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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, December 22, 2014

Festive Furney's Nursery

Furney's is a long-established large nursery in Des Moines, WA.  For more info, peruse their website here and see previous posts here.   Outside the entrance.  Notes to self:  Obtain a red tractor for ornamental use.  Find a place to store it for nine months of the year. Find a new home that would have space for this in the front yard.  Never mind, I'll just enjoy this one! 


A holiday symphony for the eyes just inside the entrance.  While Furney's decorates to the hilt for the season, their merchandise focus is on plants and garden related paraphernalia.

There are a few exceptions like this topiary rocking horse.  In the right setting this could be fabulous.

Red twig dogwood, ferns, and white Cyclamen persicum create an elegant combination planting.

The square wreaths are simple, interesting, and look like something that one could have fun creating.  On the other hand, if you don't have time for that, they're on sale for 50% off.

This would be a great project for kids as well.  Nature walk, stroll along the beach, memories from summer vacation, a hand full of those rocks that seem to show up in our pockets; it all works. A little wire, a hot glue gun, maybe a nail or two and voila...  Of course raising a child to about 6 or 7 when they'd start being interested in participating in this is fairly expensive, especially the down payment at the hospital, so you might be better off buying one or making it alone.

Thinking this would be a cool gift for my kids to make and give to their parents next year!


In the unheated greenhouse are all sorts of great plants for winter interest.  There were many more outside but the rain decided to pour down while we were there so we stayed under cover.

Winged Victory of Samothrace (AKA Nike of Samothrace)  seems to have lost her head and arms.  

This greek dude seems to have misplaced his body.  Those ancients should be more careful about where they leave things.

Common as dirt here, sold in every supermarket, and included in a lot of public plantings,  Primula vulgaris is sometimes shunned by gardeners.  Yet, any plant that brings winter color and doesn't mind being shaded by other plants in the summer has my vote.  The doubles are a particular favorite of mine as the plants seem to get larger each year and require less dividing.

In the dark depths of winter, a flower whose colors whisper summer sunsets and long lazy days can't be all bad!

Dig these cool cats.

Someone who's always ready to play.

In the area where annuals will soon be displaying a riot of color are trees for sale.  It's only a few days before Christmas and they're on sale and need a home.  I feel sorry for them in a way, never to be decorated and have their moment of glory before being recycled.  Maybe I've read Hans Christian Anderson's The Fir Tree too many times.

If you prefer a living tree, there's always the traditional potted Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii.' It's pretty hard to hang ornaments from these leaves.  I wonder if it comes in a flocked version?

Kissing balls with mistletoe at the bottom are another fun project.

I've admired this lady (ones like her that were darker in color)  and like this one.  She may come home with me when I visit next.

Be vewy, vewy quiet, we're hunting wabbits!    

And of course, my girlfriend, Monrovia who always looks festive.  I might have strategically placed a sprig or two of holly and maybe covered her boa and bosom fringe with cedar garland for the season.

This one I'm going to make!   It's beautiful alone but adding tillandsias is also fun.  

As we leave, Mr. Frog reminds us to use an umbrella.  Silly froggy, Pacific Northwesterners don't use umbrellas unless the rain is bouncing off of the pavement.  Thanks for thinking of us. 

We spent the shortest day celebrating the light and life still visible in our garden.  We've made it to the solstice and can look forward to the days getting longer once more.  Here's to a mild winter and early spring!

21 comments:

  1. I love common Primulas too. That one in sunset colors is fabulous!

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  2. Nice closeups of those potential projects. I like the square wreaths, maybe next year. That place is huge!

    Here's to longer days and a mild (so far) winter!

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  3. Square wreaths....so simple and yet so unique!

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  4. There are always primulas for sale at Lowe's in Alabama near Valentine's Day. I've never tried them but I think they faint on our first warm day. Maybe I'll try them this year if I find them in January.

    As to the square wreaths, I was reminded of the old saw where the farmer tells his college-educated son, "Pie r round, cornbread r square." Wreaths are meant to be round else they are picture frames?

    I could decorate around a red tractor but before I finished, it would have to move out to lift something or cut something or something. He-Who has no static toys.

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    1. I don't know if primulas would be reliably hardy for you as they aren't fond of heat but they'd be pretty annuals.

      Maybe put a picture of Santa or a snowman in the middle and call it a picture frame.

      I was thinking of you and He-who when I saw the tractor. Thought that you might have one hanging around.

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    2. Next year maybe I could buy strings of purple and orange lights they put out for Halloween and decorate the big orange tractor or maybe just the lawn mower. My Fiskars tools could go in the mix and lots of that gaudy fluffy mesh stuff that is so popular now.

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  5. You went through my entire thought process: see, want, think better of it, decide to enjoy in situ. And while we're on the subject of saving pennies: there are plenty of kids you can borrow whenever a project calls for them.

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    1. I get to make projects and play with kids six days a week. Love them but don't feel the need to have one of my own.

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  6. That primula is a gorgeous color! Not sure I've ever seen one like that before.

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    1. I may have to go back to scoop up a couple as I don't have that color.

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  7. How do you stay financially solvent visiting all these garden centers?! Of course, I think they should all offer you deep discounts - if not pay your outright - for supporting their businesses. Happy winter solstice and best wishes for a very merry Christmas (with lots of garden center gift cards to feed your habit)!

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    1. I sometimes make myself take pictures instead of buying things. It really helps that my garden is too full of plants as it is. Merry Christmas to you, Kris!

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  8. Thanks for showing me what was just down the road. I haven't stopped by there during the holiday season.

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    1. I'd not been there during this season either. What a nice surprise!

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  9. Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' as a Christmas tree...I think you're on to something...

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  10. I love garden centres and nurseries – these days I only visit them online but there are lots of lovely things to buy there too – I am actually waiting for a delivery today from a nursery, could not resist buying some Christmas offers!
    I like Primula vulgaris too, they flower all winter and they last for years - a staple in my garden.
    I wouldn’t mind if one of those cool cats found their way to my home :-)

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  11. Wow! Such vernal primulas! Happy Christmas and New Year, Peter!

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