Stopping at The Tropics, Inc. in Hollywood, California
There are always so many beautiful antique and vintage planters to see at The Tropics, Inc. in Hollywood, California - it's definitely become one of my favorite stops whenever I am in the Los Angeles area.
During a recent business trip, I paid a visit to Ron Horziencik, CEO and President of the 20,000 square foot gallery. You may have seen the post on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48. Ryan and his team offer plants and accessories for both residential and corporate use, real estate staging, and television and film projects. I always find something interesting and inspiring whenever I walk through the space.
Here are some photos from my latest visit, enjoy. And if you're in the area and want to browse The Tropics, Inc. nursery, please call and make an appointment.
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- I always add The Tropics, Inc. to my list of must-see places whenever I travel to Los Angeles. It’s a trove of beautiful items. Ryan’s father, Ronald J. Hroziencik, started the business selling junk at a swap meet with his college roommate. Occasionally, they would have plants to sell, and customers loved them. Now, it’s a successful establishment with a large inventory of unique and beautiful plants, containers, and more.
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- Ryan has a variety of planters for sale inside and out – in all different sizes, forms, and materials. Here is an assortment of vintage vessels inside the showroom.
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- Some of his interesting pieces are planted. This is a Sanseveria “Featherwood” Forest in a low iron ceramic disk planter.
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- Here is an Abromeitiella brevifolia mound in a vintage French faux bois planter. Abromeitiella plants are mat-forming succulents with spined leaves arranged in numerous rosettes. They grow slowly and sometimes form cushion-shaped colonies. In their natural environment, they almost never get water, and have developed the capacity to absorb water from the humidity in the air.
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- In another area are these specimen sculptural aged Aloidendron dichotomum, formerly Aloe dichotoma, the quiver tree or kokerboom – a tall, branching species of succulent plant, indigenous to Africa, specifically in the Northern Cape region of South Africa, and parts of Southern Namibia.
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- This is a vintage Willy Guhl planter. Willy Guhl was a pioneering Swiss furniture designer and one of the first industrial designers in Switzerland. He designed a wide range of objects and furnishings, from chairs to door handles, church pews, and vases. He is probably best known for his chairs, especially the Loop Chair. In 1951, the Swiss company Eternit commissioned Guhl—along with his students at the School of Applied Arts in Zurich—to create a line of attractive and durable planters for use indoors or out. These planters were made using concrete. This Willy Guhl tulip planter is resting on a vintage French faux bois table with chair.
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- Here is a miniature Tylecodon bonsai in a low vintage French concrete bowl planter. Tylecodon butter tree is a robust succulent shrub with a caudiciform trunk and usually well-branched.
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- Perhaps some of you recognize this – I have several at my Bedford, New York farm. It is a giant vintage steel sugar kettle. Sugar kettles were used on 19th century Louisiana plantations for the production of sugar. Sugar cane was placed in the large, spherical vessels and cooked down to make syrup. Because they could withstand such high heat, they were also used for cooking. They also make instant and effective fire pits and can be used as planters.
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- As many of you know, I am a big fan of faux bois planters and always spot them wherever I go. Faux bois is from the French meaning “false wood” and refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in a variety of mediums. It was probably first crafted with concrete using an iron armature by garden craftsmen in France called “rocailleurs” using common iron materials such as rods, barrel bands, and even chicken wire. This large vintage French faux bois planter has handles and the original patina.
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- This is an aged Ficus nuda bonsai “forest” in a vintage steel disk planter. Ficus is one of the most popular trees for indoor bonsai. It is an excellent grower and needs little care.
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- Here’s another vintage French faux bois planter.
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- And in this corner, a smaller vintage faux bois planter on a faux bois stand. In Mexico and Texas, this style is sometimes known as “el trabajo rústico” meaning the rustic work.
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- And yet another vintage French faux bois planter – I admired them all.
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- In the back, I spotted several assorted vintage Willy Guhl planters.
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- This is a vintage French concrete garden table with a wooden base.
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- This vintage French faux bois planter is rectangular – they can be found in all shapes and sizes.
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- Here is a pair of rare Willy Guhl geometric planters – mid-century abstract triangular vessels made from eternite, a durable and lightweight fiber cement.
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- Here’s a vintage French faux bois branching planter.
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- And a vintage Betty Cobonpue basket planter. Betty Cobonpue is a Philippines-based designer. She describes her design sensibility with a simple mantra: “No hard edges.” This piece is very smooth all the way around.
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- This is a vintage French concrete planter with encrusted seashells.
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- And perfect for the holidays – a vintage French concrete deer sculpture. The Tropics, Inc. is a one-of-a-kind botanical gallery full of amazing and interesting pieces. If you are ever in the Hollywood area, please visit.
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