Saguaro Feliz: Annie and Me at The Succulent Cafe Amazing tips

During succulent celebrity Annie Schreck's week-long visit to Southern CA, of course we went to The Succulent Cafe near San Diego. It's a charming outdoor patio-garden eatery specializing in pastries, espresso and lovely succulents in decorative containers. Location: 505 Oak Ave., Carlsbad, CA, three blocks from the beach.

Driftwood and Succulents, Annie (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Annie with a driftwood succulent arrangement at The Succulent Cafe

Meet Annie

Annie is the staff horticulturist and researcher who produces informational videos for the largest online succulent nursery: Mountain Crest Gardens.

As she and I sat amid walls of succulents and chatted over lavender mocha and chai, Annie explained she has "the coolest job in the world" despite it being "the middle of nowhere" in northern CA near the Oregon border. She also mentions some of her favorite succulents, including two she's seen while hiking the Pacific Northwest.

About the Succulent Cafe

Here's a description of The Succulent Cafe from an article I did for a Better Homes & Gardens publication two years ago:

"Owner Peter Loyola's aim is 'to create an environment that appeals to all the senses.' He achieves this with fragrant coffee, flaky pastries, a splashing fountain, soft music, and colorful plants in textural containers.

Succulents in soup ladles The Succulent Cafe (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Succulents in soup ladles at The Succulent Cafe

"Loyola enjoys the challenge of planting succulents in objects such as wood pallets, vinyl gutters, and vintage kitchen utensils. 'The more patina the better,' he says, gesturing to a verdigris copper colander holding blue and pink echeverias.

"In addition to coffee drinkers, dogs on leashes, babies in carriages, and brightly dressed cyclists, visitors include tourists taking photos. 'Locals come here to unwind,' Loyola says. 'But if you're from Minnesota, you probably don't see succulents all that often, and you're mesmerized.'

"When designing with succulents, Loyola often places the largest plant in the center, then surrounds it with smaller ones. Containers may also have a cascader, like a fine-leaved sedum, string-of-pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) or burro tail (Sedum morganianum)."

See 40+ examples in the Gallery below.

More Annie Adventures

This video---part of a series of Annie's succulent adventures in my neck of the woods---introduces you to the effervescent, engaging Annie. In a different video, she introduces yours truly to fans and followers.

Soon to come in the series are additional destinations as well as fun, creative projects. Make sure you don't miss any by subscribing to my YouTube channel and that of Mountain Crest Gardens.