SHOP LAGUNA:A Flores by any other name

Ruben Flores feels he was meant to design landscapes; after all, the word flores is Spanish for flowers.

Now Flores hopes to bring a new vitality to the Laguna Nursery, which opens for business today.

A nursery has been on the spot since the 1940s when Takashi “Pete” Kawaratani — father of the Coastline Pilot’s gardening columnist Steve Kawaratani — opened the original incarnation of the Laguna Nursery.

It was eventually sold in 2001 after Kawaratani’s death and has since seen three nursery ventures fail, the most recent being Fusano’s.

With the space again on the market, Flores saw the opportunity to fulfill a dream.

“When it became available again, I jumped on it,” Flores said.

Flores will open the nursery under the old Laguna Nursery moniker.

Flores said he was drawn into landscaping at an early age. While he was growing up, the Flores family moved multiple times.

What does he remember most clearly about the places he lived?

“The thing I remember most, more than the houses, was the yards,” Flores said.

Called to the business, Flores went to Cal Poly and earned a degree in landscaping.

After a successful career designing gardens and landscapes in Laguna for 20 years, Flores said he’s glad to open his own nursery.

The Laguna Nursery, however, isn’t just any old plant shack. It reflects Flores’ taste in plants and art creating a nursery and gallery all in one.

The nursery is set up into themed garden sections.

Flores said this is so people can see what the accessories and plants will look like in a more realistic setting.

Garden themes include a fun whimsical garden, a traditional Asian garden and even a contemplative garden complete with birds and brooding statues.

Flores travels extensively and often brings back art pieces to adorn the gardens of his clients. The nursery is filled with artifacts from his travels around the world.

The nursery houses Italian family portraits dating back to the 18th century, as well as Parisian stone sculptures of the same era.

There are 19th century iron gates from New Orleans and a terra cotta wall relief from a bank in Chicago.

Another piece from Chicago still has the scars of the great Chicago fire of 1871.

Along with the historical pieces, Flores also gets creative with some of his finds, putting his own twist on garden accessories.

One creative work of art is made from antique lobster traps Flores found in London. Another is made from brightly painted irons.

Looking for a unique back yard swing?

How about a vintage Ferris Wheel car?

Flores modified one to allow the car to be hung outdoors on a chain or rope.

Its indoor/outdoor upholstery allows it to be a versatile art element, furniture piece and conversation starter.

“It’s an alternative to the regular old whatever,” Flores said.

The unique garden accessories go to the heart of Flores’ landscaping philosophy. Flores prefers to choose the garden’s artistic centerpiece first, then model the plants around it.

The nursery’s horticultural treasures include a Japanese maple and a reserve of 17 different strains of bamboo.

Flores also has many plants made for dry weather that do well with Laguna’s natural landscape.

The Laguna Nursery opens today at 1370 South Coast Highway. Call the nursery at (949) 494-5200 for more information.