Carpinteria Growers Tour

click photo to enlarge		 We spent a weekend in Carpinteria on what their chamber of commerce calls Carpinteria Naturally. We toured 4 different growers. At the first stop, Hollandia Produce, they grew lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers hydrophonically. They did not allow photos. They can pick a tomato plant for 40 weeks! This picture is at Ever-Bloom farms. 

click photo to enlarge		 Ever-Bloom grows Gerberas, Germinis and Anthiriums. Many parts of the operation are automated and computer controlled. 

click photo to enlarge		 This is Island View Tropical Nursery where  we ate lunch outside in the gardens. Islands is the only stop that had a large area where they sold to the public and they had a very eclectic collection of stuff. They had really unique outdoor displays and indoor displays.

click photo to enlarge		 This was taken outdoors at Island View. I can't tell you the type of flower but I love the photo.

click photo to enlarge		 This was taken at our last grower for the day Gallup & Stribling Orchids. Since it was a week before Easter everything was in bloom.

The weekend trip was a lot of fun and we found a few good restaurants and visited a seal rookery.