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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.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Rare Plant Research Open House 2016

Although I'd bought plants originating at Rare Plant Research from some of my favorite nurseries (Jungle Fever, Dig!) for several years, it wasn't until a few years ago that I started going to their annual open houses.  Primarily a wholesale nursery, now a winery as well, they are only open to the public a couple of times a year.  If you like what you see, they will be having a one day open on June 18 from 11 - 4.  Their website with further information is here,  my previous posts about RPR are here.  This was blogging pal, Loree's, eleventh year attending the RPR open house.  Her posts can be found here.

This poor killdeer is panicked by passersby walking so close but stands by protecting her eggs.  Her plaintive cry tugging at hearts.  Thank goodness they finally put pots in the path so that people couldn't get so close. Some still walked around.  (Telephoto lens from a respectful distance.) I hope the poor thing wasn't exhausted by the end of the day.


Isn't if fun seeing what other shoppers have found?  I already have most of these in the collection.
 From the beautiful to the bizarre, you'll see it all in the greenhouses at RPR!  And that's just the shoppers, the plants are pretty interesting, too.


Everyone should have a field of hardy hippeastrum (Amaryllis) right? 


Cleverly placed out each spring, these bromeliads look like they they're always here. 

 RPR sits on farmland outside of Oregon City but once in the space, one is transported to a magical Mediterranean paradise.  There are new additions each year.  Discovering what's new in this ever-changing garden is one of the treats of visiting each year.





Envy meter goes off at the sight of this beautifully-grown Daphne x burkwoodii 'Briggs Moonlight.' Just about every gardener I know has killed at least one of these but we keep trying because that foliage is so gorgeous.


Bamboo on the move.

 Notice anything different?  A big dragon guarding the fortress perhaps?

Treacherous terrain spiked with opuntia.  Ouch!

Beware!

If you can see my teeth, you're a lost cause!

Your skull may be the newest decoration in my grotto!

So, you have to swim the moat, slay the dragon, brave the spines and glochids on the opuntia and climb up the rocky terrain to reach the castle.  Of course, you could just stay on any one of the wide and easy paths but some people like a challenge.


Gold-leafed pelargonium, with hot pink flowers paired with Tradescantia pallida, a new favorite!

Huge bromeliad bloom.

Rarest of all bananas, the variegated Ai Ai was once only grown by Hawaiian royalty.  


Can you believe that these walls are made of urbanite?  

Don't you owe it to yourself to visit on June 18?


22 comments:

  1. I remember the castle from your last post; the grounds are so impressive. I kept staring at the first photo, wondering why you opened the post with it. Once I Googled "killdeer" I knew what to look for. Clever bird; talk about hiding in plain sight! Is anyone ever brave enough to taste the sweet fruit of the opuntia? This could very well be what the dragon is guarding.

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    1. The bird was frightened by all of the people walking by. Since this area doesn't usually have much human activity, it was quite a shock to the poor thing. I've not tasted opuntia fruit but have seen it at the market on occasion. Have you eaten it? If so, did you like it?

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    2. Its been decades since I had one. My sister loves this fruit better then me. If my memory serves me right, it has seeds similar to Guavas and the flesh is sweet.

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  2. That dragon is so cool! Thanks for sharing your photos. Next year I hope to visit RPR again.

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  3. Fab looking place! I wonder if they're open in March, hmmm....

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    1. March? Is there something you should be telling me?

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    2. What Loree said. Really? Another visit to the PNW in March? I bet we could ask Burl nicely to let you visit. The bromeliads and other tender plants won't be outside yet but it would still be pretty special to visit!

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  4. Who needs a dragon when you've got Opuntia? Actually, the dragon is fabulous. Maybe that's what I need to keep my foliage-hating neighbor away!

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    1. It's worth a try. Maybe a built in flame thrower would help with that neighbor.

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  5. Wow, this is a regular estate. The house is a mansion! Truly spectactular. I'd come for the scenery as much as for the plants.

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    1. It's pretty special and I so admire Burl's vision and creative ability.

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  6. Even though I've been a million (almost) times I still enjoy it. Great photos and I'm glad to hear some attempt was made to keep people away from the Killdeer.

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    1. I'm so glad your posts made me add this annual tradition to my life. Such a special place.

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  7. I've seen this place in posts from several gardeners, and it always looks like such a fun time! I want to see it 10 years from now though...

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    1. It keeps getting better so in ten years, Yowsa!

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  8. The building, the views, the plants and that great dragon, this a place I would like to visit!

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    1. Come on out and do just that! I'll meet you there!

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  9. Oh my! I want to go, but June 18th will not work out. this place is just north of where I grew up, between Canby and Molalla.

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  10. How many times can I say "There's always next year"?

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  11. Amazing place. I realize I never wanted to grow that Daphne because I'd never seen how it should look. What a beautiful plant.

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  12. Yes! Yes, I do owe it to myself to visit on June 18th, and by gum, I will. It's been far too long, I can clearly see! Thanks for the push, Peter.

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