Flower or seed head: debating which I like more. As you can see, it’s a tough choice. Right now I’ve got Cirsium occidentale planted next to Echium wildpretii, a happy accident, aka a place where I could still see dirt.
I’ve got a feeling both plants will have seeded to their hearts’ content, so come next year, look out. It’s amazing how jam-packed the Sea of Juniper has gotten already. It seemed so well behaved when I started.
Get your Sputnik on here. Pronounced: Miss-SHOW-ee-a. Hah, I’ve been saying it wrong all this time. It pays to do a little research–which in fairness, I do. Constantly. But with a catalog of some 34,000 plant and growing, it hard to keep an eye on everything. Of course, we are now getting terrific help from Grace of Gardening with Grace, and Evan Bean of The Practical Geek. These kids know their stuff, and plant lust is the better for it.
I love a challenge, especially when combined with bargain hunting. Last week, gardening pal Alan posted on Facebook asking if anyone knew a good source for metalwork to use in the garden. Say no more.
I cannot get over the thrill of plants emerging in spring, tender vibrant leaves bursting forth from earth. And it happens every year. How is nature so smart? Also every year, I’m taken by surprise when I swoon over flowers. I claim I garden primarily for foliage. But you know what? It’s a damn lie.
Last week I shared photos from a visit to Sebright Gardens, this week we venture on to Dancing Oaks Nursery in Monmouth, Oregon. For those who live in Portland Dancing Oaks is a bit of a destination nursery — about an hour and a half south of town. It’s a beautiful drive though, once you get off the interstate.
Don’t you love this time of year, that is if you’re not still buried in snow. I’m so sorry for those yet battling dastardly weather. We had a mild winter in the Pacific Northwest, and that means all manner of things are bursting from the earth.
As I may have mentioned, one (or twelve) times before, in Oregon we are rich with independent nurseries. We have so many to chose from it’s almost mind-boggling. Last week I had a chance to visit a couple in the Salem area, south of Portland, ones I only get to once a season — if that. Today we’ll look at Sebright Gardens and next week I’ll share photos from Dancing Oaks Nursery. (more…)
I’ve got it. How about you? What’s are you pining for? My problem is remembering what I want in the face of so many temptations when I actually do make it to the nursery. I’m dazzled by the abundance. And, of course, the pesky brain injury, blah blah, no help there either. (In truth, I was a tad ADD before the smack to the head; now I’m ADD supersized. Every place feels like Powell’s Bookstore.) I so envy people who can keep it all straight.
We have such a wealth of amazing nurseries here in the Pacific Northwest that I’ll admit to not doing much online plant shopping. While it’s fun to browse, I usually default to visiting a local establishment where I am seduced by the plants that surround me. However what happens when there’s a certain plant I simply must have and I can’t find it locally? An online order is placed, post haste! (more…)
Rhodocoma capensis aka Cape Restio is described by our friends at Xera Plants thusly: “Light textured perennial from South Africa, this species forms a 6′ fountain of stems like giant green feather dusters. Resembles bamboo and grass—though related to neither. Full sun in well drained acid soil–amend with bark, no fertilizer or compost. Regular H2O. Dies to the ground below 15 °F. Returns from the base in spring.”
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