Sky Nursery Ushers in the Season!

These rusty metal spheres always hang above the entrance to Sky Nursery in Seattle but they look especially festive right now.  The forms in various sizes and shapes were available for purchase inside the nursery!  Check out Sky's blog here and their website here.

In looking at my pictures, I realized that I didn't take any pictures of the many tables of plants inside and outside or the huge sculpture area which is a shame as there was a lot of great merchandise all over the place.  (Bad blogger!) I was preoccupied with a lot of the other cool stuff and it was a cold day and I forgot a coat.

Urban chickens that require no care whatsoever.  Of course, going out to the coop to collect eggs would be futile and people say that the meat of this variety has a bit of a tinny flavor.

These lanterns would look great in a greenhouse yes?

Another festive touch.  In looking at this picture, I'm reminded how lucky we are that our nurseries carry such a wide variety of frost proof pots!

Cyclamen persicum are everywhere this time of year.  Their gorgeous foliage alone is worth growing them; the colorful blooms are a nice bonus.   A couple of these came home with me to add winter color to the greenhouse.

I'm still seriously in love with this furniture even though I don't really have space in my garden for it. Although the central arrangement is in a pot, this would be a great winter use for a fire pit!

Seriously love this covered garden bench with side windows but again, where would it fit?   Bet I could make some space.

Leucadndron flowers add a special touch to this arrangement and  thy remind me of my virtual friends in Australia where it is native and California where it grows with abandon out of doors.

Orchid corner in the houseplant area.  

I don't know how I forgot to take a picture of this at the nursery but in the succulent area among a lot of echiverias, was this plant that obviously wasn't an echiveria.  It was the lone specimen of it's kind and its shape whispered agave.  From across the room,  I couldn't really see the coloring but as I approached, it became clearer (glasses were left in the car.)  Could it be?  Yes, there it was in a Seattle nursery with a price of $19.95 and a tag that read "Agave 'Joe Hoak'"  You'll notice that it isn't at the nursery anymore!

A holiday vision in pink and white.

ABCDEFGHIJK MNOPQRSTUVWXYZ.  

Someone has lost his L again this year.  If I've told you kids once, I've told you a thousand times, be careful with your alphabets or you'll drop some letters.  What is it about this time of year that makes the L especially susceptible?

Inside the store there were lots of great ornaments.  I especially liked this suitcase filled with ornaments from various parts of the world.

Even without the decorations this potting shed is wonderful!

 Musical instruments.  Notice the accordion?  Not a lot of people playing this anymore.  Do you know of anyone?

I also picked up three amaryllis bulbs to plant in the greenhouse (because Jean's are so gorgeous,) and some potting soil.  The plant mobile still has more space so we're off to the next nursery.

Happy Thanksgiving All!

On this day, I'll be busy cooking and sharing a Thanksgiving feast with my family coming from Alaska, Oregon, and Washington.  Whether or not you are celebrating this holiday, I hope that your life is full of wonderful things and special people for which you are truly thankful!

This fellow, seen at Valley Nursery, wants you to think about the virtues of tofurkey!

Molbak's Nursery Delivers Christmas Sparkle!

The second nursery that I'd never seen at this time of year was Molbak's and oh my, they sure do it up in a big way for the holidays!

You may recall what these two cool rusty metal sculptures looked like this summer.

Here they are now.  I really liked the rusty metal snowflakes.

Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph' or Chief Joseph Lodgepole Pine taking on their gorgeous winter color.

Evergreen snowflake

Looking at these outdoor planters, I'm once again very grateful to live in such a mild climate.  Having lived and gardened in zone three for years, this feels positively tropical yet most of these plants are ones that many of us take for granted.

This Anna's Hummingbird  was happy to pose for a pictures ever so briefly.  The ones in my garden aren't so patient when I tell them to stay right where thy are while I go and fetch the camera.  We're also fortunate to have these cute little guys here year round.

It's hard to show or explain the amount of holiday stuff on display.  Molbak's is a huge nursery and every corner was filled with holiday stuff!

'Princettia' was new to me.  It's really that bright.  

Here's 'Tapesty' whose variagated foliage I admired last year.  A four inch pot came home with me.

Metallic gold pine cone like planter called my name; it's price tag made me realize that it must have been calling to someone else named Peter with deeper pockets.

Although it may seem like there aren't many people in the pictures, trust me, the place was crowded with happy shoppers.

A little wildlife...

Would it be wrong to display one of these hanging from a noose over my pond?  Not that I'm bitter or anything...

My eldest sister has dogs very similar to these but hers are smaller. 

If you like your chicken with stuffing...

The quietest Chihuahuas I've ever met.

Interesting underwater idea.

Let's see if we just added a little more...

 One of the many walls of decorations.  There were many areas done in various color themes complete with trees to match and in each area, copious ornaments to match.

Fab cadge but since the cute children had already escaped, I didn't buy it. 

 Nifty glass ornaments.

Hey Alison C. here's a hydrangea for you!  It blooms in these colors that already look aged.  

I forgot the name but noticed them there this summer.  You could get one now, keep it in your greenhouse and plant it out in the spring.   The houseplant sale is coming in January!

 Hot pink and chartreuse are a great combination and this display was certainly eye catching!

If you run out of space, you can always start hanging things from the ceiling!

 What a glitzy wonderland (I say that with fondness.)   Time to pay for my poinsettias (small pot of 'Tapestry' and 'Princettia')  and be off to another nursery.  I may even decorate for Christmas myself this year.  Stranger things have happened!

If you're looking for a place to beat those winter blahs and see enough holiday decor to deck the halls of a small country, look no further!  Molbak's has you covered!