A Yuletide Visit to Watson's

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide' is interesting even after the petals fall!

 

I have two at home, both of which have buds but no flowers yet.  Don't think they'll be open for Christmas this year. (Darned freeze!)

 Isely growers in Boring, Oregon specializes in conifers and this year has put out Chief Joseph Lodgepole Pines.  They look very nice in their winter gold color among the bright red dogwood branches and darker evergreens!

Another fun combination - Red dogwood branches and the red berried, evergreen Cotoneaster lacteus.   My new one of these bright berried beauties survived our recent freeze in its pot above ground so I'm thinking that it's probably hardy to zone seven. 

What a fun way to decorate one's shrubs.  Just before I visited the nursery, I saw this treatment on two huge yews flanking a path and thought it was fun.

The Dr. Seuss/Tim Burton trees were available in lots of sizes!

You know you want to do this if you own a weeping evergreen something or other!

 

 

More yummy evergreens here coral barked maples add a splash of color.

Heading inside to the succulent table when what to my wondering eyes should appear but metallic gold jade plants. 

I wonder if this kills the plant or if they just keep growing and the paint eventually wears off.  In any case, why would you do this when there are plenty of plastic plants that would LOVE to be painted?

 

Did I show one of these in my poinsettia post?  I'm not a big fan of pink but this is such a vibrant shade.  Delicious.

The next one that looks like someone splashed pepto bismol on it's red petals was also kind of interesting.

One of the many decorated trees was getting a lot of attention.

Talk about gilding the lily, literally...

Lots of little garden touches,

A little glitz,

some lavender poinsettias and voila.  I don't know how designers keep coming up with so many new theme tree combinations every year but they're sure fun to see.

 

 

No, the car did not go home empty.  I got an Edgeworthia papyrifera to replace mine that died last summer for no apparent reason.  They are daphne relatives after all and reserve the right to either live forever or grow happily for many years, and die in a day.  After a long time of thinking that Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow' looked like a diseased plant, its charms finally worked their magic on me.  Look at those rich burgundy leaves!  It cascades nicely over the pot and will look great in one of the large pots that I change around seasonally.

 

Have you made any plant purchases recently?