Stopping by Xera and Contained Exuberance

Meanwhile, back in Portland...more nurseries called my name. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you may have been purchasing plants grown by Xera Plants for years (since 1999.) Just two years ago, Xera opened a retail operation, packed with fabulous plants, that I seldom miss visiting when in Portland.

There were flowers but fabulous foliage spoke to me.

Potentilla gelida

Eryngium variifolium

Pseudopanax lessonii 'Nigra'

Masterfully combined foliage in the small planting beds.  To see pictures of these when they were newly planted, visit Loree's post from 2013 and scroll down a bit.

Sharing the location with Xera is Potted Contained Exuberance (Thanks, Loree.)  Cool pots can be purchased empty or beautifully planted.

Who would have thought?  Rhodocoma capensis  swaying over sempervivum and sedum.  Isn't it a cool combination?

Love the wall!

Celtic knots and oak leaves.  Any nearby Druids? 

It was a treat to see these pots by Apotspot in person after drooling over them in this post. 

So many great ideas!

 Does she look a bit hung over?  Maybe she's just tired from carrying the weight of all those shells.  Honey, it might be time to comb your hair.

See what a good night's sleep can do for a girl?  Try to ignore the two fab planters behind with the yummy Agave mediopicta albas.

The Druid pot, a couple of grevilleas to replace the one that had grown so huge and then blew over (maybe with the help of an inebriated passerby) in my parking strip. and another plant  joined those already in the plant mobile.  The sleeping lady was seriously tempting but she stayed.