Summer At Swanson's Nursery

A couple of weekends ago, after touring some Seattle Gardens we were only fifteen minutes from Swanson's Nursery so it made sense to stop by.  (It always makes sense to visit nurseries.)

Humphrey, the life-sized dinosaur is decked out in flowers for the season and is standing midst huge dahlias.  Just think of the damage a garden pest like this could do to one's garden.

Temptations abound. 

The vines are just getting started so we'll have to check back frequently to see the progress.  

Herbs and pots. 

Rieger Begonia, Elatior Begonia (Begonia x hiemalis) come in such gorgeous colors but I've never grown them.

Until 'Valentino stole my heart.  I'd admired this in my pal Alison's (The Bonney Lassie) blog in the garden of Charlene and Jim Hampton but had not seen them in person.  Then, here they were.  I've read that Riegers make great houseplants but don't appreciate drying out too much.  I'll really try to keep them going over the winter along with a few others I picked up on sale at our local everything store.

More begonias!  

I love it when nurseries create combinations that one could copy at home. 

Not interested in creating a seasonal combo pot?  Just grab one of these. 

Swanson's always has a lot of very well done combo pots!

Oh, those delphiniums.  Sigh.  

Off to the shady side. 

Hosta 'Zebra Stripes'   

A fernless fern table. 

A great variety of fern offerings. This is only a fraction of the fern area. 

Oh, look a stunning  Persicaria 'Silver Dragon'  It looks so cute in the pot and the color is wonderful but  the microcephalas tend to be a bit thuggish in my garden so this beauty stayed.

Love that plant stand.  One of these days, I need to learn to weld!

Libertia ixioides 'Taupo Sunset' (Looks more like 'Orange Blaze' to me)   Oh that gorgeous color!

The purple color of Opuntia 'Santa Rita' could make one fall hard for this one.  Oh those glochids -  sometimes love hurts.

And, as Loree says, "There's always an Agave." 

Well, hello there handsome. 

Summer fun?  The teepee seemed to be quite a hit with the kids. 

Pinus sylvestris 'Bialogon'  Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the space to grow every cool conifer one came across?

Yucca rostrata and Dasylirion.. 

Probably best not to venture back there. 

Stachyurus yunnanensis has silvery evergreen foliage, red stems and pinkish new growth.  Oh yeah, it blooms too.  What's not to love?

With dark burgundy foliage and these fantastic blooms, more pink than they appear here.  Hydrangea macrophylla 'Miss Saori'  jumped into my cart.

Hypericum 'Red Star'

Inside stuff. 

Look back there, I think that's Tephrocactus geometricus.  What a surprise to see it here.

Humphrey's relatives?

 One always has to visit the koi.

Another winning combination. 

Annual madness.

Time to take our purchases to the check out building where the sale shelves are located.  I contemplated buying one of these for a Monday vase but didn't.

Time to go to the parking lot and load the plantmobile.