Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar has been growing since 1965, starting out in Costa Mesa and after ten years moving to Corona del Mar.  It is inland from Pacific Coast Highway and seems to have perfect growing conditions.  In the 60s I lived in Huntington Beach so it was sort of a local nursery for me when we were landscaping our new house there.  

The Farmhouse, an "open air" restaurant opened on the ground in 2016 and was an immediate hit.  Reservations for lunch or dinner are a necessity.   Several months ago I invited friend Carol Bednar to go with me for lunch, but it took a while for me to secure a lunchtime reservation and that date was today!.  We walked around the grounds, admiring all the flowers and arrangements and outdoor furniture and home decor.  They do offer a bit of everything.  At Christmas they do fabulous trees and decorations and, of course, planters.  Their specialty has always been hanging basket in every size and season.  I have some pictures and on Friday I will do our lunch as "Friday Food".  It was delicious, as always. 

This hanging basket is about 30" in diameter and 36" tall.  

There were many of these "birdhouse" baskets with succulents.  Very cute. 

Their displays are outstanding.  This door may lead to offices, but the plants are arranged to make you want to do this to your own front door. 

The current special theme is hummingbirds and plants that attract them are featured.  

Impatiens and lobelia.

Pretty pink begonia. 

Lots of walking to see lots of plants, flowers, and etc.

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Rainy Day at Roger's Gardens 12-07-19

Visiting Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach, CA, is always special, no matter what time of year or what the weather may be.  They have a vast array of plants, outdoor furniture, pots, doodads and whatnots that tempt anyone with a garden.  Or even those of us without one!  

 Right now, of course, they have lots of different kinds of Christmas  trees.  These are artificial with tiny lights already built in to the branches. 

They have a complete line of plants for any garden. 

Including the oh-so-popular landscape roses. These are looking a little sad in the rain, but once the sun is out they are beautiful. 

The blooms on this hibiscus are huge and very red, which might not show up in this picture. 

Our most dominate tree that changes color in the fall is the liquid amber or Sweet Gum.  These grow in the parking lot at Roger's.  

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Friday Food 12-07-18

The small art quilt group "Arty Girls" met today for our Christmas Lunch at The Farmhouse at Rogers Gardens in Newport Beach.  We met here a year ago on Dec 8, 2017, and discovered we could make a reservation a year ahead and did so.  Coincidentally, we had the same table and the same waitress this year as we did last.  Meant to be, I guess.   The Farmhouse is a "Field to Table" sort of place so much of the food is locally grown.  The selections are unique and delicious, I recommend it.  Although it is expensive.  My lunch alone, just the salad and the dessert was $46.  But it is worth it once in awhile. 

This is the Shrimp, Scallop, veggie salad. With butternut squash and carrots, caramelized cauliflower, arugula, raspberry vinaigrette, pureed satsumaimo sweet potatoes, pomegranate seeds , and lovely little blue flowers.  This is Bonnie's plate.

Grilled Pomegranate Glazed Salmon Salad with roast butternut squash, pink lady apples, roast leeks, cherry tomatoes, quinoa, mixed lettuces, Dijon vinaigrette, candied pecans, pomegranate seeds.  This was Patti's plate. 

This is the pizza of the day and the only thing I know about it is that is has cheese and bacon.  And Monica said it is very good. 

Here is another view of a Shrimp, Scallop, veggie salad which is described above.  Bonnie and I had the same meal, but her flowers were prettier.  I ate mine. 

For dessert Patti ordered the Carrot Cake in a Mason jar.  It is only three or four bites, which is probably as much as one wants after such a large salad.  

I, on the other hand, pigged out on the Toasted Almond Cake

with pomegranate honey sauce,  poached pear, sweet cream and slivered almonds.

Worth every bite. 

The gardens were lovely, all washed clean with yesterday's rain.  I took a pass on visiting the gift shop with a FABULOUS display of every kind of ornament one could possibly desire.  I am just not into Christmas.  There were a lot of people there, perhaps because everyone had stayed home in yesterday's storm.  

We did exchange gifts, I managed to have finished all three fiber postcards and will post them later.  The ladies seemed to like them and I love the fabric and books I received.  Altogether a lovely day. 

https://www.rogersgardens.com/
https://farmhouserg.com/gallery/
https://farmhouserg.com/food-drink/

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Lunch at the Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens 12-01-17

Four friends met at Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach to gawk at all the lovely things on display and to have lunch at the Farmhouse restaurant.  What a great day it was.  Roger's Gardens has about everything anyone might need to decorate their home or garden.  The Christmas decorations are amazing - they feature the Radko glass tree ornaments, which have their own room.  There are dozens of decorated trees with fabulous themes.  I especially enjoyed the seaside tree with shells, mermaids, fish, etc.  But I don't do a tree anymore, so it was just looking not buying.  The nursery offerings are just amazing and very colorful no matter what time of year.  We had lunch at the Farmhouse - my choice was the salmon salad which was delicious.  I took pictures of the desserts because they were all so tempting.  It was a beautiful sunshiny day and the temperature was just right to dine outdoors. 

 

Del, Patti, Monica 

 

Lemon Cheesecake.

Apple Crisp with vanilla ice cream.

Chocolate Rice Pudding.

Loved this Santa on a ceramic tray.

Violas in many colors.

The sign said "Our favorite winter flower" - cyclamen.

Cyclamen

Cyclamen with a fringe.

These baskets are lovely - $39.99.

The frilly white flower in the basket above.  I was sorely tempted, but I have lost my green thumb and can hardly keep succulents alive. 

 

It was a lovely day.

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Flowers at Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar 08-29-17

Hard to know what to photograph among such gorgeous plants.  Here are a few I admired.  More in the future. 

Dahlias in a pot.

Coneflowers in a raised bed.

Don't know the name of these.

 Dymondia margaretae  This is a groundcover that I have been thinking of using in my front yard in place of ugly grass.  It can be walked on, but not for high traffic areas. 

Mandevilla sanderi  "Faire Lady" in hanging pot.

 Mandevilla sanderi  "Faire Lady"  DETAIL

 

Echibeckia "Summertime Orange"

 

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Friday Feet 08-25-17

This foot is the hostess at the Farmhouse. She says the shoes are so comfortable she is going back to Target to buy some more.

 

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Ladies lunching out 08-23-17

My friend Carol has been talking about this restaurant since she went with friends a month or so ago.  So we matched up dates with our friend Teresa and gave it a try yesterday.  It is Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar.  I used to shop for plants at Roger's Gardens, an upscale nursery with fabulous plants and imaginative hanging baskets and multi-plant pots.  They also have patio furniture, a top rated gift shop, and just about anything a gardener would be seeking.  It isn't for penny-pinchers as it is located in the very elite area of Corona del Mar, almost adjacent to the VERY upscale Fashion Island.  Years ago, when I lived in Huntington Beach I did a lot of gardening and would frequent Rogers for unusual plants and unique planting ideas.  I will post some pictures later that I took yesterday of the flowers on display.

 

I thought I had taken pictures of our lunch plates but all I took was dessert.  Of course!  I had wonderful Icelandic cod with baby broccoli and farro and a lovely mild sauce.  Carol had the Grilled Hanger Steak with Heirloom Tomato Salad, and Teresa had a Gorgonzola & Granny Smith Apple & Chicken  Salad (w/candied pecans, dried cranberries, mixed lettuce and raspberry vinaigrette). Everything was delicious and beautifully presented.  Of course, we couldn't resist dessert. 

 

Flourless Chocolate Cake w/fruit, red wine sauce and whipped cream.

Peach Crisp w/brown sugar and oat topping, vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce.

Carol Bednar

Teresa Malinowski

On the right, Teresa and Carol choose our table for next time. 

 

It was a lovely day. 

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