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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, September 11, 2014

A Quick Stop at Flower World


After attending the Fabulous Fronderosa Frolic and having brunch at the Matlby Cafe in August, Alison and I decided to drive up the road a piece to visit Flower World.  This is a huge nursery with three of the fifteen acres under greenhouse cover (that's just the retail greenhouse space, the extensive propagation area is off limits to visitors. For previous, more extensive posts about this incredible place, look here.

Flower world grows their own stock and if they have a plant, they have hundreds of them.  What seemed like a field of potted dahlias were incredible and being enjoyed by bees and shoppers alike.


For some reason, Alison and I looked a bit at the plants outside but were drawn inside to see the fabulous tropicals.  Jacobinia carnea (also called Justicia cornea) are blooming their heads off!

Look at the size of that Asplenium nidus (Birds nest fern) Gorgeous!   Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young. (Ps. 84) This bird laid her young in an hospital in Massachusetts years ago  but it's always fun to shop, right?

Such a warm day seemed perfect for hibiscus.  It's also a treat to visit flower world on cold winter days, visit the warm tropical houses, and pretend it's summer.

 Gynura aurantiaca or purple velvet plant is kind of like that friendship bread that sometimes appears in break rooms along with a bag of starter and a recipe.  Once you have it, you'll be giving it to everyone you know.  Fond childhood memories of this growing on windowsills and it's purple soft fur always tempt me to buy it.

Beautiful variegated foliage!
 Here's my cart - More begonias a second try with this cool pink splashed berberis, and a great find was the last tow variegated  aspidistra elatiors they had.  

I've no idea where the berberis will go but isn't the foliage pretty?

These are happy in low light situations and I read on the tag that if the soil is too rich, they'll loose their variegation Perfect for beneath the timber bamboo where every nutrient has been drained by those greedy roots!

Here's Alison's haul.  We both got that same large begonia, probably because we remembered Deanne's post about a similar beauty.

A quick look back as a worker disappears into the foliage.  
As I write this, there is a chill in the evening air and looking back at these pictures is as good as putting on a long sleeve shirt.   I hope you have lots of wonderful, warm summer garden memories to carry with you through the seasons to come.  If not, stop by Flower World where, at least in the tropical houses, it's always summer!

13 comments:

  1. You guys are always having lots of plant fun together :) Great looking Begonia you got there!

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  2. We got some lovely plants that day! It's impossible to go to Flower World and come home empty-handed. I'm actually glad to feel the chill in the air, I need to cut back my Nepeta, which is always just overwhelmed by bees. I'm hoping this morning I can get to it before they wake up, even if I have to wear long sleeves.

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  3. Funny you should mention that purple velvet plant -- I haven't seen it in years but it sure was the rage when I was a kid! Your new greenhouse is rapidly filling up, Peter...

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    1. It seemed like everyone had them for a time didn't it. In a macrame plant hanger or perhaps an oversized brandy snifter.

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  4. Of course you both ended up with the tropical plants. No surprise there. You are going to need that greenhouse, Peter. I know Allison already has one. I think it will be getting full!

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    1. It's crazy! Alison says that her greenhouse will be packed to the gills again this winter. I'm hoping that I'll have space for a small table and a couple of chairs so that we can sit in mine and read when it's wet and cold outside.

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  5. Replies
    1. It's another of the great places to shop for plants out here. Go west young man!

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  6. Oh that variegated aspidistra is dreamy, nice find Peter!

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  7. Lovely plants. I love the Begonia and the variegated Aspidistra. And I have never seen a pink variegated Berberis before.
    Macrame plant holder? Whoops you are showing your age there. And so am I, knowing what you are talking about.

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