a grand weekend out 2: Gossler Farms

It’s taken me a while to get that I’m challenged when trying to talk, observe, and photograph in unison. This is not entirely new to my, uhm, imaginative brain style. But since my concussion, I’m further along on the continuum. Recently, one of my brain therapist said, “well, when you have a really disorganized brain style…”

Say what! I don’t think she meant that as compliment. I mean, who decided that straight-line thinking is the right way, and a more firework fanciful way of thinking is the wrong way. Hmmph.

I hope you’re not weary of concussion talk. I’d skip it, if it wasn’t integral to my thinking process. It’s almost an OCD thing, where if I don’t say it–I can’t get to the next thing. Wacky, indeed, and intellectually I know better, but there you have it. I’m glad to report that docs and scientists are making great strides in understanding and treating Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)–which doesn’t sound nearly as cute and cuddly as concussion, right?

So, back to the story of a grand weekend out: after a nonstop eating, talking, laughing weekend with the book women, I made it to Gossler Farms on Sunday. Book Babe Kathy R. dropped me off–at the famous nursery in Springfield, Oregon. She shopped a bit with her trusty list of trees in hand, and then headed for Warren, Oregon where she lives–up the highway a bit from Cistus Nursery. Oregon is nothing if not lousy with great nurseries. Meanwhile, Megan had driven down from Portland, and she later ferried me back home to PDX.

Gossler Farms is a plant lover’s paradise–so gorgeous, with a huge collection of extraordinary plants. And they have dogs and horses too. Wait a sec. The other point I was trying to make–before the explosion of asides–is that I did not necessarily capture the pictures of plants and the names of plants simultaneously. I hope you will forgive that lapse–and if you please, add or correct identities where you see fit.

Here’s a late season bloom on a Gunnera manicata, the big fella. Is that right, calling this a bloom?

And then, this cool display of spent Hostas with their blooms. Nice, no? That should make us think twice about cutting off those flowers.

Team plant lust has fallen hard for this Gunnera perpensa. I need to get mine in the ground. Today. I swear.

We saw this spectacular grape vine growing on a fence on the farm. I asked the name and then promptly forgot. I remember Eric Gossler shaking the fence and saying it was getting loose, but that doesn’t really help.

And there was a Fremontodenron in bloom. I’m not sure which one, because those were some shiny leaves, and the one I had at the Alameda garden had felty foliage.

This Barberry stopped me in my tracks. I forgot the name–but can you blame me? I was spellbound.

Isn’t this a gorgeous vignette? I cannot name the conifer, though Mr. Rhone Street gardens says the side plants are Schizachyrium and Fothergilla. Sounds right, no? I thought the conifer was a moss-covered rock upon first glance.

And I promised you horses. Megan was so happy.

More horse pictures. I don’t know their names either.

Eric Gossler grabbed hold to make sure the fence was off. A brave and gallant man.

Another team plant lust heartthrob. Loree started it, but we all agreed right away. This Daimyo or Emperor Oak is dynamite. It holds its leaves right through the winter, and the color is terrific in every season.

One other thing I wanted to mention that I hadn’t thought about before. Shipping. How did the cost of the shipping materials never occur to me? Or the fact that shipping charges are all over the map, literally. I mean, duh. Gossler boxes are super strong and they sew the plants into them so they stay put during shipping.

Here’s a photo from an early Ken Druse book, showing how great an actual Gossler plant looked upon arrival.

And look at the size of this box. Yep, we could ship Megan in there.

I have been slow to enter the order online or on-phone method, because I guess I grew up so accustomed to brick & mortar. But holy smokes. Getting a plant shipped right to your door is a huge convenience–and probably way cheaper than driving all around. Not to mention the time it saves. I realize the rest of you probably tumbled to this fact long ago, but I’m here to say, I get it now.

I’m kicking myself for not getting this plant. Isn’t it gorgeous. I don’t know where I’d put it, but when did that ever stop a gardener. Dang. Next time!

Of course, if you are lucky enough to be in the neighborhood of a great nursery, nothing beats being there in person. Nothing.

But if you can’t be there as often as you like, then ship ahoy: it’s a wondrous alternative.

Cheers