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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Remeber the Sun and Warm Days of Summer?


Typically we get a little over an inch of rain in September which is often one of the loveliest months weather wise in the Pacific Northwest.    This year, we've had over six inches of rain making this one of the wettest Septembers on record.  It seems like most of that has fallen in the last three days which have been windy with serious downpours between the ever present heavy rain.   There was even a small tornado (rare occurrence here!)  that touched down a little south of Tacoma and did some damage.  This sort of storm doesn't usually happen this early and I've started bringing in some of the tender agaves and other succulents early this year just to keep them from being drowned.  It feels more like November than September.  A little dose of sunshine and blue skies might make us all feel better and since it'll be days until we see the sun again, we'll have to make do with this warm and sunny nursery trip from this summer.

After the Frolic on August 10, I stopped by several nurseries.  One of them was Molbak's in Woodinville.

See the blue sky and warm colors.  Feel the warmth.  Breathe the dry air.  Starting to feel better?
Isn't it amazing how everything is standing up straight and tall and hasn't been beaten down by the wind and rain?

Imagine the webs between your toes falling away.   Enjoy the thought that the only thing that'll fall on you on a day like this is bird poop or a large piece of space junk that'll flatten you before you know what hit you.  A beautiful thought. 

Look at those fun colors!  I vow that I'll make some of those cool dragonflies.  They're cleverly crafted from turned stair spindles and ceiling fan blades.  Time to hit the thrift stores!



Here's a better view of the dragonflies.  Notice also the cool terra cotta pot light fixtures.

Nice big double hollyhock screams summer doesn't it?


You remember summer right?  It's that season when water in the garden seems like a novelty rather than an erosion risk.
 
Their Persicaria 'Purple Fantasy' has retained its lovely markings well.  This is probably what happens when it's grown in the sun instead of being left in a nursery pot in the shade for a month or two before planting it.

Our new pal, Salvia 'Amistad' was in plentiful supply.   Fingers crossed that this one is tough as nails and doesn't take forever to emerge in the spring or maybe even that it's semi-evergreen!

Interesting millet. 

This combination of plant and pots is inspired. 


Molbak's always has an impressive selection of house plants  these bromeliads remind me of  the Garden Bloggers' Fling visit to the garden of Ann Nichols this summer.


And of Deanne's collection.



This tough-as-nails Sansevieria came home with me.  Really, I kill houseplants and don't much care for them bit this one can't die (it's a rule with sansevierias) and it's perfect for...
 
 
this pot. 
 
Thank you in advance for not mentioning that August 10 was nearly two months ago and that some lazy gardener still hasn't squeezed the plant into the ornamental pot.  These pots always make me feel like it might just be warm outside even if the rain is pelting the windows  so hard that I fear they may break.   
 
For those of you having beautiful autumn weather right now, I'm only a little jealous but very happy for you and hope you have the chance to do a lot of enjoyable  fall gardening. 
 
 

19 comments:

  1. Hey those two lady pots look familiar! The Sanseveria looks perfect in it. And I'm also lusting after that spotty Begonia next to it. Did you get your Salvia Amistad into the ground yet? I'm also wondering how long it takes to pop up in the spring. My Black and Blue took forever to appear, and had just started to flower when this storm came and beat it into submission.

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    1. The spotty begonia is faboo and came from Xera Plants this summer. I had one before that was great for a couple of summers and then last winter it slowly died in my classroom. Maybe it didn't have sufficient drainage. Salvia Amistad went in the ground the day I got it in July so it's well settled in. Black and Blue is notorious for being late to emerge but a friend of mine who grows hers in full sun with pretty good drainage told me that hers came up by mid May this year. Happy October!

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  2. Thanks for warming up my morning with some blue skies.
    A friend of mine has a sanseveria in a bathroom where it gets no natural light and it keeps chugging along.
    I've been kicking myself for passing up that polka dot begonia at Xera. If I get a second chance, it won't go to waste.

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    1. Sanseverias are pretty amazing plants as is that polka dot begonia. I'm sure that Xera will either have some left for their fall sale or offer them again next spring.

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  3. I was a little bummed at my total inability to make 'Purple Fantasy' happy...it sun it scorched and looked awful...in shade it faded to green and flopped...I'm cursed! I guess I'll have a few to give away at the spring plant exchange..haha!

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    1. I finally got mine in the ground a couple of weeks ago. It doesn't look very good because it was in the shade so we'll see what happens when it gets settled in re emerges in the spring.

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  4. Love the colour scheme of the chairs, panels, and dragonflies, very cheerful to look at! Hopefully you'll have some good weather soon. October can potentially be glorious and extends he interest in the garden.

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    1. We're all hoping that October will be drier than September and allow us to enjoy our gardens in autumn!

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  5. Ahhh, fun to bask in the warmth of your summer photos. I hope your Mother-In-Law's Tongue gets planted up soon. I think it can even bloom though I've never seen it. Your begonia looks amazing. I have the Angel's Wing Begonia but don't seem to meet it's requirements for blooming.
    I hope I can get enough dry weather to plant some grasses I just bought.

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    1. I had a Mother-In-Law's Tongue bloom once, wasn't spectacular but had a nice fragrance.

      Fingers crossed for dry weather for us all to do some fall gardening!

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  6. Summer? What is this fantasy of which you speak?

    I was in denial through the first soggy weekend but broke down and brought things in before last weekends deluge. This better not last for the next 9 months, I can't take it.

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    1. This )#_%)(@#% monsoon is too much this early in the season! Usually I don't worry about bringing things in until the end of October. This year starting the migration in September - Crazy!

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  7. Oooo, love the dragonflies! What a fun, whimsical place. I had heard you guys were getting record-breaking rainfall. Crazy weather! We're having a most incredible late September/early October that feels more like June. I hope you will see some sun before too long. But you have a much more pleasant winter to look forward to than I do. ;-)

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    1. We've heard that it'll be a harsher than usual winter this year. We do gripe a lot for folks who have no real winter but the gray/damp/cold/dark combo grates on one's nerves if there aren't sunbreaks every now and then.

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  8. I'm just getting to this post now, but the sunny, bright shots of Molbaks are a balm for today's cloudy morning. I did get out in the garden to celebrate the end of the typhoon and the sunny afternoon yesterday!

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    1. Hooray for getting outside! This Saturday is supposed to be glorious!

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  9. Love bromeliads!!! It has been raining in my garden too and I left my suculent containers outside...I don´t live there so I´m afraid my recently planted cactus will drown... oh noooo...

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    1. They're pretty tough if their roots don't sit I water and they get to dry out .

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  10. I am having serious post summer anxiety issues. It's hard. Those bromeliads are wonderful! And I think the perfect way to bring some sunshine indoors

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.