The Last San Marcos Growers Field Day

 This past October (2024) I made the journey down to Santa Barbara to participate in the last field day ever to be hosted by San Marcos Growers. This was a unique opportunity to meet others in the industry, check out the SMG grounds, plant gaze and even pick up some goodies. I actually ran into a few classmates from my alma mater who I had not seen in 20+ yrs.

San Marcos Growers Field Day "The Last Dance"

Listening to the speakers recall events, people and plants from the last many decades I was surprised by the rich history. I wasn't prepared for the nostalgia. I had the distinct feeling I'd either stumbled into the series finale of a popular show I'd only recently learned about or possibly a family reunion.

On stage the M.C. John Greenlee

John Greenlee did an admirable job as M.C. - like many in the audience I laughed out loud at his comments. He mentioned early on that some of us might know him better as Sesleria "Greenlee" which like him is well behaved in the landscape but looks better with some irrigation.

I believe that might be the San Marcos President Randy Baldwin standing next to him in red. He mentioned at one point that the website will live on after the nursery closes it's doors.

This event happened not long after the drama at Annie's Annuals, and I believe it was the same day I heard rumors about Pacific Nurseries potentially being acquired. There was definitely a sense of change in the air.

Lots of rustic displays which look a little better from a distance

Surviving on rain water since the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (?)

 

The entry area near the sales office was filled with a teaser display of dozens of specimen plants. As far as I could tell not all of these were currently in production and available for sale. In some cases I filed a mental note about what to buy going forward.

Aloe labworana

Mangave "Praying Hands"

Aloe arenicola

Dyckia "Naked Lady"

I like the look of this thorn-less Dyckia - maybe because it brings both toughness with a tropic like beauty.

Hechtia "Tehuacan" - another stunner

Aloe "Pandan" - a collectors favorite

Near the front were also a few larger specimen plants to gawk at - for example this Aloe "Pandan" which is a cross between Aloe barberae and a Fan Aloe. Even wholesale these are pricey. I often have collectors reaching out to me asking if I have any in stock. Sry.

 

The always spectacular Aloe lukeana

Aloe helenae (?)

When I first saw the above unlabeled plant I thought it was a hybrid of Aloe sabaea - possibly A. "Yemeni Gold". An employee mentioned he thought it was Aloe helenae ... I suppose it could be but the leaves look a little too "droopy" compared to the specimens I have currently. It's definitely a handsome plant!

Broad avenues held lots of landscape plants available to take home

 A marine layer hangs out in classic Santa Barbara fashion until mid-morning when it dissolves like salt in water. If you've lived along the CA coast this should be a familiar weather pattern - sometimes you can even catch the briny smell of the ocean on days with an especially dense fog.

 

Specimen sized Grevillea "Red Hooks"

I wandered around this section of the nursery and found lots of beautifully cared for plants that must have taken years to grow.

Orthophytum magalhaesii

San Marcos Growers is known for propagating lots of unusual plants and the above terrestrial bromeliad certainly had me doing a double take. I have to admit I've never paid much attention to bromeliads, so this may not be an unusual plant, but to me it was spectacular to think I could grow this in my garden.

One of many smaller avenues to explore

There seemed to be the better part of an acre devoted Aloes, Agaves and related plants which is where I spent the majority of my time. In this area there are just sooo many Aloe species and in such quantities that it would be a bit repetitive to show them all... still I need to show you as many as possible :)

Aloe distans

The thing about taking pictures at a nursery is the general lack of garden. Lots of plants but not in a garden context. But as they say "Quantity has a quality all it's own" which can be especially true in pictures.

Aloe lolwensis

If you have never felt A. lolwensis it's leaves have a very rigid, almost plastic, feel.

Aloe mawii

Aloe africana

Aloe "Birds and Bees"

I've had a few of these at my nursery and can verify that they get beefy!

Aloe bussei

I'd never see A. bussei prior to visiting the San Marcos Growers but was drawn to it's bold shape and lime green color. I picked up a few for future propagation.

Aloe pluridens

I'm a fan of Aloe pluridens because of it's delicate appearance. It's long, narrow leaves with lots of fine, marginal "teeth" give the "French Aloe" a distinctive appearance. Given enough time it turns into a petite tree aloe.

Aloe rubroviolacea

Aloe lukeana

 

Moving on to some of the bigger specimens... it's inspiring to see what some of the tree Aloes will grow into after several years - although many of the below are still adolescents.

Aloe barberae

Aloe "Samson"

Aloe "Hercules"

Aloe tongaensis "Medusa"

Aloe vaombe

I love the over the top large format leaves of A. vaombe but unfortunately so do the ants! They can absolutely destroy these plants with aphid farming.

In the back of the nursery were some older, one off plants...

Dracaena draco

Aloe mutabilis

 

They also had a nice selection of Furcraea which is a species I do not see as much of in N. California.

Furcraea bedinghausii

I bought lots of Furcraea bedinghausii / macdougalii starts last year and they have been growing happily in the nursery every since.

Furcraea macdougalii

What do you think? Any favorites? The nursery trade will certainly miss San Marcos Growers! I hope they have an awesome last year of sales before their scheduled close in Jan 2026.