And Speaking of Dragonflies...

Another nursery that Alison and I love and visited on our Windcliff adventure was Dragonfly Farms Nursery.  (Many previous posts here.) Heidi always has fun and unusual plants and interesting stories about the nursery biz.

Major plant lust for Ranunculus lyallii (I think that's the one) with the larger round leaves in this picture.  Like a waterlily pad hovering in the air.

Love this new use of the old T.V. dish!

My love affair with Acer platanoides 'Curly Lamp Post' was short lived.  I had a vision of these large and curly leaves arching out over a large plant and looking almost like a papaya.

Turns out that in many years, this is what it does.  Looks like a curly lamp post.

Schefflera delavayi

I remember a few years ago when Monrovia first released Schefflera taiwaniana and Heidi got a few in.  No local nurseries had them yet so one day after work, I drove an hour and twenty minutes to get one.  Now they are common sights at nurseries but I always think of Dragonfly Farms getting them first.

Then Monrovia released a very few Schefflera macrophyllas and kept promising that next year and then next they would release more.  They never did but there are still a few in collections.  I always visit Heidi's specimen which looks like it had some winter damage but is making a stellar comeback.  Kelly at Far Reaches Farm is hoping that his will bloom so that he can start seed.  It's a spectacular indoor/outdoor plant.

I love variegated foliage in general and variegated Ginkgos are a favorite!  Ginkgo biloba 'Bejing Gold'  decided to come home with me.

Gingkgo biloba 'Sunstream'  is difficult to find in the industry and here were quite a few.  I was tempted to get this one as well but since I already have one at home, it stayed. But look at those beautiful leaves.

We were in a bit of a hurry so didn't tour all of the garden this trip.  Notice the beautiful blu foliage toward the rear of the bed?

It's Berberis temolaica which some say is the most beautiful berberis. 

Large yellow flowers followed by red berries.  Both would look stunning with this foliage!

Stachyurus chinensis 'Magpie' has lovely variegated foliage to add interest after the winter blooms have faded.

There are always many unusual treasures to be found at Dragonfly!  I know I bought several plants here but with the exception of the ginkgo and some tagetes 'Lemon Gem' (love the fragrance) I forgot what they were.

A furry pal dropped in to say hello. 

We know that there's always an agave.

At Dragonfly, there are also shiny stainless steel agaves along with rusty metal ones.   

What a great place to visit.  I wouldn't even mind living there!