Was I ever bowled over by this cool, quirky, large, something for everyone from novice gardener to the geekiest plant nerd plant place! We even saw Jose Gonzales, star of the above videos pass by. I was tempted to yell out, "Talk dirty to me Jose!" (see first video) but decorum urged restraint. Uncharacteristic, I know.
Look at this! Can you believe that we are only a few minutes from Downtown Seattle? Notice all the tall trees in the background?
I also realize that I took no pictures of the amazing shade plant selection or more or the unusual plants. It's hard to take pictures when trembling with excitement and filling your wagon.
Coneless cone flowers.
Echinacea 'Hot Papaya'
Echinacea purpurea 'Double Scoop Bubble Gum'
This place has a lot of space and all of it is full of cool stuff!
Schefflera taiwaniana anyone?
Tables and tables of grasses!
Even a good selection water plants! There were more inside!
This papyrus almost came home with me but I already got a tall one this year so this cutie stayed with the people at People's! Sure is sweet though!
One of my favorite Acers, A.palmatum 'Ukiguomo' whose foliage is ghostly white when it first emerges and looks more like flowers than foliage. Because it likes light shade, it still brightens up a dark corner beautifully. Do you enjoy seeing your favorite plants in nurseries? It's like seeing old friends!
Sarracenias always make me smile. I have several and it's fun to cut open last years dead pitchers and see how many bugs they consumed. My largest bowl of these sits atop my compost bin and loves its location!
because I didn't have any of the deep red ones, a couple of these came home with me!
And an indoor area that keeps going and going! Lots of lovely houseplants and giftware in here!
Sometimes simple is best. Yellow variegated cordyline in a simple blue pot equals magic!
Time to pay for our finds. Who is this way out chick? Why, it's none other than Alison, my partner in plant crime, with whom I've been lucky enough to share this adventure!
In addition to the aforementioned Sarracenias, the following plants came home with me. Because you can never have too many hardy fuchsias...
Because I have a recently opened up shady spot to plant, Pulmonaria 'Majeste' and Woodwardia unigemmata.
And this cool Carex sideiosticha ' Banana Boat' that Loree found on her last visit. I think it'll be happy and creates nice contrast in this shade pot with these other evergreens. gotta throw a stone or crushed glass mulch on there soon.
While I was outside taking pictures of my plant finds, I was distracted by this beautiful view from my jumble of a garden. This is the upper part of my neighbor's garden. Isn't it beautiful? The lady of the house loves to keep her garden as spotless as she keeps her house. I'm so lucky that they're understanding of my messy tendencies! (In my house/garden, you have to move stuff aside to find a place to sit - it's interesting stuff but still...) The big petasides leaves are encroaching from my garden but the neighbor doesn't seem to mind. This is the back of the house next to mine that I posted about earlier that will be going on the market soon. Interested? I'd be happy to give you more information!
Slightly different from this mess that really needs some work!
But first, there's this recently liberated area of dappled shade that needs to be planted.
That's a fun place. Jose does have the best scoop on dirt and makes it easy to remember. I'm sure you would have been the only customer who ever called that out to Jose.
ReplyDeleteI'd been wondering what you were going to do with all your new plants and now I see you've opened up plenty of room there.
The view to the neighbor's garden is gorgeous.
It was fun visiting and, as you know, visiting a nursery with a fellow gardener is a great deal of fun (also a bad influence on the wallet but that's another story.)
DeleteStill have more plants than space but that's where the creative pot stacking comes into play, right?
I'm so lucky to have these wonderful neighbors. I hope someone equally wonderful buys the house when they put it on the market later this summer. Maybe you'd like to move north?
Your neighbor's garden is beautiful. That tile patio echoed in the stained glass windows hanging from the pergola is very nice. I really love your jumble though, and I'm so happy that you've got time now to work on it! I love your new Carex in that shade pot, so cool. You somehow always manage to take good pictures of me. I loved this place too, and all my new plants as well. What a great idea to put the Sarracenias near the compost. I think I'll do that with mine.
ReplyDeleteMy pal Florence made all of those stepping stones and had the stained glass wall, pergola, etc. put up. The current owners have done a great job of re doing some areas. Their garden is fabulous. there is also a lower level that's equally nice, fully fenced and looks up at the stained glass wall. This would be a great place for someone who wanted a small garden but big enough to grow some food & ornamentals and a fabulous old house with modern amenities!
DeleteI think that you're just photogenic!
Love the neighbor's garden (is that the one that will be for sale?) I wouldn't have been able to resist that maple. It is quite the stunner.
ReplyDeleteYes Phillip, that could be your new back garden! Fortunately, I already have that maple so there was no temptation, just the fun of seeing it!
DeleteThis makes me very sad and sentimental about a nearby nursery that went belly-up over last fall (I believe). It had such WONderful displays along with a great variety of healthy plants, etc. My husband and I used to walk around in the evenings for recreation! (Obviously, we couldn't afford to purchase enough to keep it afloat!)
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad when nurseries that we love go out of business. One of the reasons that I post about nurseries is to encourage people to seek out their own local small nurseries to find treasure and support them. Also because plant shopping is my drug of choice. Or is it a sport?
DeleteYou had me at "tables of grasses".
ReplyDeleteYou're so easy, my friend.
DeleteAh City Peoples...so glad you enjoyed your visit. I'm surprised they still had that Banana Boat Carex and S. taiwaniana as I've heard they have tremendous "plant turnover" there...
ReplyDeleteThey might have received a second delivery of the carex as the flat seemed full. It was also sort of hiding near the bottom of some shelves so that could have had something to do with it. I vow to never doubt you again; this place was great!
DeleteYou make me long for a road trip to far-flung nurseries. So much for my vow to buy no new plants until fall.
ReplyDeleteGet in your car and go! The horticulture industry needs your support. Twas a silly vow anyway!
DeleteSarracenias! Bah! You've done me a service, dear friend. Whenever I go somewhere and see anything vicious-looking, I think of Loree. Now you'll have to keep me in mind and make sure to snap lots of photos of shade plants and carnivores. My favorite part of this post?
ReplyDelete"Do you enjoy seeing your favorite plants in nurseries? It's like seeing old friends!"
So true! I was at a few nurseries this past weekend and when I spotted a single, solitary Dioscorea elaphantipes hiding behind some garden trinkets I had the same exact sensation! Hello, old friend!
I knew that you were a shady character and still smile about seeing your purchases from Annie's while we were riding the elevator! There we were in the you-can-grow-anything bay area full of proteas and other exotic looking gems and you chose beautiful plants common in pacific northwest gardens! Now I realize that you were gathering some old friends.
DeleteIt seems like you have access to an unfair number of terrific nurseries Peter. But you have cast-iron self-discipline right? I would have to rob a bank to keep up, with all those plants beckoning.
ReplyDeleteWhat you call a 'messy garden' looks inviting to me!
I'm extremely lucky to live where I do where we have an embarrassment of riches nursery wise! No bank robbing yet but if you notice a guy living in his car with four Pomeranians and a fabulous collection of plants, do drop in for a visit.
DeleteI like the crowded, plant obsessed look of my garden, it's just a little more rough around the edges than usual.
When I took some photos for Sydney Wildflower nursery I got so caught up choosing my plants, by the time I got round to it rain, they seemed to like the shots and were happy so that's the main thing. I wouldn't call your garden a mess. Everyone's garden is different and unique and beautiful in it's own way. You have some beautiful plants in your garden to cherish and they have been put together in an artful way. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kindness Karen. My garden always has an "exuberant" look and that's o.k. I just got behind on things earlier this year and need to get the weeds out of the pathways, put some more plants in the ground, etc. Happy weekend to you too!
DeleteI agree with Karen. Your neighbor's garden is very nice but your garden is far more lively.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, anyone can do drop-dead gorgeous; it takes talent to pull off a look like mine:)
DeleteSo many nurseries you have access to, well impressed! I'm still on the lookout for that sedge...
ReplyDeleteI hope you are able to find it as it's a beauty! It was very nice of Loree to post about it so that we could get it!
DeleteI love nurseries as well. I'd buy 'Ukiguomo', any rose and big blue pot!
ReplyDeleteA woman after my own heart! I hope you are able to find 'Ukiguomo' where you live as it would be so beautiful in your garden!
DeleteI love your 'messy' garden, and agree that nursery is a treasure. The videos contained useful info and were also very cute and funny. I want that wooden garden chair, but not sure if it would fit into an envelope for posting.
ReplyDeleteIt would take a large envelope but it could be done:) Do you suppose it would fit in your mailbox? Happy weekend!
DeleteWhat a great nursery! And you have no idea how envious I am of your empty spot in the dappled shade... I love your garden - you should know that "messy" is a relative term! Ha!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I know that messy is a relative term. All of my relatives call me messy:) It was a great nursery!
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