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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.

Friday, December 20, 2013

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? 
 

26 comments:

  1. I planted a variegated Leucothoe, probably 'Rainbow', last year after I bought it at the Tacoma Home and Garden Show. I have several of those weeping cedars in my back garden, but now you've got me thinking I should plant a couple in the front, just so I can decorate them like that. I'm undecided on whether I like the lavender decorations. I do like the peacock feathers, though. Maybe if they sold ornaments in orange and turquoise I'd be more inclined to decorate for the holiday.

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    1. I like the lavender decorations for someone else's house but am more of a gold and jewel tones kind of guy. You must have been a fan of Howard Johnson! I haven't done any decorating, just not feeling it this year!

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  2. You've got me feeling like a slacker! It's been at least a month since I've been to a nursery, damn! Must rectify that, today! (and maybe even buy a plant?)

    BTW those gold jade plants are a crime!!!

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    1. You've been busy protecting your plants from the cold and decorating your house (Gorgeous by the way.) Since I'm such a bad plant dad, and neglectful seasonal decorator, I've had time to visit a nursery or two.

      What's the punishment for a crime like that?

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  3. Oregon growers are the best (but, please, don't put metallic gold on your plants!!) Love new poincettia, especially lighter variety, Today's snow is pretty. Get your camera, Peter!

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    1. I wonder if the grower painted those or if it was done by someone at the nursery. I took a few pictures but haven't looked at them yet.

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  4. That Leucothoe is nice! Plant purchases in SoCal never stop - they only slow slightly due to the competition of holiday demands. SoCal is a bad place for a plant-aholic to live...

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    1. What's that you say? Continual plant purchases? It would be heavenly but when would one have time to collect everything else?

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  5. The weeping Alaskan Cedars look great with the decoration though I can expect banishment if I tried it at my friend's garden... Chief Joseph is a favorite of mine; I may be tempted to finally purchase it this year.
    The purple and copper decorations created a magnificent tree; It has that old-world regal feel. Very nice.

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    1. Chief Joseph is wonderful. I was lucky enough to get one as a gift a couple of birthdays ago and am trying my best not to kill it.

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  6. Watsons looks wonderful as ever this year. Fun ideas. Trimming the box into a box shape isn't for me but I do like the bows. The Leuchothoe is a great shape and color.

    No plant purchases in December although someone gave me a hardy hibiscus and I won a beautiful Poinsettia as a luncheon door prize, Frost something or other.

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    1. There's always something going on at that place! I'm not fond of trimming shrubs although I have one large topiary that I threaten to cut down every time I have to give it a haircut. It came from a now defunct nursery that had been an institution for a hundred years or so. So far sentiment has protected it from the chainsaw.

      Hooray for free plants - even better than purchasing them!

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  7. We have been admiring the Chief Josephs a lot lately, but still can't justify the price. And yes, we bought three shrubs for my sister-n-law for her Christmas gift, which we presented to her last Sunday. One was a well budded sarcococca, which will fill the air with delicious vanilla scent soon.

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    1. Chief Joseph is very handsome but needs a place where it can blend in during the summer when it's just a regular green pine. It also doesn't like a lot of plant competition. Hard to place in a small garden so mine is still in a pot.

      Plants make great gifts and one can never have too many sarcococcas!

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  8. Peter, how strange to see the painted plant, br...I don't understand amateurs of plant decoration all these plastic ribbons, butterflies, beetles..
    I've bought 3 poinsettias week ago for decorate Christmas.

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    1. Your poinsettias must look very beautiful! Happy weekend, Nadezda!

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  9. Some of those decorations are quite nice, some are funny and a few strange ones... I have several amaryllis and hyacinths at home. I've made flower arrangements of my own.

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    1. I admired the arrangements you made when you showed them on your blog! They're very lovely!

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  10. I like the way of decorating your shrubs. Everything looks so beautiful!

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  11. I adore that snowman. Plant purchase? Poinsettias! For inside of course... outside is covered in snow and brrrr!

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    1. Kind of difficult to plant in frozen ground I suppose.

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  12. What a glamorous christmas tree; tarted up with peacock feathers too. I find it amusing that the succulent got to be gilded. Can it still breathe through all that gold plating?

    Merry Christmas!

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    1. Merry Christmas to you!

      I was wondering the same thing about the plant being able to breathe through the gold. Maybe it's a special florist paint that will come off with water?

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  13. Good luck with the Edgeworthia; I have killed 2 now, or at least they died I don't think I killed them personally. One more and I have to accept that I can't grow them. But they are so gorgeous. and so expensive.
    Chloris

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    1. Being relatives of daphne, they do like to die for no reason. This will be my third. The other two grew happily for years (one for 6 the other for 8 years) and then just suddenly died. Maybe this one should simply stay in a pot.

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