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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.
Showing posts with label Molbak's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Molbak's. Show all posts

Monday, February 9, 2015

Spring Has Arrived at Molbak's Nursery!

At the main entrance of Molbak's are these large rusty metal sculptures.  It's fun to see the displays in the foreground change with the seasons.  The rain was pouring so I didn't spend much time outside.
 
Spring comes early in these parts and this year, because of our mostly mild winter, a few things seem a bit ahead in blooming but in the nurseries, things always bloom a bit early!

Must go to the used materials shop near me and find more interesting doors!

The color of this primrose seduced my eye.  Rich saturated purple/violet blending to almost magenta with a cheery yellow eye.  Yum.  Three, since you wanted to know.

There were large tables displaying single colors of plants.  Rich jewel tones are more my cup of tea but pink is pretty too.

A purple heart - I like the Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria? Artemisia?) and Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') edging.

If I loaded this door into my car, do you suppose anyone would notice?   Valentine's Day is the next big push at the nursery.  The Edgeworthia blooms are a bit ahead of mine which are still buds.

My yellow specimen which had been happy for years did the sudden death thing that sometimes happens to members of the daphne clan.  It was replaced with the orange-flowered Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Akebono' which looks like it won't be blooming until later this month or maybe even March.

Camellia japonica 'Pearl Maxwell' is a sweet pale pink color.  


Forgot to remember the name of this Camellia japonica.  Garish colors like these are often looked down upon by designers and people with good taste because they don't go with anything else.  Not having a ton of flowering happening in my garden right now, I don't so much mind.  The jolt of bright color does wonders for gray-sky weary eyes.

 Sweet!  More hearts!  

Cheery combination table!  


Be watching your email if you've signed up with Molbak's because usually sometime in April they have their big two for one pot sale.  I love metallic gold pots.  One would think that they would stand out like a sore thumb in the garden but surprisingly, they blend beautifully.

 So many great frost proof pots!


So, I'm innocently walking through the indoor pot section and what should I see?

Yes ladies and gentlemen, those are macrame plant hangers!  Groovy man!


I'd no idea!  A search online  brings up a number of sources for them.  I refuse!  I did it the first time!  My bedroom in my parents' house had these hanging about along with stoneware pots that I'd made. (directly after the black light and fluorescent posters)    Oh, such memories. With a price of $50.00, it may be time to re-learn how to make these! 

Beautiful when in bloom but the rest of the year, meh. 

Such interesting blooms, though. I've killed a few in my time.  Some of you grow beautiful orchids and I have a very few that are still alive.  I mostly forget to water them and while they prefer that to having soggy roots, they also don't take the neglect that cacti and succulents do!

Very exciting were the colors of this sansevieria until I realized that it was artificial.  Like Loree, faced with imitation tilandsias, I thought, really, a sansevieria is sooo hard to take care of?  An artificial orchid garden, that makes sense!

These pots are too cool for school.  I found one in white to ride home with me. 
So many great house plants and a super new display of tillandsias all of which I forgot to photograph  as I was so wrapped up in experiencing it all. (Sorry.) 

This is a lovely sign to have in a nursery!  However, I wonder about that marriage  only making you happy for a weekend thing.  Perhaps the honeymoon period was much shorter in those days. So, a barbecued pig brings longer-lasting happiness than marriage?   Probably costs less, too. 

Happy new week!  Tomorrow is the preview of the Northwest Flower and Garden Show and I'm very excited to see the gardens, vendors, seminars, and special gardening friends!  Do you have any special plans this week?  Visiting a garden show? Romantic Valentine's Day dinner?  Taking up macrame?

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Molbak's Nursery Delivers Christmas Sparkle!

The second nursery that I'd never seen at this time of year was Molbak's and oh my, they sure do it up in a big way for the holidays!

You may recall what these two cool rusty metal sculptures looked like this summer.



Here they are now.  I really liked the rusty metal snowflakes.

Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph' or Chief Joseph Lodgepole Pine taking on their gorgeous winter color.

Evergreen snowflake


Looking at these outdoor planters, I'm once again very grateful to live in such a mild climate.  Having lived and gardened in zone three for years, this feels positively tropical yet most of these plants are ones that many of us take for granted.

This Anna's Hummingbird  was happy to pose for a pictures ever so briefly.  The ones in my garden aren't so patient when I tell them to stay right where thy are while I go and fetch the camera.  We're also fortunate to have these cute little guys here year round.

It's hard to show or explain the amount of holiday stuff on display.  Molbak's is a huge nursery and every corner was filled with holiday stuff!

'Princettia' was new to me.  It's really that bright.  

Here's 'Tapesty' whose variagated foliage I admired last year.  A four inch pot came home with me.

Metallic gold pine cone like planter called my name; it's price tag made me realize that it must have been calling to someone else named Peter with deeper pockets.

Although it may seem like there aren't many people in the pictures, trust me, the place was crowded with happy shoppers.

A little wildlife...

Would it be wrong to display one of these hanging from a noose over my pond?  Not that I'm bitter or anything...


My eldest sister has dogs very similar to these but hers are smaller. 

If you like your chicken with stuffing...

The quietest Chihuahuas I've ever met.

Interesting underwater idea.

Let's see if we just added a little more...

 One of the many walls of decorations.  There were many areas done in various color themes complete with trees to match and in each area, copious ornaments to match.

Fab cadge but since the cute children had already escaped, I didn't buy it. 
 Nifty glass ornaments.

Hey Alison C. here's a hydrangea for you!  It blooms in these colors that already look aged.  

I forgot the name but noticed them there this summer.  You could get one now, keep it in your greenhouse and plant it out in the spring.   The houseplant sale is coming in January!
 Hot pink and chartreuse are a great combination and this display was certainly eye catching!

If you run out of space, you can always start hanging things from the ceiling!

 What a glitzy wonderland (I say that with fondness.)   Time to pay for my poinsettias (small pot of 'Tapestry' and 'Princettia')  and be off to another nursery.  I may even decorate for Christmas myself this year.  Stranger things have happened!

If you're looking for a place to beat those winter blahs and see enough holiday decor to deck the halls of a small country, look no further!  Molbak's has you covered!