106 Notable Nurseries 2
July 25, 2025
108 Fall Into My Garden
November 7, 2025
The Secret Garden
8450 W Stockton Blvd, Elk Grove, CA 95758 • (916) 682-6839
Website • Facebook • Instagram • YouTube
A P and I visited The Secret Garden on our way home from visiting out-of-town nurseries. We got there late in the day—which explains why it was 105 degrees. (Who in the hell else goes nursery shopping in the late afternoon?!)
Because of the heat we did not stay as long as we might have. But we still managed to put a dent in our wallets!
Twelve years ago, I attended college just down the street and used to pop into The Secret Garden fairly often.
Back then it had just moved from a smaller location and was not well stocked. Let me tell you, they’ve more than made up for that now. WOW! It’s amazing.
Did I mention The Secret Garden is all about SUCCULENTS?
This nursery has endless tables of succulents and so many beautiful displays it’s a tad overwhelming. But for AP, it was a “better than sex” kind of day!
If you can’t find a succulent you love here, or a display idea to die for, something’s not right with you. Here are some that caught my eye…
Obviously, all these displays are the result of years of growth. We all know succulents grow at a snail’s pace.
The trick is planting them close together in clusters. As they multiply, just clip the babies and give them new homes.
Take a look at this gorgeous 6-foot succulent woman…
What a showstopper! She’s built around sturdy 4-inch metal tube with a metal base at the bottom. At her shoulders, another metal plate supports her concrete head. Her body is formed from two layers of chicken wire with a 4-inch space between that holds soil and moss for planting.
How do I know this info? Because I’m a curious person and had a nice chit-chat with Jasmine, the owner’s daughter, who explained how the woman is made.
Naturally, I’m now dreaming of making my own version this winter. (Oh Mike…..?!)
Here’s a clever touch—using sewer pipes for a border…
The pipe most likely came from Gladdy McBean, a local manufacturer that’s been making clay pipe for more than 150 years.
I did something similar in my garden years back—even planted succulents in the pipes. Great minds think alike.
Remember my long search for a wrought-iron umbrella for hanging plants? All the ones I’ve found are used in displays and are never for sale.
But when I saw this contraption at The Secret Garden, my great mind said to me, “THIS could work…”
It’s 4-inch tube with a wheel attached at the top—perfect for welding on some hooks to hang pots. (Oh Mike…..?!)
Speaking of pots—great prices here, Readers. Rows and rows of them…
And in a section of ornamental plants and veggies, I found this real gem…
Alocasia odora ‘Variegata’
I say “gem” because it was priced at $50. Yes, FIFTY. In a 4-inch pot!
You know I have a weakness for green-and-white variegated foliage. Each leaf has its own marbled pattern like a work of art.
But at that price??? I did not snatch it immediately up. My usual schtick in high-priced decisions is to give it a long think. Maybe this is so, later, I can claim I practiced self-control, LOL.
But I am sensibly price conscious, so I wandered around in the damn heat for half an hour before giving in. Because of course it came home with me.
Alocasias can be outdoor or indoor plants. Outside, they die back in winter and return bigger and better in late spring. I have several in pots outdoors, but none of them cost me anywhere near $50!
So this “gem” now has a place of honor in my garden…
The Secret Garden has one of the more charming gift shops I’ve seen. I spotted this book there and bought it—but, as you can tell by the title, not for me…
I bought it for visitors at my house (cuz I get so many!…yeah, not) who need something to do besides shop, eat and drink. Not that there’s anything wrong with those—especially to recover from a hike!
Above, I said if you can’t find a succulent you love at this nursery, something’s not right. Well something’s not right with me ’cause I came away without buying a single succulent!
But no worries—AP bought plenty to make up for it!
If you like garden crafts, check out The Secret Garden’s workshop page.
BY THE WAY….
The Sherwood Demonstration Garden is hosting its annual Fall Into Gardening event this year, celebrating both its 15-year groundbreaking and 10 years open to the public!
It happens October 4, 2025 from 9am to 2pm.
At 10am, I’m giving a free class on propagation techniques. See you there?
