Even in familiar places, like Palm Springs, I’m always looking for new adventures. When we ran away for the weekend a few weeks ago, we made a point of visiting the Moorten Botanical Garden and I was so glad we did! Established in 1938, it’s the loveliest enclave.
I’ve never seen more variety of cacti, succulents, and other desert flora in one place…. I was a kid in a candy store. I love succulents- I carried them in my wedding bouquet- so I moseyed down the paths like molasses, inspecting the gardens carefully.
Some of those cacti are older than I am, which is kind of mind boggling to think about. It was really interesting to see the transition in texture from rough bark to smooth flesh on the oldies. I have a special soft spot for agaves- we have a few in our backyard, and they’re a favorite chicken snack, so not nearly as stunning as these.
The property is just gorgeous- beautifully yet authentically landscaped. There’s a small greenhouse, which is full of a million amazing spiky varietals, labeled and arrayed in a magical little space.
Marimekko Target set (kids, sold out) // jean jacket // hat // gladiators
Creosote- that bramble with bits of white fluff- is such a weird plant, and I just love it. I was perpetually burying my face in it and inhaling. It looks so delicate, but is actually hardy, and it smells like fireworks or a campfire, sharp and smoky. I especially adore it when intermingled with really fragrant florals, like tuberose or peonies- it’s a lovely little contradiction.
But when I made it to the succulent nursery section, my day was made. Table after table of beautiful succulents at amazing prices… I wanted dozens, not gonna lie. But I limited myself to a small mix-and-match of $1 baby succulents. I spent far too long deliberating, but it was hard to decide which were sturdy enough to survive my epic black thumb. All are still hanging on at home, out of reach of chicken nibbles, so I’m feeling hopeful over here!
loveRavayna