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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.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Portland Area Garden Bloggers' Plant Exchange Part One - People and Plants


I've forgotten how long ago it was that Alison and I were invited to become honorary Portland area garden bloggers to attend their twice a year plant exchange.  It's been so much fun packing up extra plants and driving down to Portland to attend the exchange and have a chance to enjoy the fellowship of our blogging friends!   This fall, we invited the Portlanders here for their exchange which was originally going to be held in Alison's garden with dessert in my garden.  Because my  greenhouse project got started later than anticipated, I took dessert to Alison's garden as my garden was, and is still, filled with the evicted contents of our garage.

Here are Laura (Gravy Lessons) and our host, Alison (Bonney Lassie)  Laura brought me a cello to use in my garden, perhaps to mosaic, but after seeing how beautiful it is, I don't know if it'll make it out the door to the garden or workshop.  Instead, it may adorn the music room.  I tuned it today and played as much as I could remember from my strings methods class a billion years ago.  Such beautiful low tones!

I feel horrible that none of the pictures I took of Linda and Tom Reeder (Linda Letters) turned out.  It was so exciting to see them again!  Linda thrilled us with stories of their travels and Tom gave me lots of greenhouse pointers (He built his own and keeps geranium cuttings, among other treasures, through the winter there.)  Tom also maintains a large collection of bonsai.  The Reeders are a fascinating gardening couple!  It was a special treat to see them as they are so busy that we don't often have that opportunity.  

Nigel, Alison's other half chatting with Emily (All Things Emily.)

Anna (Flutter and Hum and The Creative Flux) photographing plants in Alison's Garden.

Loree (Danger Garden and Plant Lust) not only brought her own plants but also those of Rickii ne Ricki (Sprig to twig) who couldn't make it.

 Jane(MulchMaid) and Matthew (The Lents Farmer) enjoying the day.  It was getting warm but I was surprised, on the way home, to see a digital thermometer on a business say that it was 80 degrees outside!  What a lovely autumn day.

After feasting on delicious food that Alison had prepared for us, we moved back out to the front garden to start taking plants.  It's a gardener's dream to shop for plants that are all free!

 Jenni (Rainy Day Gardener) soaking in the last of the sun before the Pacific Northwest Rain Festival (mid October until July 5) begins. 
 Prayer circle?  No, just a group of plant nerds chatting while stealing glances at the plants that each of us brought.


That sweet little aloe in the upper right hand corner came home with me!  Thanks Rickii!  I also brought home a beautiful tender salvia from Lore, some sweet primroses from Anna, a pink crocosmia (Far Reaches origin) from Jane, and a cello from Laura. Yes, an actual cello - Interesting story for another post!  Thank you all for sharing!  
There were lots of great plants that I didn't take pictures of as I was busy checking them out!   Thank you, Alison, for being such a gracious host and for sharing your beautiful garden and home with us and thank you Oregon (and a few Washington) garden bloggers for driving up to make this exchange such a fun event!  

Tomorrow, we'll tour Alison's garden!  

24 comments:

  1. Wish we had something like that here. Even better if we could join as you are all a fantastic lot :)

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    1. Plant exchanges are great fun! What a delight it would be to have you join us!

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  2. I was so thrilled to have so many Portland bloggers drive up to see my garden and to exchange plants! That was the most fun I've had in ages. You know, Peter, that until that day, you were the only other gardener who had seen my garden. I do wish I had mingled a bit more.

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed the event! You were such a wonderful host! I'd no idea that no other gardeners had seen your garden before that day. I heard many nice things being said about you and your garden and it made me so happy for you! Next year...NPA open at Bonney Lassie's Garden?

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  3. What a wonderful Happ'ning! The photos of the visitors include candid peeks at Alison's garden. Thanks for sharing this occasion. Meanwhile, what about the greenhouse? Your greenhouse, Alison is supposed to make a panorama photo of hers, too.

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    1. Tomorrow, we'll tour Alison's garden so you'll get to see more. The guys worked from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Sunday to get it mostly done. The electrician comes in a couple of weeks to hook up the fans, vents, heaters and rewire (turns out the whole electrical panel in the garage needs replacing) A carpenter is meeting me tomorrow morning to discuss a couple of small things (gutters, installing door hardware.) I'll post progress later this week!

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  4. Such a great idea! I hope the garage remodel is coming along well.

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    1. The biggest part, replacing the roof and a wall with polycarbonate, hanging a door framing in fans and stuff, is done but the space is filthy and more needs to be done. Hopefully by October 17 everything will be finished!

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  5. What a fun afternoon it was, it went too fast! I enjoyed seeing you all and getting a couple more agaves (!). I just got home a few minutes ago from the weekend, time to get back to reality and do some laundry...

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    1. It was, as always a delight to see you! Hope you had a fun couple of days in Seattle! Thanks for the cool salvia! It'll have a happy place to be for the winter when the greenhouse finally is ready for plants to move in!

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  6. I had a wonderful afternoon exploring Alison's gorgeous garden and catching up with everyone! I'm so happy that the cello found a loving home. My vote is that you make it a piece of art!

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    1. It's always good to see you Laura! I love your easy smile and playful nature! The cello didn't seem to mind my playing it with Tom's violin bow. It's so lovely just the way it is so I must think long and hard about what might compliment it's shape and not be at war with it! Thank you again for bringing it to me!

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  7. Ohhh, this is great!!! I bet you all had a wonderful time!! I´m jealous :)

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  8. Peter, you wrote such a nice post! And fantastic pictures to boot! Our plant exchanges are such a lovely time to get together. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to catch up with you!

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    1. Thanks Jennifer! There's always next plant exchange!

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  9. Plant swaps with friends -- what could be better? We Austin bloggers do this once a month too.

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    1. Wow! Once a month would be fun although I don't know if we'd have much to exchange during the winter here.

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  10. Sorry, I couldn't join you this time!
    The moment I looked at the plants' picture, I thought - oh, that little aloe in the upper right hand corner could come home with me! You got it! Good for you!
    I hope to see your and Alison's garden one day. By the way, what did she cook for dear guests? Just kidding!

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    1. Perhaps by the next exchange, that little aloe will have pups for you! Perhaps next summer we can do a mini garden tour of both of our gardens.

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  11. Is that really a pink crocosmia? Did Jane give you the name of it? What a fun bunch of plant geeks you all are. I would fit right in. :)

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    1. Oh Grace, you'd fit in very well! Maybe you could come to one of the Portland Area garden bloggers' plant exchanges sometime. It would be delightful to meet you!

      Far Reaches calls it a soft tomato colored bloom so I'm not sure if it's really pink. Here's a link to their photos and description of Crocosmia pottsii 'Culzan Pink' http://www.farreachesfarm.com/Crocosmia-pottsii-Culzean-Pink-p/p0761.htm

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  12. Prayer's circle, huh? You're actually not that far off. I actually fended off a couple of missionary Mormons the other day, by saying that I was praying to my goddess, when in actuality I was watering a newly transplanted treasure. I guess gardening is as close as I get to religion! :)

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  13. I'll have to remember that line for future use!

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