, adorable stakes, and cute-as-can-be flower-themed items. Look out for lots of great gifts for your plant-crazy friends and family coming soon! Or, prepare for the holidays early and start the process of turning them into a plant fanatic with a gift certificate to Cottage Gardens, available to purchase in-person or over the phone.

 

Oh veggies... it never stops! With the exception of a few strong stragglers, tomatoes, peppers, basil, and cucumbers have expired. As one goes about the seasonal clean-up, the thought may be that this is the last of the homegrown excitement until next spring. That doesn't have to be the case! Brassicas are in their prime; broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, etc. in our veggie area are eagerly awaiting their new home! Along with them, peas, onions, and so many miscellaneous winter greens line the shelves. If you've never grown your own escarole, endive, or radicchio, you're missing out! These cold-weather crops are exceptionally hardy and quick-growing, offering delicious, crispy, full-flavored salad greens. Bonus - they're super fun! 'Frissee' endives form huge nest-like clumps of beautifully ruffled, crinkled, curled, crumpled greens. Radicchios offer delicately painted, compact heads in everything from white to purple to red and more!

If you're just looking for something a bit more pleasant to look at though the winter than bare soil, but not interested in the work of a full garden, then look no further than Fava Beans! These nitrogen fixing plants are low maintenance for you, while they do some serious heavy lifiting in the garden! Stick them in the soil and let them build up a surplus of usable nitrogen through the winter. Once they die back in spring, this nitrogen is released into the soil and will immensely support your spring-summer garden! Plus, favas have lovely flowers that support pollinators and turn into delicious, edible beans for us! We have a few varieties available, including one extremely rare: 'Crimson Flowering'. This incredibly hard-to-find fava has stunning, crimson colored blooms. Help bring it back into circulation by planting one in your yard and saving and sharing the seeds!

And not to be forgotten - Garlic! We restocked and recieved some excellent new varieties near the end of October. Plant now for a garlicky spring! Same goes for flowering bulbs. Tulips, daffodils, ranunculus and the many other bulbs we have will absolutely pop off in spring if planted now!

 

Winter annuals are abundant in 6packs and 4" pots right now! If you're looking for flowers blooming at this very moment, look no further than snapdragons, pansies, violas, and bachelor's buttons. Coincidental fun fact - all of those aforementioned blooms are 100% edible! In addition to making lovely winter bouquets, wow your friends with colorful salads or gracefully garnished desserts. Upcoming stars include sweet peas and poppies. Plant them now for an incredible early spring bloom, these guys will be the first of the first spring color!

Check out our Plant List for a list of everything currently in stock!