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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 Kathy's Corner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kathy's Corner. Show all posts

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Kathy's Corner - An Explosion of Color!

After visiting Colvos Creek and Dig!  we just kept going up the road a piece to Kathy's Corner.  This place always has something in bloom and in late June when we visited, it was ablaze with blossoms!
 

Variegated Lithodora is so sweet up close.


As beautiful as it is common, Digitalis will always be welcome in my garden!

Oh the blue of those delphiniums!  Notice the sprinkler head.  Kathy was worried because her water district was practicing involuntary conservation by cutting the amount of water it would allow through its lines.  So, there is not enough pressure to run sprinklers.  Kathy opened one up all the way and water just ran down the side of the pipe. She was worried that she'd loose a lot of her stock without the ability to water it all.  Kathy's place is huge and she grows a huge mount of plants on several acres. 

Snapdragons always make me smile.

Someone's always got to do his own thing!
 Kathy is much loved on the island.  Her home vegetable garden is large and she invites folks to come and spend time weeding or otherwise tending the garden.  At harvest time, they are free to take all they need.  Anything that is left over is brought to the nursery and sold at lower than grocery store prices.  Let's hope the water rationing didn't adversely effect that project.

Eryngium and phlox.


Coleus comes in so many great color combinations! 


When you visit Kathy, ask her to tell you the sweet story about the surprise gift of this elephant!
 Amaranthus Pigmy Torch and a red salvia make an eye popping combination.
 Color on the softer side.

Kathy always has my favorite fuchsia 'Autumnale' which does bloom but who cares.  The foliage is the star here.



When it comes to containers, I'm mostly a one plant, one pot kind of gardener (well, with the exception of succulents) but the sight of this stunning combination hanging pot had me swooning.

Lovely hanging fuchsias.

 
Tuberous begonias




Kathy's Fire Flush begonia is the lushest I've seen in person!

 As Loree says, There's always an agave!

Do you see the other elephant facing away from the one on the left?

Even more green goodness growing out back. 
 
Vashon Island is a great place to spend a day (or several) shopping at these great nurseries, and at the farmers market and  many cool shops and galleries in the area! 


Thursday, June 13, 2013

Vashon Island Part 3; Visiting Kathy's Corner Nursery

Vashon Island is one of my favorite places to visit and luckily, it's not far from where I live.  Today, Alison and I continue our day on the island with a visit to Kathy's Corner Nursery.  You may remember my previous post about this nursery nearly a year ago.  Most of what I would say about the nursery is contained in that post so do check it out.



Kathy's Corner always has a lot of fabulous plants and at this time of year the nursery is  bursting at the seams with glorious color!
 
 
Alison found a beautiful black Siberian Iris within a couple of seconds of walking in the gate!

There is a wonderful article written by Kathy, the owner of this establishment, in the publication Green Profit here.  I've been visiting the island for at least 16 years and have followed the ups and downs Kathy mentions in her article and it's interesting to hear her perspective as a nursery owner. 


What follows is a few of the many wonderful things that grabbed our attention on this trip!

Dianthus barbatus a.k.a. Sweet William.



Primula noverna 'Deep Blue'


Blue and yellow, a classic combination (Calibrachoa and trailing Lobelia) are pretty by themselves.
 
But add a Rhodochiton (Purple Bell Vine) to the mix and it's spectacular!


Double flowered Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) whose name escapes me and I'm too lazy to go outside with a flashlight to find it.

 
Sempervivum.  Ya gotta draw the line somewhere!



Veronica 'Goldwell'  lovely variegated foliage and beautiful flowers!


Love this sign!


Mahonia 'Soft Caress.
 
Zonal geraniums (pelargonium)

 
 I never tire of Eryngiums!


 
 
Some Epiphyllum strutting it's stuff as only they can!


Sneaking a peek into one of the work areas.

Dahlia with gorgeous black foliage.
 
 
 Ostiospermum

Another Dahlia looking very festive!


The fragrance of peonies is so sweet and fresh!

 
 
Lavender anyone?


Shade tolerant plants are displayed in the shade of these gorgeous trees. 




 
While I haven't grown petunias in a while, I still enjoy seeing them, especially the dark purple fragrant ones!  Here is 'Picasso in Pink', a little pinker than 'Pretty Much Picasso'  which was all the rage a few years ago. 
 
 Calibrachoas and petunias come  in such interesting colors.



 
So, here's our cart which includes several Begonia boliviensis  with pink flowers, a relatively new introduction.  Kathy also had  B.boliviensis in white and yellow. 
 
Going inside to pay for our finds we were greeted by these.
 
 
Here's the amazing Kathy Wheaton  freely sharing her  plant wisdom!
 
 This place is huge and we could have easily gotten lost  in all of the great plants on several acres that just keep going and going.  Since we wanted to see all of the gardens on the tour though, we decided to stop and move on.  I can't wait to go back!