In a Vase on Monday - Tea Anyone?

Today I'm cheating and not bringing anything from my garden indoors to enjoy.  Since I'm spending as much time as possible outside and only coming in after dark to write blog posts and sleep, I'll better enjoy the flowers in the garden.  However, one wouldn't want to skip participating in Cathy's addictive meme, In a Vase on Monday so I'm sharing flowers that others have put in vases today.

Once a year, the parish hall of the church were I work becomes a tea room during the usual coffee hour.  It's fun on this day to look out at all of the hat-wearing parishioners during the service.  Of course, coffee is also still offered.  Here are a few of the tables being prepared (I took these before the service.)

I regret that I took these before  tiered cake stands  holding all manner of nibbles sweet and savory, arrived.

Individuals volunteer to put a table together and every year, my pal the pianist and I say that we should do a couple of tables but when the time comes, we're usually busy with other projects.  Some year...

In a Vase on Monday is hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  Click here to see what other bloggers have artfully arranged or haphazardly plopped into a container this week.  

Sylvia and Ross's Vashon Garden

While visiting Dig Nursery last weekend, I had the pleasure of tiptoeing through the tulips the owners' garden.  Ross and Sylvia are a fabulous team who have created a garden that is at once contemporary and clean in style and exuberantly planted (stuffed, these are serious plant lovers.)  Not an easy balance to strike but it has been expertly accomplished here as it was in their previous garden.  

   

The use of gabion walls creates intimate areas within what was once a large open space.  Like the artists they are, they've utilized generous gravel paths as areas for the eye to rest.  Much easier to care for and more water-wise than lawn, these negative spaces are the perfect foil for the floral and foliar bounty of the even more generous beds.

Fritillaria imperialis

I think that's Daphne x houtteana  looking so handsome  currently surrounded by pink tulips .

Gotta love those those brightly blooming euphorbias!

Cerinthe major purpurascens

The Tetrapanax grove will soon be leafed-out.

Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon' always looks gorgeous this time of year, and quite innocent before it starts trying to take over the world later in the season.

The honey-like fragrance of Euphorbia mellifera is such a joy.  I think  my own specimen came from Dig many years ago.

Ross and Sylvia may well be moseying down the road if their property sells but for at least one more season, we can still enjoy the magic of the Nursery and garden. (Nursery post to follow.) Thanks again for all these years of enjoyment!  

Portland Nursery Hopping #2 Portland Nursery, Stark Street

Portland Nursery has two locations and after Hortlandia, I visited both.  Today, step into a springtime paradise with me at the Stark Street Location. This place is always overflowing with great plants exquisitely combined.  I won't talk a lot today so you can simply soak in all the color!

Isn't it nice to know that if you forgot to plant bulbs in the fall, you can always pick them up already blooming?  Cheating has it's price, though as bulbs are much less expensive than blooming plants.

Oh to have space for one of those circular arbors in my car and garden...

Hosta la vista, baby!

One could get sappy about the maple selection.  

Hey man, let's get some grass. 

Give a hoot.

Don't pollute.

Camellia japonica 'Nuccio's Pearl'

Even at 50% off in the clearance area, these were a bit pricey for me. 

Abies Pinsapo 'Glauca' always looks so cute at this time of year. 

The inside jungle featuring macrame plant hangers.  (Say it ain't so.)   At least the new iteration doesn't feature those big ceramic beads with splotchy contrasting colored glazes. 

Let's face it, there's something for just about everyone here.

As Loree says, "There's always an agave."  As I usually counter, "There's always a begonia too.  One seldom sees them together.

Table after table of healthy, well-grown plants delighted but I didn't find anything I couldn't live without  on this visit. 

Also, for a good time, go here and scroll down to the third offering.  Alison (Bonney Lassie) had an idea about the two of us leading a discussion about garden blogging and guiding participants through the process of creating their own blogs.  I'm glad she roped me into this as it should be fun.