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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.

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! 


20 comments:

  1. You won't be able to help but smile seeing all that colour there :)

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  2. I was thinking about this place after your Dig post. Glad to see you visited again. Such a fab nursery. I adore those elephants, I need one for my tropical front garden. I need that Begonia too.

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    1. Yes! You need both an elephant and that begonia!

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  3. Love that baby elephant. So sweet.

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  4. Is that Fire Flush begonia just a single plant? Wowza.

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    1. I thought so but in looking at the picture I'm wondering if it might be more than a single plant. I'll go back and investigate!

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  5. The colors are gorgeous and it looks like a fun place to visit.

    I was surprised by the water pressure restrictions across the board so I took a look at some news stories and saw they have a number of supply issues on the island. The water pressure has improved in August so hopefully it's just in time to help Kathy keep her garden and stock healthy.

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    1. Now I'm very curious as the water restrictions started in June and July was very hot and dry (relative terms) here. Must go back and learn what happened!

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  6. Love it, so much color. I adore explosions of color in the gardens. That Kathy's Fire Flush begonia is outstanding!

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    1. I'm hoping that my fire flush will look as beautiful someday! Color is a good thing!

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  7. What a begonia! Lovely Peter!
    Eryngium always goes well with many flowers. Today I've noticed it combined well with day lily in my garden.
    It seems to be a nice place to visit.

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    1. It is a beauty! You're right about Eryngium going well with many flowers and I'll bet yours looks gorgeous with your day lily!

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  8. I MUST find that 'Fire Flush' begonia (even if I don't have much of a shade garden to put it in). I hope Kathy is able to work out the irrigation issue with the local water authority - if Vashon is taking those kind of steps, I can only imagine what's in store for us in California. So far, the only similar action I know of is a restriction on planting any new wine grapevines in Malibu.

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    1. I love 'Fire Flush' but mine was droopy when I bought it and it's never looked really happy. We'll see if it'll perk up a bit in the next few years.
      Vashon is a bit different because they depend on wells while we on the mainland are able to use the snow melt from the mountains (stored in a variety of ways) as a water source.

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  9. After seeing all that color and lushness, I can't help but be concerned at the potential lack of water this hot, dry summer.

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  10. Wow! Its beautiful, I love that yellow begonia! want to visit that place, seeing colorful flowers can put smile on ones faces!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.