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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.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

One Last Quickie in Portland

Means Nursery is on my way home from Portland and also stays open an hour longer than the other nurseries in the area.  Since Loree and I were having so much fun together, we lost track of time and lingered among the luscious plants at Cistus leaving only time for a stop at Means. If you live in the area or have read posts about Means, you know that this is the only retail outlet for a large multi-state grower.  One never knows what might be offered here, prices are low, and there are usually special sale items that can be had pretty much for the price of the plastic pot.


The parking lot is all decked out with petunias just for Loree.  (She isn't fond of the fragrance and has a special aversion to touching the sticky plants to deadhead them.)  I find them festive, love the fragrance, and who deadheads things like this?  No longer having enough sun or space for them, I haven't grown any for many years.

Hand model Danger showing us the display of annuals.  I almost wore my "Friends Don't Let Friends Buy Annuals" tee shirt for this visit.  It features a graphic of a petunia with a no symbol over it.

One of the legendary sales here was the five dollar brugmansia blowout.  These large specimens were not that much more expensive and I was tempted to get another but didn't as I already have too many things to winter over in the greenhouse.

"What is this?"
"I believe it's called a graft."
"But why?"
"Because they can?"

What do you think of this egg in a nest or big evergreen flower thingy?

Rose 'White Eden' tugged at my heart but stayed.  

Very nicely priced Butia capita.  So many plants, so little space.

She's running the gauntlet of perennials.  I came out the other end sans plants.  Will she be unscathed?

Not when she sees how beautiful and inexpensive is this combination of Cordyline and Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow.'
I got a bamboo for which I had a plan that I'm now reconsidering.  Really?  More bamboo?  Okay, but this one is a clumper and has tiny leaves and looks really cute.  Oh well.  So, another delightful day in Portland draws to a close.  The plantmobile makes its way back to Tacoma in the golden evening light of high summer and I feel grateful to live in this nursery-rich, gardener's paradise of a  region and to have made so many special gardening friends through blogging.
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11 comments:

  1. AlisonAugust 30, 2016 at 7:54 AM

    Oh, that is a very nice plant combo! Too bad the Cordyline won't live in the ground for more than one season. They might work well in a pot together though. That grafted evergreen is kind of an abomination.

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    Replies
    1. danger gardenAugust 30, 2016 at 10:14 PM

      Actually Alison that Cordyline is tougher than it looks. I've got one that was cut to the ground by 12F in 20013/14 and its bounced back to be bigger than ever.

      Delete
  2. chavlinessAugust 30, 2016 at 8:34 AM

    If I knew how to create magnificent hanging baskets, I would fill them with petunias. I suspect heavy feeding (rather then neglect) is the key :-) Last year, I fell head over heels for Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow.' I cross my fingers that will survive winter with flying colors.

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  3. LINDA from Each Little WorldAugust 30, 2016 at 9:42 AM

    OMG those Petunias! I've never seen a display like that. Either it would turn you into a fan or off of them forever. I would not be able to resist the "Danger" combo either.

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  4. Kris PetersonAugust 30, 2016 at 10:34 AM

    I think you made the most of your visit to Portland!

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  5. UnknownAugust 30, 2016 at 12:20 PM

    I'm trying not to feel hurt that you chose Means over that other nursery across the street. I'll forgive you this time but watch out if you do it again.

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    Replies
    1. outlawgardenerAugust 30, 2016 at 8:07 PM

      We only made that choice because it was 4:55 when we got there and the nursery across the street closes at 5:00 while Means stays open until 6:00.

      Delete
    2. UnknownAugust 31, 2016 at 5:23 PM

      But you have an in with that other nursery and accommodations could be made...just sayin', and not letting you off the hook too easy.

      Delete
  6. Hoover BooAugust 30, 2016 at 3:26 PM

    Fun stuff! I love garden center visits even when virtual.

    That Cordyline/Euphorbia combo is a winner.

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  7. Linda ReederAugust 30, 2016 at 5:02 PM

    I love big petunia displays, but I can't do them either. They get leggy and ugly and instead of deadheading I just whack them back. Needless to say I only have them in one pot.

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  8. chlorisSeptember 1, 2016 at 3:03 AM

    What fun visiting a nursery like this with a blogging chum. I have that Euphorbia and I am very taken with the Cordyline to match. Which bamboo did you buy? Are you going to show it to us?

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

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