1. Due to our lovely Mediterranean climate, I can garden year-round! No having to bring in potted plants so their pots don’t freeze and crack, no putting my plants to “bed” for the winter.
2. No plant-eating critters - specifically snails, grasshoppers, and aphids - I imagine that they pack their bags and travel down south for the winter (sorry Central and South America).
3. Many cool-weather crops are s-l-o-w growers, so planting in early fall gives them ample time to mature, so I can plant my beets, carrots, peas, potatoes, broccoli and enjoy them at Thanksgiving and all the way through Christmas and into the new year!
4. We are blessed with a plethora of amazing gardening centers. Because fall gardens need less work, I finally have time to visit all of our supporting MLHMGT nurseries…
Upland Nursery, M and M Nursery, Orange County Farm Supply, and The Potting Shed all in Orange. Then over to Laguna Hills Nursery in Santa Ana all in one day! Then there’s Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar, Nursery by Southwinds in Irvine, Heavenly Vintage Nursery in Fountain Valley and Village Nursery in Huntington Beach.
Up to the Los Angeles area, there’s Brita’s Old Town Gardens in Seal Beach, H & H Nursery in Lakewood, Ricardo’s Nursery in Long Beach. And last but not least - in south county (my neck of the woods), there's Green Thumb Nursery in Lake Forest and Tree of Life Nursery along with Plant Depot, both in San Juan Capistrano.
5. Last but not least I’m thankful to be a Southern California gardener because I’ve met so many amazing “Real Gardeners” through my years of touring the Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour!
Contributed by Cindie Reilly
MLHMGT Board member