DIG Nursery

For me, Vashon Island means DIG nursery.  In fact, although the island is a wonderful place, it was the description of DIG in the late Stephanie Feeney's The Northwest Gardeners' Resource Directory that prompted my first visit to the island and it was through many subsequent DIG visits that I came to appreciate Vashon's many charms, including a few other nurseries there.  Since the nursery and property are for sale, I worried that this gem of a place would perhaps not be as stellar as in previous years.  Turns out, the opposite is the case and there were treasures abounding, mouthwateringly displayed in Sylvia's inimitable style. 

Leucospermum 'Brothers' immediately caught my eye and reminded me of Hoover Boo and Kris's smashing success with growing Leucospermum 'Yellow Bird.'  Very tempting to bring one of these home but they aren't hardy in the ground here and, while the blooms are spectacular and long lasting, the plant itself is so-so.  I'd most likely kill it so instead only a picture came home with me.

Although, there are lots more buds waiting to bloom....NO!  Don't do it.  Well maybe...

Oh, that Little and Lewis fountain. 

NOID Ilex that always garners attention with it's laurel-like foliage and generous clusters of brilliant red berries.

Blooming Aloe.  Seems like a shipment from California has arrived.

Aloes, opuntia and agave, oh my!  Hey, what's that Restio on the right? 

Why, I believe it's Elegia capensis.  Major moment of nostalgia.  This was the first restio that I grew many years ago.  It made it through several winters outside as it had become too large to bring into the house and I didn't have a greenhouse at the time.  Finally, one of our Phormium Killing Winters  took it but it remained one of my favorite restios.  I hadn't seen it offered locally since the PKWs.  That first plant came from, you guessed it, DIG.  One of these had to come home with me!

 More agave.  (A. attenuata and maybe 'Cream Spike?)

The fab industrial water feature. 

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora 'Tricolor'

Meanwhile, inside the "Greenhaus"  the xeric theme continues.

That blue cactus on the right,  what is it?  Anyone?  I got one last year but there's a grower who is selling these without labels.   It's the most incredible color!

And it looks like there may be one with your name on it!

The kokedama craze is in full swing.  I like the idea of displaying them in these wooden vessels as it's similar to  the look of epiphytes growing in huge trees.

 

Anic is DIG's newest kokedama creator and a delightful person. 

It was nice, as always,  to chat with Ross.  Sylvia, unfortunately, was sick in bed  and I missed hearing her take on current horticultural trends.

Yes!  Finally, the kind of  kokedama that a lazy gardener like myself could accomplish!

Just plop a plant into one of these and boom, your done.

Back outside

Is that Yucca 'Bright Star' shining in the blue pot?  

 Orange!  (I'm guessing that's Berberis darwinii behind the Gazania Daisies)

Geranium (Pelargonium)  'Black Boar'   

So sweet.

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'  

Come on in and sit a spell...if you can find a space not covered in plants.  This feels like home at the moment.

Time to pay for my plants and load the plantmobile. 

Hope you enjoyed looking around DIG.  We'll visit again soon.

Have a great and garden-filled weekend all and may the fourth be with you!

Vashon Island's Quartermaster Press Celebrates Twenty-Five Years

The new Vashon Center for the arts is both a performance space and gallery.  We'd seen the building go up but this was our first time to venture inside.  The draw this day was the Quartermaster Press twenty-fifth Anniversary Retrospective Show.  We'd attended shows by this group in the past and have always greatly enjoyed the experience.

The natural light filled space with soaring ceilings is impressive.  I've learned  that architects refer to windows as fenestration systems.  Ain't that fancy?  To be fair, the term refers to all openings in a building including doors, louvres, vents, wall panels, skylights (sloped glazed systems,) storefronts, and curtain walls. So one might say that the generous fenestration system allows ambient light to flood the space, illuminating exposed natural wood beams that celebrate Vashon's history,  and incorporating views of the island's vibrant  present,  creating an effect that is at once contemporary and nostalgic.  The lighting design is enhanced by textured cylindrical pendant lamps creating golden illumination.  Being a simple person, I'd just say that I like all the windows and the hanging lights are neat.

Upon entering we went to the front desk and learned the entrance is free of charge.  "It's a community theatre."

The art was delightful but difficult to photograph (I had permission) behind glass.  Please forgive the strange angles and reflections.

Free Range - Meredith Yawek

Forest Floor - Donna Romero

Trees - Sarah Stuart

A is For... - Sue Hardy

Morning Breeze - Christina Nochols

Our Land - Brent Houston

Homage to Alejandro Santiago - Patricia Churchill

Persephone Cycle - Brian Fisher

Collaborative Piece 2010 - Francesca Fuller, Lisa Guy, Suzanne Moore, Edith Sehulster

If you're in the vicinity, do drop by VAC and enjoy the show.  There's a lot more to see!

Wednesday Vignette

Everyone seems happy about fresh spring greens!

Seeing this little cutie just beyond the Wells Medina Nursery parking lot was an unexpected surprise. It's always a delight to see bunnies in other people's gardens.

This brought to mind a poem by Magical Mystical Teacher.  It's reprinted here with her kind permission. To see more of her poetry and fabulous images from her Sonoran Desert region, click here.

Let us praise the raven and the rain.
Let us praise the singer and the song.
Let us praise the Cloud Spirit,
leading us to other roads when our path is hedged and blocked
by creatures sinister and sleek.
Let us praise the river stones
whose dignity remains intact,
despite the ravages of floods and drought.
Let us praise all things great and small,
for the hundred-thousand ways
our days are measured out.

Wednesday Vignette is hosted by Anna at Flutter and Hum.  Click here to join the party.

Portland Nursery Hopping # 3 Cistus Nursery

Technically, Cistus Nursery isn't in Portland but on nearby Sauvie Island but it's always a stop on any visit to the Portland area. 

The plant addict's heart beats a little faster as he walks from the parking area across the drive and the nursery sign comes into view.

Almost in the Big Top and excitement builds.  There are always treasures to be found here.

For a moment, we're in southern California.

Agave americana mediopicta alba is a favorite of mine and it was tempting do bring home another but there are already two in my plant hoard.

Justicia rizzinii was tempting but only hardy to 25 degrees.

Grevillea juniperina 'Molonglo' happily blooming away.

I passed up putting Acacia pravissima in my cart.  Happily, when I was cutting some bamboo back, I noticed that the one in my own garden had survived the winter and looked happy.  The bamboo had sheltered it nicely during our freezes.

Correa reflexa 'Carpenter Rocks' hopped right into my cart.  Only hardy to twenty degrees, it may not survive if we have an exceptionally cold winter but at least for a while, these winter flowers will brighten some gloomy days.

Senecio cristobalensis

Impatiens omeiana 'Ice Storm'

Oh those beautiful Yucca rostratas.

A Dasylirion longissimum came home with me as I'd love to imitate Pam Penick's fabulous pipe planter idea for this plant.

Camellia japonica var. quercifolia 'White Mermaid.' An oak leaved camellia?  Who knew? 

Ribes speciosum 'Rana Creek.' I can never get a good image of this blooming in my own garden but isn't it a sweet thing?

Agave ornithobroma  

How lucky are we to live in this region where we can grow agaves, olives, plants with large tropical-looking leaves, and moss on everything?

The vibrant color of Abutilon 'Mother of Pearl' is thrilling.

Time to take our purchases to the front counter and check out.  Fortunately the nursery supervisor was on duty making sure that her human servants were on their toes.

One last look as we head out.  

Time to head out and hit another nursery before stopping for dinner and heading for home. 

Happy May Day!