In the covered but not walled area of Molbak's nursery, it feels like spring has already arrived which reminds me of one of my favorite knock knock jokes - Knock, knock. Who's there? Marcus Welby(go ahead and do a search for this everyone under 50, we'll wait.) Marcus Welby who?
It Marcus Welby Spring. (To the tune of the last line of the Rogers and Hammerstein song below.)
For those of you to whom Shirley Jones, Danny Thomas, Marcus Welby, and Rodgers and Hammerstein were unfamiliar, enjoy your youth.
This was really difficult to photograph but was stunning in person. Silver and green foliage with all white flowers in geometric patterns at the feet of Camellias sasanqua 'Yuletide' with bright red/pink blossoms.
A wider view. So hard to capture this but believe me it was gorgeous!
These cyclaen persicum aren't hardy here but they are used in pots and beds outside in the winter because they will continue blooming in the cool weather(down to 40) They're supposed to only be hardy to zone 10. Has anyone in the area had luck with growing them in the ground for more than a season?
My camellia sasanquas 'Yuletide' are still just budded but through the magic of the nursery, theirs are in full bloom!
This reminds me of all the cordylines that we lost in the big freeze. Fortunately I kept one or two inside but all of the dark pink ones got left outside.
So, back inside, the orchids were looking especially photogenic.
A nice young woman said that they have special orchid events in February that culminate on Valentine's day and that they'll be getting lots more unusual orchids in soon. Wow, I was pretty impressed with what they had.
I'm learning that for me these will most likely be temporary plants like poinsettias. They don't like to get totally dry but don't like too much water, either. Whatever. who has time for that?
And you have to stake the bloom stalks.
My retired sister in Alaska has great luck with them. I think that she spends most of her time wondering exactly what they want and catering to their demands. She is really good with schedules and routines. I on the other hand am lucky to remember to wear matching socks most days.
They sure are purty though.
Are there signs of spring in your garden or at your local nurseries yet?
The orchids are beautiful! But like you, I don't want to spend that much time catering to their whims. Wish I could have seen that silver and white composition in person, I believe you that it was stunning. Black Mondo grass is one of those plants that I think looks good no matter what you pair it with. BTW, what a dreadful knock knock joke that was, I'm still groaning.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if having a greenhouse will change your mind about orchids? Black mondo grass looks great year round too which is some kind of wonderful. Glad you're still groaning!
DeleteThe display is so beautiful with all the winter bloomers massed. I have had orchids rebloom but still prefer to enjoy them in a display where others have to fuss over them.
ReplyDeleteAfter several gorgeous days we have another deep freeze with possible ice or snow.
RATS! Not another deep freeze! I'll send warm thoughts to your Bismarkias!
DeleteIf you can believe it, I have not been to a nursery in about a month! I'm going crazy. I just started back into school in the beginning of January in the teacher education program at Simon Fraser University. That has kept me quite busy. But I am likely doing up some containers for someone in the next week which will involve some nursery shopping!!
ReplyDeleteAre you suffering withdrawal sympotms? So you want to be a teacher? What do you want to teach? I love the profession, the kids, the extra time to work in my garden...
DeleteI'm seeing lots of daffodil foliage starting to pop out of the ground, and snow-drops are blooming everywhere!
ReplyDeleteHooray! Here, the daffodils are up as are the snowdrops but snowdrops haven't starting blooming yet.
DeleteAll that colour and green, it does look very springlike in there!
ReplyDeleteAs you know, visiting nurseries and conservatories is especially interesting in the winter.
DeleteI love that Camellia 'Yuletide', what dainty flowers. You should try orchids they are not difficult really. I just water mine when I think about. They thrive on benign neglect. Well mine do.
ReplyDeleteWho is Marcus Welby anyway?
I killed one orchid at school by over pampering it but have one at home that isn't dead yet but I mostly ignore it. Marcus Welby was a character in an American medical drama show called Marcus Welby M.D. which aired from 1969 to 1976.
DeleteI'm glad it might as well be spring somewhere, here we got 5" of snow on Monday and we're getting another 2" today. Love all those cyclamen!
ReplyDeleteYikes! I bet it's gorgeous but I wouldn't want to be responsible for shoveling all of that!
DeleteSo many beautiful flowers! I have been an orchidophile for almost 10 years now, and I must admit they can be time-consuming as houseplants. So much easier if you have a greenhouse (and can afford to keep it warm enough for orchids in the winter) where you can just hose everything down. I'm actually in the process of getting rid of many of my orchids, but at the same time I want to get more Paphiopedilums, or ladyslippers. They do so well as houseplants in the PNW (even my parents can keep them alive and they bloom every year) and unlike so many orchids, the ones with mottled leaves still look good even out of bloom. Not much care required. An open but moisture retentive medium in a pot just large enough to fit the roots and in the winter they only need water every 1-2 weeks. I like to use coarse sphagnum moss mixed with fine orchid bark and a few chunks of horticultural charcoal, but everyone uses a slightly different mix. Orchids like Cattleyas need more frequent watering because they need a more open medium, and need too much light to grow well in most PNW windows.
ReplyDeleteI have 2 Cyclamen persicum that have been in the ground since fall of 2011. Though I haven't visited my parents since Thanksgiving, so I don't know how they handled the December freeze. They may be toast (by which I mean mush).
Thanks for sharing about your orchids. They are beautiful and I sometimes buy one and think of it more as a long lasting cut flower. I'll look into Paphiopedilums as I'm very good at neglecting things.
DeleteThanks also for the Cyclamen persicum report. I'm always tempted by their big beautiful blooms and gorgeous foliage but didn't think they'd make it through our winters.
I'm starting to see a few of the earliest daffodils (tete a tete) breaking ground, and at the base of those dead sedum stalks little rosettes of new growth are beginning to appear. I like to go to orchid shows to see the amazing variety. Here at home, they're on their own. Sometimes that works, but not often.
ReplyDeleteSigns of spring are such a welcome sight! "Here at home, they're on their own." had me laughing!
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bUNh1gTBp0
ReplyDeleteLove that movie! Thanks!
DeleteThe flowers in nursery are always very pretty, Peter! I love cyclamens. Do you grow them yourself?
ReplyDeleteI grow Cyclamen coum and Cyclamen hederifolium which are very hardy in the ground here but haven't grown the Cyclamen persicum shown in these pictures.
DeleteBeautiful pictures of orchids!!!
ReplyDelete