A Portland Visit Continued - Joy Creek Nursery

It's always a pleasure to wander through the gardens and retail area at Joy Creek Nursery. It's like strolling through a friend's garden.  The space is as spectacular as the staff.   I fondly recall a visit several years ago with Alison.  We'd arrived just before closing and did a quick bit of shopping. We were getting ready to leave when Mike, a co-owner, offered to give us a guided tour of the gardens.

 Oh, that driveway!

With views like this, it's surprising that there aren't car crashes in the parking lot.  

Clematis, one of the specialties of Joy Creek.  Was it calling my name?  Someone was.

Turns out, it was my pal Anna (Flutter and Hum.)  Blogging pals Tamara and Ricki also now work with Mike and Maurice. I'm sorry I missed them but it was, as always, a pleasure to visit with Anna who was very excited to share her new favorite plants.  Her stash was on one of the front tables.  Do you think you'd actually make money working at a nursery?  

So many shady characters.

More varieties of hardy fuchsia than you could shake a stick at.

Primula 'Green Lace' 

Golden Hops Vine looks handsome with just about anything. Persicaria virginiana (maybe 'Lance Corporal') is likewise a great team player.  Together they're quite a knockout.

While admiring a new Farfugium japonicum 'Shishi Botan' leaf,  someone yelled, "Anna, come here quickly."  What could the excitement be?

It was the largest and most beautiful garter snake I'd ever seen!  Anna seemed very excited and not fazed by this sight at all.  Snakes are beautiful but I don't often see them and they can move so quickly which makes them a bit scary to me.  Unbeknownst to me, Anna, who seemed thrilled at the sighting shares my fear.  It's all here in her post.

After that encounter, I kept wondering if there were more snakes lounging about in the plants.  

That didn't keep me from finding some treasures to take home. 

Meanwhile, back in the gardens... 

Although Ricki wasn't there in person, her arrangements graced the inside of the old barn/checkout area.

 New this year is the large vegetable garden.  Oh to have this kind of space to play with..

Another exciting visit to Joy Creek drew to a close.  If you don't live in the area, Joy Creek also sells by mail order. 

Up next: Portland Nursery on Starke.

Wednesday Vignette

Wednesday Vignette is hosted by my  vivacious and talented friend Anna at Flutter and Hum.   Click here to join in the fun!

Gardening past and present.

Both images came from Joy Creek Nursery where our host happened to be working on the day I visited.

Portland Getaway Visit Part Two: Cistus Nursery

For me, no visit to the Portland area is complete without a visit to Cistus Nursery.  So many treasures to see that there are a lot of images so I won't bore you with too many words.  Few Words Friday?

Can you imagine having this sort of driveway?

One never knows what he/she'll encounter in the densely planted beds on either side. 

Entering the Big Top!

Echeveria 'Topsy Turvy'

Interesting signage.

This one hopped into my cart.

NOID but beautiful bromeliad family member in glorious bloom. 

Ditto this Puya.

Another cart jumper. 

This one got serious consideration but my greenhouse is already packed to the gills in the winter so it stayed at the nursery for someone else to take home.

Sigh, so much glorious green!

Abutilon x 'Kenny Sweetheart'  "A Cistus introduction. New in 2005; named for our Jack-of-all-trades, Kenny Kneeland. Medium plant; warm yellow to peach flowers flushing to saturated coral pink with temperature drops or serious embarrassment."  Who could resist?

This cool leucadendron, one of quite a few members of the proteaceae family available on this visit.

Looks like this brutal winter was too much for Butia capitata.  It may surprise everyone with new fronds but even if it doesn't, it's still quite interesting.

More fabulous abutilons, a Cistus specialty.

I'd be terribly excited to find Fatsia polycarpa Needham form if mine hadn't survived. 

It was in this very space many years ago that I first experienced Agapetes 'Ludgvan Cross' in bloom. At that time there was a huge specimen cascading out of a pot on a table surrounded by small starts.

Seems this year has seen heavy bloom of Trachycarpus  fortunei in many gardens, my own included. 

Crinodendron hookerianum

Acacia pravissima is always fun for a few years until it gets killed by a cold winter.  

Carpentaria californica 'Elizabeth'

Yucca rostrata

Opuntia microdasys monstrose form.

Nolina looking glorious.  There's one in my parking strip.  Somewhere. Must go looking.

So much more to see and love.  I only wish I lived closer!

Time to head up the path to the parking area and head over to Joy Creek Nursery!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend in the garden!  Don't forget, Sorticulture Garden Arts Festival opens today and runs through Sunday.