San Diego succulent expert and grower Carl Dykema has moved and expanded his Exotic Gardens succulent nursery, which was in Hillcrest for seven years. Exotic Gardens is now at 2212 El Cajon Blvd, midway between Park and Texas, near Mississippi. The new location "is four or five times as big as the old one," Carl says. In order to better serve a clientele that includes collectors, home gardeners and landscape designers, "we still offer unusual specimens you won't see elsewhere, but now we have room for larger quantities of plants, and much larger specimens." Parking is easier, too, and off-street.

Exotic Gardens stocks locally grown aloes, bromeliads, cacti, staghorn ferns, imported pottery, and much more -- over 100 species of succulents. "I grow plants seldom found in nurseries, including unusual pachypodiums, large tree aloes, and many Euphorbias from seeds and cuttings," Carl says. Especially noteworthy is Euphorbia jacksonii, with yellow and green mottled, branching stems. Carl, who has off-site growing grounds on 1.5 acres, soon will expand his business to online sales, giving Exotic Gardens the ability to take advantage of the growing demand for succulents Nationwide. Click here to see pictures of the growing grounds.