Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona del Mar, CA

Sherman Library & Gardens is a  2.2 acre site located in Corona del Mar, CA.



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The library holds a collection of research materials which focus on the "dramatic growth and transformation of the Pacific Southwest over the past one hundred and fifty years." The gardens are meant to be an educational experience for its visitors. There is wide variety of plant material from all over the world on display, many of which have labels, all packed together in this 2.2 acre lot located in the heart of the downtown area. If you blink, you will miss the site, but it makes for a nice visit if you are in the area and wanting to get out and enjoy the sun.

Here are 4 snapshots of some of the expansive views available at the gardens:

Entry View

Featuring a densely planted bed of colorful annuals which wrap around a fountain

View towards the Central Garden
Again, densely planted beds which line the walkways and showcase the use of tropical and shade-loving plants

The Central Garden

See the trend? It's called repetition. More flower beds used to showcase seasonal color

Succulent and Cactus Garden

 Colorful mix of succulents and cactus tucked around a dry river bed

This was my favorite area, and because of this, here are a few more shots of some really beautiful specimens the garden had on display. These photos have not been modified; nature's beauty needs no modification!

Agave 'Blue Glow'

Agave 'Blue Glow' is compact Agave which grows to about 1-2' tall and 2-3' wide. It has chalky, blue-green leaves and red/yellow margins (the trim around the leaf). Under the right light the leaves have a beautiful glow.

Agave americana var. medio-picta 'Alba' (White-Striped Century Plant)

The White-Striped Century Plant is a beauty if you are lucky enough to stumble upon it. This Agave grows to a height of 3-4' tall and 4-6' wide. It has a creamy central stripe surrounded by a cool, blue-green margin. This plant definitely has a presence, and it also has pretty gnarly spines along the margins. These are best planted off in the distance, out of the way. Great to use as a focal/specimen piece, as this Agave is quite the show-stopper!

Echeveria elegans (Hens & Chicks) hugging Echeveria

The Echeveria elegans is an attractive, low-growing succulent which forms tight rosettes which spread to a width and height of about 1'. If planted properly (as done above) you can use this compact succulent in a rock garden, a green roof/wall and also as a water-efficient groundcover. The other plant is also an Echeveria; the variety I'm not sure about... E. diffractens would be my best guess. These plants (which you will notice with many, if not most succulents/agave/cactus) thrive in coastal settings and a little protection from direct sun, but it is possible to grow them more inland. They also love well-draining soil and very little watering. 

Step Enhancement

This was my favorite moment in the garden, aside from the entire succulent and cactus display (although, I didn't really notice any cactus...). Not to say that the rest of the garden bored me to tears... it's just not my aesthetic as it is very much so my idea of  "traditional" landscaping, and I tend to have a preference towards the extreme, bold and experimental/non-traditional designs.

Here is my honest opinion: This garden felt very formulated, pretty symmetrical, and honestly, quite safe. It does its job as an attractive outdoor space that makes a lovely backdrop while you are sipping on your evening cup of tea, but I find this type of landscaping a little pedestrian because of this. The steps were refreshing. A very simple treatment that made a big impact and tied the entire succulent and cactus garden together very well. It was a nice sending off point. 

Other items that I did not include in the photo sample are: the conservatory, rose garden, the discovery garden and the tea garden.

For more information on Sherman Library & Gardens, please visit their website.
Additional photos from the trip are here on my Flickr page.