The Road Led North

Perhaps you remember that the former plant mobile was hit by another car in early November. The car was declared a total loss.  Fortunately, no one was hurt.   It was the other driver's fault but unfortunately the driver was uninsured.  Fortunately, my insurance covers being hit by an uninsured driver but doesn't cover the cost of a rental car which is the responsibility of the other driver.  Fortunately, we have the twenty-year old truck that I was able to use for a time.  I'm not a vehicle person and only once was attracted to a car, the former plant-mobile, a model no longer made.  Early last week, I got a new car, a useful vehicle but not something with which I have an emotional connection.  The weekend past was the first opportunity to take the new car on a nursery field trip.

This summer, when I visited the stunning home and garden of garden blogging pal, Emily, she gave me a wad of Swanson's Nursery Holiday Dollars, earned during certain times of the year but redeemable only during November and December.  Emily said that she'd never remember to redeem them. What a kind and generous gift!

Let's see, a car in need of a first nursery field trip and money to burn at a Seattle nursery.  The road led north!

This summer, I'd admired some cool dinosaur planters at Swanson's but thought them a bit too pricey.

However, at half price, they wouldn't be bad at all.  I wondered if they might still be there. 

Swanson's was in the midst of their "Reindeer Festival" and was crowded with jolly families selecting cut trees and ornaments of all sorts.

Some seaons, the ornaments speak to me but this year, I was more interested in seeing what was outside.

This nursery always has beautifully done potted arrangements.

This huge mossy dinosaur was the indoor centerpiece of the display this summer.  He's moved outside to make way for the holiday displays.  Aren't you glad you didn't have to move him?

I'm sorry/grateful that I didn't pick up this lovely Lavendula allardii 'Meerlo'.  Sorry that I don't have it but grateful not to have another pot ghetto inhabitant looking for a place in my garden.

Anthuriums  have beautiful color but have never really appealed to me except as cut flowers in certain arrangements.

Hey, look what I found, the dinosaurs and a head planter to boot.  These will be the basis of  my holiday table this year.

Next stop: Sky Nursery.