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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.
Showing posts with label Flower World. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flower World. Show all posts

Friday, November 13, 2015

There's Always Something Growing at Flower World

Flower World, the 15 acre nursery (3 acres under cover) northeast of Seattle is always an interesting place to visit, especially when it's cold outside as their extensive tropical houses transport one to faraway warm places.  If you're interested, you can see many previous posts about Flower World here.


Flower World had the least expensive ornamental kale/cabbage of any nursery I've visited.  Add to that the 10% discount that e-club members get (you can sign up here) on all purchases, and it was tempting to add a few more.  However, there are already quite a few of these lovelies around the garden. Speaking of OK & Cabbage, have you ever grown them from seed?  What was your experience?


Berberis were putting on their autumn show!



Dahlias still looking fresh and happy.

Flower World isn't in a rush to escort autumn out the door quite yet. 

It's wonderful to still find so many pumpkins, gourds, and squash available for Thanksgiving!  Soon these tables will be covered with cut evergreens, swags, berries, etc. of all sorts.

Brugmansias.

In the midst of autumn, there are already signs of spring!  Their spring bulb selection (the unplanted ones) was extensive as will be their offering of potted bulbs in late winter/early spring.

Sweet double primroses will bloom through the winter and into spring.

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange looks especially nice with these blue pots.  Not so sure about the red pot people.

Sansevieria kirkii var. pulchra  in glorious bloom caused serious plant lust but the price of the large blooming specimens was a bit high for me.

Fortunately, in another part of the nursery there were lots of smaller ones for less than half the price. Isn't that foliage glorious?  This one came home with me!

Ah, there she is, my girlfriend, Monrovia!  I get misty thinking of her.

Cycads 

 I'm especially fond of this one but they get fairly large and where would I put it?

Interestingly variegated hibiscus foliage.

The tropicals go on and on. 

Philodendron 'Pink Princess' was also tempting as I remember being impressed with the large one growing at Portland Nursery on Division.

More fab foliage.


Even some dangerous plants!

This Cryptanthus was on a table simply labeled "Bromeliads."  Easy-care plants, these are addictive and this one was too lovely not to come home with me.

Ludisia discolor, the Jewel Orchid, has got gorgeous foliage.

I can't remember a visit to Flower world when there weren't hibiscus in bloom. 


Cissus discolor, aka Rex Begonia Vine and Tapestry Vine kept jumping in and out of my cart.  Such a beautiful plant that likes part to full shade.  It'd be very happy in my greenhouse and there's still a bit of overhead room... It eventually stayed at Flower World because I wasn't really sure about it's hardiness and, since it was new to me. there was the novelty factor to consider.   Perhaps if they're still there on my next visit, one will leap into my cart.

What do you think of this plant?  

Friday, May 1, 2015

Visiting Flower World

Visiting Flower World is an event.  The place is located on 200 acres on which most of what they sell is grown.  Fifteen acres of that space is dedicated to the retail nursery and three of those retail acres are covered by huge retail sales greenhouses making shopping a delight even in bad weather.  In addition to the nursery, there is a huge, beautifully landscaped park, a local produce stand, and a small farm that includes all kinds of fowl, sheep and goats.  Heck, even the parking lots, nestled beneath tall douglas firs, are full of interesting plantings!    So large is the nursery that maps are posted in mail boxes throughout so that you don't get lost.  The first few times you visit, the map is a necessity.  So, here's a little of what I saw on this trip.  (I skipped the tree areas, the rose house, and several other areas.

Malus 'Madonna' blooms greeted us near the front entrance. 

Brugmansia blooms.  I finally got my first bloom this spring on mine in the green house. Alison got blooms much earlier.  Flower World almost always has these in stock and in bloom.

Abutilon 'Red Tiger'  trained into standards were everywhere as were Abutilon megapotamicum 'Variegatum' in hanging pots.

And of course fancy leaved geraniums (pelargonium.)  This one is 'Vancouver Centennial' a perfect partner for dark leaved phromium!

Also ever present are tons of African Violets.  I haven't grown these since I was a kid.  Do you grow them?

 Alison and I have both killed this beauty.

Ah the foliage!

So nice to see Beaucarnea recurvata (Ponytail Palm) allowed to have a single trunk.  Lately it seems that I only see them in stores with multiple trunks.
 Cordyline terminalis 'Tricolor' 


Had to pick up one of these since they were small and inexpensive. 

Another gorgeous Cordyline!

Rex Begonias are faves but I have enough of them!

Nice to see so many impatiens back on the sales tables.  Has the downy mildew problem gone away?

A few of the many tables of tomatoes.  There were all kids of other veggie starts as well.

Amusing to see the seed potatoes displayed among the ornamental plants. 

Of course they carry lots of  conifers, trees shrubs, well lots of everything.

Fortunately the map mailboxes are posted throughout the nursery in case you get lost. 

There is a vine house, ground cover house, etc.  Here's the Herb house.


Ginger mint is my favorite to grow both for the way it looks and the way it smells.  


YIKES!  This stuff will take over bushes, flower beds, small communities.  Fortunately, it's easy enough to pull up.

 Columbines.


Grasslands.  Those palms are everywhere!

Scads of Japanese maples!

Acer palmatum 'Higasayama'

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' 

Acer palmatum 'Full Moon'

Acer palmatum 'Koto no ito"



Brugmansia sanguinea is pretty but does not have that fabulous evening fragrance of the others.

Walking through the park to cross the street and see the farm.


The black sheep of the family.

Hey, Little Bo Peep, I think we found your sheep!  Some cute pygmy goats to boot!

Notice the pile of baby ducks huddled together for warmth.

These adults have their coats on.

Hello, I am a tease.

I'll start to fan my tail but then decide against it.

This is all you're getting!

Hope you enjoyed it because I just can't be bothered to do any more.

And I hope you enjoyed poking around Flower World as much as we did!  It's not far (15 minutes) from Molbaks and definitely worth a visit when you're in the area!  
Happy weekend and happy gardening everyone!