On Saturday, Alison and I set off on another adventure, this time to the Kitsap Peninsula where we attended a plant sale at Heronswood and walked the grounds, were invited to visit Sally Priest at her nursery, visited Celestial Dream Gardens, Far Reaches Farm, Had dinner at at The Public House Grill, which I highly recommend, and ended the evening walking around a few gardens and a couple of beautiful Victorian Homes. I had a marvelous time Since, after deleting many images, I still have over 500 pictures, I'll do a separate post for each of our stops. Today, Valley Nursery in Poulsbo.
Valley Nursery has a nice selection of sculpture, pots, water garden plants and supplies. This is the first time I've seen wood carvings used with water.
It's interesting but water flowing over wood worries me. Will it last? Was it treated with something? What kind of maintenance will this require?
I prefer water flowing over rocks. What do you think?
Love this and wish I had a place in my garden where it wouldn't be swallowed up in greenery.
The folks at Monrovia have released Melianthus major 'Purple Haze' for which Alison and I both fell!
Clematis 'Josaphine' is glorious! Mine is currently blooming and Alison just planted one so this beauty stayed at the nursery.
Mangave 'Bloodspot' looking quite handsome!
Speaking of handsome, I think this might be Agave 'Cornelius'. Beautiful but since Sally Priest gave me one that looks simliar but not exactly the same, It got left at the nursery. The label said assorted succulents or something equally informative. This is rare for Valley whose plants are mostly very well labeled.
Here's this fabulous Sansevieria masoniana that seems to be following me, wearing down my resistance. But a houseplant? Nah.
Aloe plicatilis is calling my name but I'd like to find a smaller (cheaper) specimen!
The chubby leaves of Graptoveria 'Opalina' are adorable and the color is stunning!
The young cones of Blue Magoo Engelman Spruce are vibrant!
Speaking of plants that make us think of others, here's some plant porn for Scott, the king of grasses.
The plant find that really made me happy was this Stachyurus chinensis 'Joy Forever.' I'd seen a couple of small rooted cuttings of this at the Bloedel Reserve sale a month ago. At $25.00 for a small pot, I had to think hard about it. I finally decided that I'd be foolish and buy one but when I went back to the vendor, they'd been sold. I did a cursory walk through the shrub area at Valley and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a gallon pot of this plant for only eleven dollars. Sigh...
Loree would be as sad as I that they keep this glorious Agave americana mediopicta 'Alba' hidden away in the employees only area. "Small is the worth of beauty from the light retired" and all!
Crassula adromischus cristatus. Such a sweet plant!
Another favorite of mine is Aeonium 'Sunburst' What's not to love?
You can see that there are a lot of cool plants at Valley Nursery! A fun non-plant surprise was the fact that all the Gnomes with their pants dropped were gone. The scary part is that they had all been sold and are now living in gardens somewhere. Another fun find was these cool plant stakes. Made of solid metal, they feel and look like they're built to last and are a fun and colorful way to mark rows of vegetables.
Here's a clever way to re purpose unwanted flatware.
This event looks like fun! I've a feeling that Sally Priest of WeHop is working with the nursery on this.
As I recognize some of her plants
and style of combining plants.
Valley always has fun surprises like this cute puppy sculpture. They also have real bathrooms which makes them a perfect first stop after driving for a while!
A most excellent adventure again. I would have loved to see Heronswood and the plant sale. Can't wait to see the other posts.
ReplyDeleteI love those container plantings and the succulents. The "Assorted Succulent" is a common plant in my garden.
My favorite nursery has restrooms that rival a nice restaurant so I know that factors in high on my rating list too.
It sure is fun to play with other garden bloggers like you did recently on the garden tour! "Assorted Succulent" is such a wonderful plant! Where would we be without them?
DeleteMany of our nurseries have port-a-potties which are fine but there's something wonderful about running water!
Was that Mangave Bloodspot in the houseplant section? I wish I'd seen it. It was good that we split up for a bit when we got there and saw different stuff, but now I wish I'd gotten that Mangave too. I love that pedestal too, but I'm not quite sure where it would go in my garden.
ReplyDeleteThere were two or three Mangaves in the houseplant section. We could always go back! The pedistal would look great inside your shade pavillion/greenhouse!
DeleteMy friend Erin also fell for (and purchased) a Melianthus major 'Purple Haze' when we were there last summer. You don't see that one very often.
ReplyDeleteSo what's the story on that stunning agave? Might it be on hold for an employee?
The Agave is a mystery. Last summer it was back there and they were pulling and potting pups to sell (there was a waiting list.) This winter, it was inside the houseplant area with a big price tag on it and now it's moved back outside. I think that with the gravel and reflected light from the structures around it's probably the brightest/warmest place they have for it. Just a guess.
DeleteAhhh...you know me too well, Peter...love the grasses...and those purple pine cones...amazing!
ReplyDeleteThere was a truly marvelous grass at Far Reaches that I'd not seen before. It had the cutest little nodding seed heads that rippled with the slightest breeze - You'll love it! I forgot to ask about it at the nursery but hopefully by the time I get to that post, I'll be able to I.D. it.
DeleteI like to imagine you and Alison careening through the nurseries, giggling maniacally and buying up all the plants. What I mean is, I'd like to come along.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty much how we roll! It would be wonderful to have more company on our adventures. I can just hear the laughter and see the plant procuring. It would be a blast!
DeleteHeather expressed my feelings quite well.
ReplyDeleteThe more the merrier. We could form a caravan and descend on the nurseries like locusts! Would you, Heather, and any other of the Ptown gang like to come up here? There's the Peninsula trip, the Vashon Island trip, local area nurseries, so many posibilities! Or we could come to PDX.
DeleteBOTH!!!
DeleteGlad I don't have a travel companion to nurseries or gardens, or I would be in more trouble than I already am! The flatware with the labels is a hoot, too. That Sansevieria masoniana would be tempting even as an indoor plant, so is moving to a cheap place on a tropical beach and having it in the ground, outside!
ReplyDeleteIt's dangerous because one often sees things that the other might have missed. Great fun, though, and the dinner conversation is a little more sparkling with a companion along. I'm voting for a cheap place on a tropical beach! Zihuatanejo, here we come!
DeleteThe wooden castle/waterfall Is very cool, but I think stone is more practical. I would take either if someone else would set it up.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that the lovely people at this nursery would be happy to set either one up for you!
DeleteI love the cones on Blue Magoo - weird name. I think i'd much prefer water over rocks rather than wood. Very cute dog. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement Peter. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteIt is a funny name but one that won't be easily forgotten. Hope you have the best day ever!
DeleteLooks like you had a wonderful time on this latest nursery crawl. A.c 'Carnival' is really slow off the mark this year - looks a had ratty which is a first! I think I lost a lot his first foliage to the snow and sleet Mother's Day weekend! The one in this post - sweet baby Jesus! I am so thrilled that another growing season is underway - not to mention the blog reading that, while relegated to once a week, allows me to travel across the continent to new and exciting nurseries, thanks to bloggers like yourself!
ReplyDeleteWe had a fantastic time on this nursery crawl! Sorry to hear that your Carnival is a bit less festive this year. I too love the blog reading that takes us all over the globe! Tired of spring (who is ever tired of spring?) Just click on over to the Australia blogs and experience autumn!
DeleteYou visit the most interesting places! We have a Melianthus at our Botanical Garden that if you rub the leaves and smell your fingers, it smells like peanut butter. Just wondering if that's always the case with this plant.
ReplyDeleteBrenda