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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.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Jerry's Sidewalk Garden

One of my favorite sidewalk gardens is  that of Jerry Cearly. (summer shots here.)  Come see what's happening in early March at Jerry's place.

Several mature manzanitas are full of bloom. 

 
Beneath one of the manzanitas ...
 
 Up the street a bit.

Nobody has been happy with our recent copious amounts of rain but this opuntia will make it despite the wetness.

I'm worried about this Agave parryi.  It's made it through at least 20 wet winters but the brown areas don't look good.  Will it live?
 
 Too wet and cold for these this year.  Sorry guys, looks like you're compost.
 
Look at the exotic cobalt blooms on these trees!
 

 
The big eucalyptus trees in front (foliage in the distant right), palms and grevilleas are all looking unfazed by our winter.  Next time you visit Jungle Fever, do be sure to check out this garden just across the alley!  

24 comments:

  1. It would be interesting to see Jerry's garden this early in the spring, compared to at the height of summer, which was (I think) when we saw it last. I need to get a good look at his Eucalyptus.

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    1. His garden is cool because it looks so good in the winter. There are herbacious perennials duing the summer that fill in and add interest but even without them, the design and plants are stunning!

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  2. Wow, those trees with hanging blue bottles are certainly eye catching!

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  3. Interesting garden! I'm looking forward to seeing what blooms in the gardens there this time of year.

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    1. Bloom day is coming up soon! What does your time frame for moving look like?

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  4. I love this garden, of course it helps that I remember it with a big tall blooming agave as a focal point. I haven't been there for a couple of years, I think I need to go back.

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    1. No dramatic changes since you saw it last but you should come and see it and we could check out some other Tacoma area nursery treasures as well!

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  5. I don't like all bottle trees but I think that one's very nice!

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  6. I love those bottle trees. That's something I've always wanted. Now only to find cobalt blue bottles in sufficient quantity!

    Those poor agaves made me sad...

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    1. I bought a case of cobalt bottles online from a home wine making place. They were only two dollars each. Or you could just start drinking something that comes in cobalt bottles.

      Agaves really don't care for our wet winters!

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  7. Nice take on the bottle tree phenom...dangling rather than pushed over the ends of branches: more work, but worth the effort.

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    1. Jerry and his late partner, Darlene have hung bottles, vases, and other vessels from trees in their garden and at the nursery for at least 16 years. This is the first really large scale one though.

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    2. Interesting that they hang them right side up. Here they would fill with rain water and the next freeze they would be shards.

      Besides, ha'nts cannot be trapped in right side up bottles. Part of the charm of bottle trees is hearing the ha'nts moan. I was about to take mine down when I heard moans -- not about to let them suckers out.

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    3. I'd no idea about the ha'nts! I'd better go check my bottle tree!

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  8. I love the manzanitas! Such wonderful bark, leaves, flowers, form, they have it all! Looks like a cool garden.

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  9. I sort of feel like I would need a machete to use that sidewalk, especially in summer. Interesting, but not my style, I guess.

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    1. I like it because it's so different from the endless sidewalks and turf filled parking strips in the area, sort of like walking from the asphalt jungle into a real one.

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  10. Oh, Peter I had to enlarge the last photo to watch it better! These are bottles! what a sense of humor!

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    1. They call these bottle trees and they've been quite popular here for some time. The fad will probably pass but for now it's fun to see them.

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  11. Those blue bottles are fun and really brighten up a late-winter scene. What a shame about the rain getting some of the agaves up there. I wish you could send some of it to Texas.

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    1. Believe me, Pam, we'd all be happy to send you some of our rain!

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  12. I wish my Eucalyptus was looking as good. This area is really nice. Kudos to Jerry. I must get me a bush manzanita this year.

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    1. I just looked at one I got last fall that had way outgrown a four inch pot but I put it in the ground anyway and hoped for the best. Miraculously, it survived our freezes and looks like it even put on some growth. Go figure.

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