irwin “Win”
the staff is also introducing uncommon varieties— such as the hot new Kalanchoe thyrsiflora variegata (tri-color)—to diversify succulent containers and gardens. Inherently hardy, many succulent varieties offer the
cure to a common ailment: the black thumb. Sorensen calls them “fool proof” and Overbach says they are en vogue because, “They’re beautiful, they last and they’re easy to maintain.” Bromeliads, in contrast, are assumed by many to
be difficult. Hailing from South and Central America, these plants are exotic and diverse with flamboyant foliage and show-stopping blooms. Ignacio “Nacho” Mendez, who has worked for Overbach for 12 years and is called “The All Knowing One” by his boss and co-workers, says that most bromeliads don’t live up to their finicky reputation. “We’ve been discovering that they’re pretty easy to grow,” Mendez said, pointing out that many varieties grow indoors or outdoors and have various shade requirements. These relative newcomers to Island View shout their greetings with foliage that ranges from bril-
overbach President and Owner
ted
umbour Grower
Manager
kimberley
hamilton Wholesale Sales
Dorinda island view crew
liant green and eggplant purple to speckled pink and zebra striped, and their blooms offer an added shock of color. Overbach praises Umbour for the success of this exotic new twist on Island View’s inventory and respectfully refers to the head grower, who brings over 45 years of experience, as a “bromeliad freak.” Novel ideas, like the emphasis on bromeliads, have always driven Overbach’s success in the nursery in- dustry. He landed in the plant world at age 24, when he was hired by Mother Earth, one of the first plant boutiques in the Los Angeles area. Frustrated at the lack of suppliers in the market, Overbach bought a truck and began distributing plants purchased from growers far and wide. Next he rented a small, back- yard greenhouse and began growing the plants that the market sought. From there, he founded the nurs- ery Rolling Greens in Culver City, which quickly grew to demand more plant production than its 45,000 square feet could supply. Thus, Overbach’s introduc- tion to Carpinteria. In 1992, Overbach launched a wholesale nursery
at Foothill Road and Cravens Lane. Soon won over by Carpinteria’s growing climate, he sold his Culver City
macias General Manager
ignacio “nacho”
mendez Sales
Manager/ Buyer
Abel
Jimenez Wholesale
Sales Manager
katie
Sorensen Garden
Manager/ Buyer
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