Visiting Bark and Garden On A Rather Wet January Day

Bark and Garden is a very large nursery and the first thing I noticed when driving in is that they've added another building, a huge lath house.  Right now it is full of evergreens but one wonders what they'll use it for this summer.  The garden that they've been working on looks much more finished than it did during my last visit.

A huge water feature dominates this space and small rivulets meander throughout. 

I also noticed that there were no huge containers parked across the parking lot as they have been in previous years at this time. Inquiring inside, I learned that Bark and Garden will not be at the Tacoma Home and Garden Show or at the NWFGS in Seattle.  Bummer.   Anyway, as always their displays of evergreens blew me away.

Instead of segregating their plants by type, B&G displays them in beautiful color combinations that make me want to rip out my entire garden and replace it with something like this.

No one else in these parts does winter evergreen displays quite as stunning as these.  Those red and orange Nandinas really add a grand contrast!

Moving inside one of the cool greenhouses, I spotted this color combination. My eyes danced at the color echo of the pinky purple of the cordyline and the details of the giant lizard.

This large gazing ball-centered sunflower certainly stands out! What will they think of next?

B & G also incorporates all kinds of statuary in their displays.  One has to admire the scale of these huge creatures.

Ah, the hellebores are starting to open up. I had to bring a couple home just because they were in small pots and fairly inexpensive.  One can never have too many hellebores, right?

There were a lot of agaves in gallon pots all lining the top shelves of the unheated house.  Here are just a few.  They were mostly varieties that can make it outside here.  (Mr. Ripple was the only exception.)

Back out to see something and caught sight of more evergrens.  The new lath house is partially visible on the right.

Purty primrose.

Camellia sasanqua 'Kanjiro'  giving C. s. 'Yuletide' a run for it's money.  Although Yuletide's bright red cheery color is still my favorite.

And by some strange greenhouse magic, Dianthus blooming in January. 

Another camellia. The tag was buried around the back of the plant somewhere and I didn't want to disturb it.  Aren't those little almost water-lily shaped flowers darling?

Flowers of another kind in full bloom in the gift area.

This guy, also available through Design Toscano, was tempting.  He'd look quite interesting among  some of the gravestones in my garden.  He's a bit too realistic and scary looking though.

Another couple of large houses are devoted to tropical plants.  Dinosaurs do need heat!

As do jungle animals. 

This time of year finds holiday displays being put away, new merchandise arriving, gearing up for spring and the early summer rush.  This Yeti (or is it just a blonde gorilla?)  was taking a nap inside a small greenhouse  in the back. Hope he's not grumpy when he wakes up!

Although it doesn't look much like this right now, Mark and Gaz's (Alternative Eden) jungle hut came to mind.

Interesting driftwood horse. 

Those of you who live in areas where Spanish Moss naturally grows on your trees may find this a bit funny.  It's artificial Spanish Moss.  Plastic and at the end is a nice little handle.  $2.99 a hank.

Someone named O'Neil had fun painting "laughing rocks."

Laughing out loud!  Always with the jokes, these people.  Seriously, this is good advice.

Another view of those glorious evergreen displays and more of the lath house.  

On this extremely rainy day, the thought of watering was laughable but this is sure a pretty display of bright colored watering cans.

Here's my haul.  The Viburnum xbodnantense 'Dawn' are in the background. What a treat to bring home plants again!  The scent of Sarcococca filled the car on the way home and made me think of the Northwest Flower And Garden Show, the air of which is usually heavy with this fragrance.  (Yes, there are already a few of these in my garden but I wanted one to plant near the back porch where I'll smell it frequently.)

Have you brought home any new plants lately?