By Cathy Hough, general manager and buyer

Succulent plants (above and below) have become widely known and planted in sustainable gardens. A reason for this popularity is because succulents require less water than most other plants, even when in containers.

The custom arrangements from the Marina del Rey Garden Center shown in the photos above and below can be seen in downtown Manhattan Beach on Manhattan Avenue. Shop owners came into MDRGC to ask us to help them add appeal to their storefronts and so together we selected containers and succulents that would enhance each respective business.

Succulents do not need full sun and can tolerate light shade. They come in a range of interesting colors and textures, giving gardeners, landscapers and designers a rich opportunity to create visually appealing, one-of-a-kind containers.

The custom designs in Manhattan Beach evoke the colors of the underwater world found in the ocean, literally just yards away. The downtown MB scene is vibrant and these containers add to that feel.

Stop in today to consult one of our nursery experts, Steve, Roger or CJ. They can show you our large selection of succulents and help you make decisions about how and where to plant them.

(Below) In case you don’t know, we do offer delivery, but in this instance, one of our customers decided to take a five-gallon Purple Hopseed on his Vespa.

While we don’t recommend this mode of transportation for plants, we can say that our 2+ acres is full of everything you need for your garden. We have Monrovia’s exclusive Pittosporum golf balls, which make a nice low-growing hedge. For those of you from the Midwest and East who miss your lilacs, we have the  Lavender Lady Lilac which blooms beautifully in our mild winter climate.

This Nagami Kumquat (below) is loaded with fruit, and it’s only  a seven-gallon semi- dwarf! We have a large selection of citrus. And remember, there’s no tax on edible green goods like citrus!

See you at the Marina del Rey Garden Center!