Visiting Nurseries in the Snow

How better to spend an afternoon just before the lowest temperatures of the winter were predicted to arrive than to visit a couple of nurseries?  A wiser gardener might have rushed home to throw the fuchsias that were already leafing out into the greenhouse to protect them from the impending freeze.  I don't think they've survived. Oh well, I've far too many plants anyway.  Besides, Vassey and Watson's are on my way home from my Sunday job and I wanted to see what the pros were doing to protect their plants. 

Fortunately, these flowers need no protection. 

Even winter hardy plants have been dragged under cover.  While mine, left outside, all perked up, they really looked unhappy during the cold.

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' would have gotten nipped since they're already this far above the soil.  Mine seem to be fine but they're still just tight buds close to the soil line.

Sycopsis sinensis

The pink winter coloration of Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' is quite lovely.

A battle of the choirs?

I didn't do a lot of outdoor exploration for some reason.  

Leaving Vassey and approaching Watson's, the snow let up a little bit but was replaced by hail while I was inside one of Watson's big greenhouses and the sound of the hailstones hitting the roof was really cool.

I know that the amazing red foliage color of Helleborus 'Reanna's Ruby' won't last as the season progresses but it's nice enough that this one had to come home with me along with a couple of other hellebores ('Onyx Odyssey,' 'Red Sapphire.')

Look at how healthy the Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' looks in these combination pots!

Pussy willow bird nest.

Getting ready for spring!

There are sometimes delightful surprises in the succulent section like these Aloe striata.  Since I had some reward dollars left, this really needed to jump into my cart.

Cacti and succulents seem to continue growing in popularity in both gardens and in decor.  I'm cacti/succulent-themed stuff everywhere these days.

Ooh, the deep red foliage of this Algaonema is gorgeous!

The hail storm lasted less than a minute but it dropped quite a bit in that brief time. 

It's always a good time to visit a nursery.