Wednesday, October 17, 2012

mid-century halloween at roger's gardens

Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar, California has been selling their ridiculously over-priced gardening and home decorating goods to the citizens of Newport Beach for over 35 years. With their approximate location being less than five minutes from my home, I have been known to drop in. Especially around the holidays.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012

Intrigued?

Roger's is a true specialty garden center. On their website:
Roger’s Gardens is a destination home and garden store for those seeking creative ideas and unique products for outdoor and indoor living. The grounds at Roger’s Gardens are filled with beautiful foliage and flowering plants, fountains and designer pottery.
Now speaking of designer pottery ... (were we?) ... I have it on good authority that our GIANT pot that we got through the Landscaper, was from the same company that distributes to Roger's. And, I have to tell you it was a third of the price.

Roger's bread and butter are the holidays. They get a big head start usually. Their Halloween Blackstone Manor display opened late August 2012. And, they have plenty to decorate your mid-century McMansion. Even though the temperatures were in the 80's this weekend (please don't hate us for being warm), visiting Roger's gives us Southern Californians the fake feel of fall.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


You may or may not quite realize, in Southern California you get NO FALL LEAVES. So we have to be satisfied with fake fall leaf wreathes. Boo. 

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


While taking pictures of fall, I was distracted by a bubbling pot. I apologize, I'll get back on topic.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Roger's has a, shall we say, a designer form of pumpkins. Although intriguing, these little sweeties will cost you. The Hollywood Star behind them says "In Loving Memory of Jerry Poster, 1937-1994, Star of Friendship." I'll have to get back to you on just who Jerry Poster is as the internet did not reveal (no disrespect intended).

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Gross. Designer white pumpkins. DO. NOT. USE. THESE. Anemic and sick but perfect for a haunted house.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Entrance to Brookstone Manor looks decently spooky. Nice look of creepy succulents and grass that us lazy Southern Californians utilize liberally throughout our landscapes.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Now we get down to it. What can you buy to decorate your house for Halloween? Not very mid-century but sufficiently creepy. And these upscale Halloween decor items will set you back a buck or two. Pottery Barn prices for sure, plus a little. How about about one or two items every year for the next 20 years? Frankly, that was how I amassed Christmas.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


The white decorated pumpkin is attractive.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Roger's sets out an AWESOME glass chandelier display for Brookstone manor. Not that I want one anytime soon, but I can certainly can appreciate a glass lighting fixture.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Creepy torsos. I don't totally get it but they are spooky.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Gratuitous skull or two, or three.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Typical party stuff.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Okay two pictures of this because it took some examination to understand. All the feet and hands are the green wicked witch. But too many feet. They are stuffed under a pillow. This display is made up like a bed. And the shadowy objects are bug shadows crawling back and forth which is a decent gross effect. But I think if you have to stop, pause and analyze, the spook factor gets a little lost.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Straight up pumpkin plates and tureens.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Remind you of anything? 100% ripped off from Disney's Haunted Mansion. Not that there is anything wrong with that. There is a candelabra floating back and forth at the end of the hall. Nicely done, actually.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Weird little critters to sit around a Pottery Barn house.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


I like this stuff. Super expensive. 3 digits.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Can you see that the furry thing on the left is a screeching black cat? Of course I like it!

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


More stuff for the table. Look at the skull name card holders to the right. If my mom gave Halloween dinners she would buy these, FOR SURE!

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


The houses below are not small, both well over two feet high. Would certainly need the right space as they are too big for tiny mid-century moderns.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012

I kind of want these. Creepy china sets with bugs, snakes and birds. But honestly, we have a set of Christmas china that I never pull out. Lazy. Note to self: pull out Christmas china.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Leaving the house there was a display of creepy garden angels. LOVE.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


And we are back. Pumpkins.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


I really like this spooky backdrop. They wrapped ropes and some sort of black netting around lattice and sticks. Nice effect. 

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012

This space is where Roger's does classes. They did a pumpkin carving one yesterday and recorded it.




Creepy owl display. Kind of mid-century? Yes?

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Fountains! Yay! I like this one a lot. We have yet ANOTHER courtyard that I haven't revealed on the blog which is absolutely an overgrown mess (future project).  Our house, like certain kinds of mid-century homes, is a series of unconnected yard spaces. We don't actually have a back yard for example.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


As I was exiting Roger's I wandered into a little workshop. With succulents. Dang, I wish I'd known.

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


The Roger's seminar attendees were making pumpkins filled with little succulents. It didn't appear that the succulents were planted in the pumpkins. The ladies seemed to be breaking off little parts and gluing the succulents in place over a bed of moss (I tried to spy but the camera gave me away and I had to scuttle along). Succulents will look good without water for weeks so this makes sense. Extremely cool little arrangement and very Southern California. 

Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012


Roger's Garden, Corona del Mar CA, Halloween 2012

A craft project! If I did crafts, I would be ecstatic.

Roger's Gardens is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The shop is located at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road.


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10 comments:

  1. That is some store. I, like you, have to settle for fake leaves too as we don't get fall leaves in Texas either. But I do love the fact that it will be 80 today:-)
    Happy Fall!

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    Replies
    1. Happy Fall indeed!!! But, poor Texas! You guys have had a drought, yes? You could really use less heat.

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  2. LOL. Loved the first few lines. Brutal honesty....I like your style! We'll have to hit it up for a visit when we're in the area. Thanks for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. Check it out. It is a crazy nice place. If I am in the mood for an unusual plant, I'll stop by Roger's. Their selection is much better than the big box stores. But I never buy a ton of stuff. Just not possible.

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  3. I already have a creepy cherub peeking out through my greenery. My gardener suggested the placement--far far away from any foot traffic or likely viewers. I should put a spotlight on it for Halloween. You mentioned pots--do you know about the cheap pot place on First St.? They have a huge selection. And must try the succulents on the pumpkins--can give them to my daughters for Halloween presents.

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    Replies
    1. No, I do not know about the cheap pot place on First Street in Santa Ana. You are holding out on me again. I am sure your daughters will love succulent pumpkins. :)

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  4. I love the succulent pumpkins, but I think I'd rather plant them in a pot and set in down inside the pumpkin. All that glue and moss stuff sounds like more work than I'd be willing to do.

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    Replies
    1. I totally agree Dana. I really try to avoid crafts.

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  5. The First St. pot place will blow your mind and maybe your budget. We must make a field trip.

    ReplyDelete

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