As always, Swanson's is about plants and there were plenty of them on display showing how much winter interest our gardens can have in our relatively mild climate. Californians and southerners either feel smug reading this or full of pity for people who live where it gets below 50 in the winter.
Lots to explore outside but it was kind of cold.
Mahonia nervosa with it's beautiful burgundy winter color.
Love the little chair!
However, there was also space for a delightful array of holiday wonder!
On the icy/cooler side of things.
Lots of great indoor plants too. This cattleya orchid was fragrant and tempting but I'm sure it would die under my care. Better to admire them in other people's collections.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Could this be? Or is it just a baby like the ones some of us were fortunate enough to see at Floramagoria this summer at the Portland Fling?
A glassy take on the season. I like that these could remain on display all winter long!
An interesting bark wreath.
Is this moss/dyed lichen wreath cool or what?
All of these amaryllis made me think of my eldest sister who always has one of these around at Christmas and of Jean at Dotty Plants Greenhouse Journal who grows them beautifully in her greenhouse.
Dangerous plants!
Leucadendrons are showing up everywhere. How I wish they were hardy here!
Rustic twig wreaths are charming.
There were several areas like this prefect for taking that perfect Christmas card picture.
OMG! I'd read about this plant but never seen one for sale.
These were nice big specimens of "The Rolls Royce" of houseplants. Really, the website said so. I was sorely tempted to get one of these but the price tag made me think again. It was interesting to see them in person after the pink bracts(?) had fallen off.
Proteas in the poinsettias. You don't see that every day!
All that and reindeer too!
How do you top that? With a camel of course. Isn't that the living end?
Have you visited the metal-art shop that is in the neighborhood of Swanson's? It is located on 85th just east of 15th. Crazy fun stuff, there--colorful, rusty, whimsical.
ReplyDeleteHave never visited the metal-art shop there! Thanks for letting me know about it! Although I've lived here for years, I'm not as familiar with the nurseries and shops in the Seattle area as those in the south and over on the islands.
DeleteIt's easy to spot from the road :-) 85th is the largest E/W arterial near Swanson's. Super close!
DeleteOne of the ways to discern a good nursery from not is if they still have a good selection of plants available even in the depths of winter. This one fits the bill :)
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteI love that wreath with the curly bark. What fun you had that day, visiting so many nurseries!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great wreath! We had a lot of fun doing the Nurseries. Sorry to have missed City Peoples this trip!
DeleteI think the PNW garden centers need to hire you as their holiday goodwill ambassador! If I lived up there, I'd be dogging your steps to each and every venue. (Let me know if you need me to write a letter of recommendation for such an assignment next year.)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great job that would be!
DeleteI visit Swanson's often; my garden is just down the street. I go for the soul not for the purchase as they are a bit pricey. The reindeer and camel are a (wise) tradition for the holiday season: they attracts families with kids, not just gardeners. The Black mondo grass and ferns arrangement is stunning.
ReplyDeleteI thought of you while we were at the nursery as I know you live nearby! I'll never understand plant pricing! Sometimes Swansons is higher on some things and lower on others and they do great sales from time to time! I got quite a few special hellebores there last February when all perennials were 50% off!
DeleteI have two questions:
ReplyDelete1- Did you and Tom have your photo taken in the sleigh?
2- Did you buy the Medinilla magnifica?
1. No, there was no photographer there at the time, the one in the picture came with the cute family in the sleigh.
Delete2. No again. They were interesting looking but the 2 gallon pots (maybe they were larger) cost $70 and not being sure if I really liked it or if I could keep it alive (house plant and all) I decided that I could happily leave it at the nursery for now.
I'll never forget my visit to this nursery with my Idyll friends a few years back-definitely the largest non-growing nursery think I've ever been in , complete with parking lot attendants directing traffic.Glad to see they have a way to keep the cash flow going during the winter months.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great nursery and I love the holiday stuff. (Didn't buy any this time but love seeing it!)
DeleteWow...what a beautiful nursery! I love the moss/dyed lichen and other wreaths. Reindeer oh my something for everyone. I wonder if the Mahonia nervosa, we have other Mahonias that grow here. And the Medinilla magnifica in bloom is stunning. I have one but it hasn't bloomed. It is part of my tropical jungle that comes in now and again in the winter : )
ReplyDeleteIt really was looking great inside and out! Mahonia nervosa is hardy to zone 9 and can take quite a bit of abuse here. I don't know what it would think of your hot summers. How exciting that you have a Medinilla magnifica. I may reconsider getting one.
DeleteThe PNW has crazy wreaths! I mainly just see traditional conifer wreaths around here. I agree with Alison: really like the curly bark one!
ReplyDeleteCrazy people = crazy wreaths! It's that western independent pioneer spirit. Of course, those were probably made in China...
DeleteI love the bright green table and the black mondo grass combo.
ReplyDeleteChartreuse is a wonderful color and it does look great with the black mondo grass!
DeleteSwanson's does such a good job of combining plants in planters and arrangements. I love to go there for ideas.
ReplyDeleteYou're right! Great place for ideas and plants!
DeleteNice to see a place where you can get your Christmas fix and still wallow in your plant fixation.
ReplyDelete