69 The Rest of the Story
November 4, 2022
71 Conifer Crazy Again
December 2, 2022
Dig Gardens
420 Water St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 • (831) 466-3444
Website • Facebook • Instagram
I have visited nurseries in Santa Cruz with AP several times and lord knows how we passed over this little gem of a boutique nursery.
It’s a concrete building on a corner with windows along the front that look in on the gift shop. But we like to get an idea of what the actual nursery is like to decide if it’s worth our time. So we explored along the wall facing a side street and found a locked gate that gave us a peak into the plant area. We could only see a little bit of it—but that was enough to get us all excited for The Unknown!
We went right to the front door and entered, but to get to the plants, the floor plan forced us to look at the all the knick-knacks and crap.
It’s a classy place with everything in nice displays, but crap is crap to obsessive plant nerds and there was a lot of it. I have often wanted to ask a salesperson—or better yet the owner of a crap-heavy nursery—just how much of it actually sells. Because EVERY nursery has it. I’ve seen it all a zillion times! Not interested.
Now give me some furniture, and I am all over it!
I love love love that blue couch because of its mixed textiles. I love the white bench too, but at my place it would stay white for about 5 minutes due to “country living” and snot-nosed grandkids (’tis the season) that must put their hands on everything!
When we finally got to the plants, Dig Gardens impressed us with beautiful plant groupings such as this one with varying tints of purple…
I love the Tibouchina urvillean (Princess Flower) at the top, but my place is too cold. I’d have to grow her in the greenhouse. FYI, she is super easy to propagate from cuttings.
Can’t go wrong with mixing purple and gray together with a spot of green and a hint of pink. They appear to be Artemisia, Petunia Superwave, Senecio, Palm, Dusty Miller or Bachelor’s Button.
I was in heaven among all the foliage plants. Unfortunately, I’d seen them all before, and the ones I would have purchased, I have already. So I came away empty handed.
But that’s not the point of visiting nurseries. (You get that by now, right?)
At any rate, waltzing along in my usual nursery hyper-focused style, a theme came to mind and I got my camera ready.
I started taking pictures of all the charming chair groupings. But I came upon so many of these teardrop shaped chairs that I decided to sit in one to see if they were comfortable or just charming to look at.
I picked a chair, sat in it and looked at my surroundings while I evaluated the feel of it. Then I looked down at myself.
OMG, you women Readers!!! And I am speaking to women here ‘cuz some of you will understand exactly what I am about to say.
These chairs are an example of the kind that are sooo NOT flattering to any woman larger than size 2. Here’s why:
1. You thought you had somewhat perky breasts (with help from a very good bra)? When you sit in one of these chairs, you do not. They go to the wayside.
(hmm)
2. You thought your stomach was somewhat flat (ish) due to those perky breasts? It is not. When you sit down, it pooches out.
3. You thought you had one chin? Sit down and you have three.
4. Your arms? Just let them fall to the side and hang like a monkey’s. If you swing them up onto your stomach, you add 5 more inches to your pooch.
5. The leg situation? You can’t even touch the ground. They just dangle.
6. If you thought you were fit as a fiddle, try getting out of one of these chairs! Damn near impossible.
The people who make them….do they not test them? Do they not realize that you sit down and are immediately forced way back with your knees facing the sky? Lordy have mercy—I’m certain a man thought these up.
And let’s not even discuss price. I think a set of 2 goes for $1000. Well NO WAY José, or Jason, or John or whoever you are! Your chairs will not grace my backside for any price.
Now these are much better…
Except I would not put them in full sun. You’ll burn your ass off. And if you put cushions on them, your feet dangle.
See, Readers? I am a very observant person. It’s a gift. I use it so you won’t have to suffer. You’re welcome.
Now here are some chairs my mom gave me about 20 years ago.
We’ve had a few laughs watching people sit in them because you have to put your butt and back all the way in. If you don’t, when you shift your body in any way, the chair just flips out from under you and you’re on the ground! (I finally put them where they can be only “charming.”)
So. Chairs at nurseries? I’ll stick to waltzing thanks.
I look better.
