The Pseudopanax Laetus That Jumped into my Car

I was on my way home from Puyallup and since Watson's Nursery is on my way (If I take a couple of different turns and a smaller road  and ... well you get the picture) so I thought it might be fun to stop in and see what there was to see.

 

This is a place that's always very clean and plants always look their best.  A crew of dedicated plant primpers sees to that!   Regal tree fern reigning over some lesser plants. Maybe I'll try one of these this year but not right now.

 

 

Watsons is a place that carries a lot of common plants, vegetable starts, etc. and they do it well.  There are also often a few new and exciting introductions. The parking lot is usually full of customer cars for most of the growing season which attests to the popularity of the place.  It's definitely become one of the popular and successful big men on campus in the South Sound Nursery league complete with espresso bar/cafe, high priced giftware and decorator items,  greeting cards, and on and on which is why I try not to like them.  However,  every time I go, something makes me love this place.  I hate myself for it. 

Rhododendron bloom.  A tempting color but the foliage was just nice, not outstanding so there it stayed.

One of the Itoh peonies strutting it's stuff.  Pretty but I don't need another peony.

One of the things that endears this nursery to me is their nice selection of succulents and cacti like this Aloe variegata which was very tempting.

Sansevieria masoniana from Fleet Foot and foul weather really tugged at my heart.  Those leaves can get 9" wide by 30" long...yum.  And I have a thing for these plants because they live through my neglect.  Maybe another time.  I just must not be in the mood to buy any more plants.  Having more than I know what to do with already might have something to do with that.

Oooh a new Hydrangea from Monrovia with a Dan Hinkley tag and great purple foliage:  Hydrangea aspera 'Plum Passion'  Alas, it's deciduous but still, look at that great foliage!  Nah, I don't really have space for anything more.

Meandering through the nursery, enjoying the lovely weather....

 

Enjoying the evergreens which are looking gorgeous as ever.

 

 

Hooray, I was strong and didn't cave in to any plant temptations and had almost made it to the car

when THIS happened!

A plant that I'd not seen in person before.  What could it be?  Definitely looks like it belongs to the Araliaceae...Look at those shiny tropical-looking leaves!  Is it me or do they look like schefflera leaves only held a little closer to the trunk? Did I mention that they're evergreen?   The tag read Psudopanax Laetus  but my heart said infatuation.

Wherever would I find space for such a thing?  There are only four of them....Yikes, what's an enamoured gardener to do?  What would you do in this situation?

 

Just now I was looking at pictures of them online and Tom, looking over my shoulder said, "That looks like an English Laurel."   I think I shall miss him. (So I'd better improve my aim.)