Colors: Lincoln Avenue Nursery

My front yard's been looking drab. I wanted some color to punch it up. We've got several good nurseries to choose from in Pasadena. I like every one I've been to, each for different reasons. Here's why I like the Lincoln Avenue Nursery:

First, it's in a house! Well, it's actually bursting out of a house. Plants on the steps, pots on the porch, bags of potting soil stacked up beneath the windows...

Second, it's got history. According to owner Ramon Franco, the original owners were a German family who built the house in 1903 and stayed for twenty years. I'm not clear on whether or not they had a nursery (Franco is, but I didn't write it down), but the family who came next definitely did. They were of Japanese descent, and for two generations they ran a nursery out of the house at 804 Lincoln Avenue until they sold it to Ramon and his wife Teresa five years ago.

Now the Franco family (son Juan works there, too) nurture plants and customers alike. It's a busy, friendly place.

Other reasons to like the Lincoln Avenue Nursery are the huge variety of pots, plants and garden decor scattered about the big lot. It's just plain luscious. (Hmm. Oxymoron.)

I was looking for color for my front garden. I certainly went to the right place.