Rolling Hills Garden Center- Has to one of the best nurseries I've visited. Have been visiting this place for a while, stumbled onto it one day, couldn't get out of there. 2 hours later and $75 later, headed to LA with my plants couldn’t wait to get home and plant them in my garden. I have to say those were the best plants I've ever bought, the plants are healthy and not pot bound. Most of the pants are blooming, which is eye candy for me, love blooming plants, the brighter the color the more of them I want to take home. Staff is friendly and very helpful, most of their one gallon plants are $8.99, and so if you rather not spend that much on a plant this is not the place for you. Make sure you look at their selection of seeds, great selection. Did I mention the have chicken coops, old one, well they looked old. Three chickens will yield 15 eggs a week……… So, if you find yourself in Solvang, stop by and check this place out, a gardeners delight you won’t come home empty handed.

Macetas Locas.............

I've tried to visit this place for years, finally made it.

Madd Potter, the name sounds mad..........

It's a small place but they have great pots. A little pricey, but if you're looking for something different, you found the place.

They do have some plants, mostly succulents, very healthy looking plants.

The fountains are nice, not much of selection and a little expensive. If you're in that creative place, they have all you need to create your own fountain, so go for it.

Interesting garden accents, check out the peacock's made of aluminum. Make sure you see the wall garden, I'm thinking I can create this wall garden.

So, as you head south on Coast Hwy and that Java craving hits you, stop at Pannikin. Great coffee, nice place to sit and contemplate life in general, take your book (or not) sit back and relax, you are in Encinitas.

http://www.maddpotter.com/

This is not a grden center................

Home Depot- not much I can say about HD, but one thing is for sure they don't specialize in plants, this does not apply to all HD stores.
Some of their garden centers are not well maintained, most of their plants are on their way out, to the compost pile that is.
Their plants are pot bound and dry, but if you're idea of gardening is give your plants CRP, then you found your garden center. I admit I have played saviour to some of the HD plants, but it was a grueling task and it was touch and go, mostly go....to the compost pile.
By the way don't buy tomatoe plants a HD, why buy a three foot tall plant that's in a 4" pot, really now.........people this is not that hard.