Wells Medina Nursery Annual Visit

In the Pacific Northwest, gardeners are spoiled by having so many outstanding nurseries nearby.  A fine example of a long established plant purveyor is Wells Medina Nursery "for plant lovers & those just beginning to flirt with the garden life."  That tag line is brilliant!  The garden life.  Isn't it the truth?  Unfortunately I don't visit this nursery as often as I'd like to.  Stephanie Feeney's words from The Northwest Gardeners'  Resource Directory describe the place well. 

"Wells Medina began life in 1971 as the inspiration of Ned Wells.  It has grown over the years as a family business keen to have its patrons enthuse about the marvelous plant choices found there for every gardener, from quality, well-grown common plants to the great rarities.  Ned has now handed over the reins to his two daughters, Wendy and Lisa, who now energetically own and operate Wells Medina."

Part of the border originally designed by Whitney and Price.

"There is a Northwest orientation here, with conifers, Japanese maples, Rhododendrons, other flowering trees and shrubs, shade trees, an excellent selection of vines, ground covers, unusual and old favorite annuals and perennials, ornamental grasses, and herbs."  I've also noticed an increase in the amount of edible plants offered in the last few years. like this beautiful tomato.

I thought that I'd posted last year about Wells Medina but can't find the post.  Oh well.

 

Schefflera taiwaniana sure looks good in that pot!

 A gorgeous variegated bouganvilla brings happy thoughts of these being hardy and growing to huge proportions in California!

Kniphofia is one of those plants that I greatly admire in other people's gardens but can't seem to make  work in my own. 

Gorgeous buds waiting to erupt!

 

At the front of the nursery on a couple of long tables was a display of  rose flowers with their names.  This is just a small sample of all the varieties in the display.  Interesting but I'd want to see how the rose looks in bud, how it fades, etc. as well.

 

Fortunately, Wells Medina has a huge space devoted to potted  roses so one can see more!

 

"Ink Spots."

I'm kind of in love with "Eyeconic Melon Lemonade" that opens this cool apricot color and fades to a light pink all the while keeping the red splotches on the inside of the petals.  The effect is that of having several colors on a single bush.  I may have to go back and get one of these.  No fragrance but one can't have everything.

 

 

 This beauty, "The Charlatan" is pretty spectacular!  You can always squeeze in another shrub rose, right?

 

This is a huge nursery which requires at least a couple of hours to really see everything. 

Neon pink, chartreuse and electric blue.  Who could ask for anything more?

Not my favorite -  Echinacea 'Piccolino.'  Porr thing doesn't look much like an Echinacea anymore.

Cool smallish hosta with a maple leaf pattern on the leaves.  Alison and I both picked one of these up.

Do you want to drift on over to the shade plant area?

Gratuitous grass shot for Scott.

 

Throughout the nursery are these patio groupings floating on the gravel.  Didn't see anyone sitting on any of them.

 

Alison and I peeked back in the employees only area and saw this interesting idea.  Something to do with all those free wood pallets one sees on craigslist or by the side of the road. 

Each July, Wells Medina holds a container competition.  Every employee is required to put together a combination pot.  The size of the pots is identical and when finished, they are put on display & customers vote for their favorites.  At the time we visited, the pots were works in progress.  I love the use of glass mulch!

The other side of the same pot.

Agonis flexuosa 'After Dark' is an attractive background for orange begonias. 

Explosion of color!

Clever use of a strawberry pot which here suggests the shape of a pineapple & has eucomis (Pineapple lilly) growing out of the top.  Sweet!

Alison threw this together in a few minutes while I was looking at the roses but she was disqualified from the competition because she's not an employee and she didn't pay  attention to the pot size requirement. 

Acer rubrum 'Vainity'  Dig the color of the new growth.

 

 

We both loved Acer conspicuum 'Esk Flamingo' or 'Esk Flamingo' Stripebark Maple.

 

 Wells Medina also has a comfy reference library.  Is that great or what?

 O.K. Alison, it's time to go visit some gardens.  Alison, where'd you go?    So you didn't get to be in the competition, hiding won't help!  Or is this Alison telling us that she's behind the new pot legislation in Washington State?