Garden Bloggers' Fling Visit to Sunset Headquarters

August 5, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Touring Sondra Shira's Garden

≪ Previous: Wells Medina Nursery Annual Visit

$

0

0

Sunset is a hundred-year-old publisher of Sunset Magazine which began as a publication promoting the beauty of California to mostly Midwestern readership.  Over time, Sunset Magazine has become a  lifestyle publication featuring articles about travel, cooking, gardening,  entertaining, and  architecture  for Westerners.  Sunset also produces a variety of garden books including The Western Garden Book, a wonderful reference book of  plants that will grow in this part of the country.  It's often the first garden book purchased by western gardeners when starting to garden here.   Because USDA hardiness zones only take into consideration winter low temperatures,  in 1967, Sunset devised and introduced a refined system of 24 climate zones for the states west of the Continental Divide.  The book now includes climate zone maps for Alaska, Hawaii, and Southwestern Canada.    Having read the magazine and used book for years, I was excited to see the Sunset Headquarters and gardens in Menlo Park.  To learn how to visit yourself, go here.

 

The garden is divided into several areas featuring plants that thrive in various regions of the west.  We start at the test garden which is  "jammed with the latest plants, devices, and projects we're evaluating for coverage in Sunset."  Notice that tall bushy looking plant  with purple blooms just below the eve of the roof on the corner.  That's one of Sunset's new introductions this year Salvia 'Amistead.'  Many of us fell in love with the blooms with black calyxes like S. 'Black and Blue' but with purple flowers.  While it may not grow quite this tall for me, I was delighted to find one on sale at Fred Meyer (Thank you Heather & Scott!)  for $12.00!

Pam Penick, mother of the Fling, evaluating the pavers in the small seating area that you'll see more of below.  To get her take on it, go here. 

 

And in case you missed Pam's T.V. appearances -

 

 

 

 

 

So many colors & textures - so little space.

 

 

 

 

 

Another view of the trial gardens where 50% of Sunset's own garden photography is taken.

 

"A room with a view" was constructed for sunset and will be featured in a future issue of the magazine.

 

Interesting arbor in that it's both ornamental and utilitarian.   For some reason, it didn't look all that sturdy.

I was reminded of this purely ornamental  circular portal from the Carhart Garden on Vashon Island, WA.

One of the many nice surprises in the Pacific Northwest area of the Sunset Garden was this totem created 15 miles south of my home town in Alaska.

I guess this is what happens to Japanese maples when grown in hot summer areas.  Maybe the irrigation system malfunctioned.

Even though this isn't my cup of tea, these are very nicely done!

 At the sunset Headquarters, we had the pleasure of hearing presentations by sponsors Sunset Western Garden Collection, (Salvia 'Amistead' being one of my faves!) Southern Living Plant Collection/Encore Azalea, and Bailey Nurseries.  Bailey, headquartered in the Midwest, has growing fields both there and on Sauvie Island, near Portland, OR.  I've driven past them for years  and it was nice to put faces and stories with the fields.



Another of the sunset collection that sounds interesting is Jubilation Gardenia.  It is supposed to be  cold hardy and able to bloom well without as much heat as most gardenias require.  I can't wait to try one to see if we could actually have profuse gardenia blooms in summers that are fairly cool.  There's nothing like that fragrance!

 The bark of several old trees caught my eye.  Quercus lobata/Valley Oak.

 

Eucalyptus - also love the fragrance!

Platanus racemosa/California Sycamore.

 

 Crepe Myrtle in full bloom. 

Do you see the sweet little Western Bluebird?

Gorgeous lawn is used for concerts and special events.

In a few steps, we're in the southwest. 

On the shady side.

 

 

An ornamental pomegranate.  I understand that in warm climates like this one, they actually set fruit.  Here we grow them just for their flowers.

 Many of us were smitten with Otatea acuminata aztecorum/Mexican weeping bamboo.  Unfortunately, it's not hardy for me.

And we're back at the test garden  for a last look.

What a lovely place to visit!  Am I the only one who wishes that his workplace had gardens like this around it?

---

Touring Sondra Shira's Garden

August 6, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: A Couple of Exciting Things in My Own Garden

≪ Previous: Garden Bloggers' Fling Visit to Sunset Headquarters

$

0

0

As we approached Sondra's garden, it looked very nice , organized  and well behaved. 

 

A little further up the driveway, there were a few clues like this creative use of ceramic roof tiles, that this might not be an ordinary garden.

 

These unusual tomato cages warranted closer inspection.

Did you guess that they were chairs?

By now, we were pretty sure that there would be some interesting surprises  here.  One great surprise was a huge Loquat tree in Sondra's side yard.   Unfortunately, I didn't get a good picture of it or of  a lot of the other great plants in this garden.  Sorry about that.

By the time we got to the house, we knew that this was going to be a garden full of delights.  Dig that cool staircase!

Sondra is a painter and sculptor and has created lots of garden art made from clay, stone, hypertufa, and recycled materials which is interspersed throughout the garden.

There is also work of others represented here.  Feeling a little crabby?

 

 

 I'm not sure of the material but these forms were perfect for this space!

How does she get her pulmonarias to bloom like this?

Up here in the shady area behind and beside the house there is a nice wood deck full of potted treasures that looks down over part of the garden.

Sondra's work in clay is also lovely.

Sondra had made delicious persimmon bread for her guests with fruit from her own tree. I'm seeing more and more agaves included in gardens here in the last few years.  

 

 Glass blocks anyone?

 

I've seen this plaque before but I love the way Sondra has painted it!  It's called "Last Supper"

I hope all of Sondra's ideas have helped to get your creative juices flowing!

A Couple of Exciting Things in My Own Garden

August 7, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Garden Bloggers' Fling Visiting Filoli part one: The Gardens.

≪ Previous: Touring Sondra Shira's Garden

$

0

0

 

You may remember my previous posts about Solanum quitoense.  Just before the Fling at the end of June, my decision about whether or not I should pick and try one of the gorgeous orange fruits adorning my plant was made for me by the plant that drops the fruit as it ripens.  The interweb said that the fuzz should be rubbed off the surface of the fruit.  I learned that this is best done using a paper towel as the fuzz likes to remain in ones skin.  Not as irritating as Opuntia glochids and not as long lasting, they're still not fun.   

The interweb also said that these are eaten by squeezing the inner parts, seeds and all into one's mouth and discarding the outer skin. Do you see the similarity to tomatoes, their cousins in the solanum family?  Here one has been cut vertically; the other horizontally.

The fruit is said to have a citrus flavor similar to lime with a touch of rhubarb.  I noticed a distinct kiwi flavor as well.  

 You can read more about the growth and uses of this interesting fruit here.

 

 

The other big news is fauna rather than flora related.  For several years, I've purchased tadpoles to put in my pond hoping that someday I might have frogs.  Once I unintentionally brought a frog home in a water plant.  Poor lonely thing lasted a few years.  The exciting news is that for the last few weeks, I've seen a couple of little frogs mostly hopping as fast as possible to get back to the safety of the pond when I approach.  Today, one of them stayed in place long enough for me to run back in the house and get my camera.  Here's the little guy and to the right is Remmington (one of the koi) coming over to see what's going on.

Isn't (s)he lovely?  I haven't heard any singing from the two but maybe it's the wrong time of year or maybe they're too young.  Having never had frogs in town, I know nothing about them. 

Kisses are only twenty five cents apiece but you have to catch him first!

Ain't life in the garden grand?

Garden Bloggers' Fling Visiting Filoli part one: The Gardens.

August 8, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Garden Bloggers' Fling: Filoli part two, the House

≪ Previous: A Couple of Exciting Things in My Own Garden

$

0

0

No garden centric to central California would be complete without a visit to Filoli, a country house set in 16 acres of formal gardens surrounded by a 654 acre estate.  I'd heard about Filoli for years as it's been featured on many garden shows and was looking forward to seeing this grand place in person.  Even the 100 degree temperature couldn't damper my enthusiasm. O.K. it did but I was still excited, especially since the gift shop had a big cooler filled with ice cold water!

The olive orchard.

 

Looking back through the allee leading to the main garden entrance.

Filoli has an interesting history.  To learn more, go here.

It's also a rather large garden so here's a map to help you out. the trees next to the parking area that have Garden Entrance and House Entrance written on them are the olive orchard. 

The clock tower sits atop the carriage house, now used as a gift shop.

One of many gates in the walled garden. These block views of the  gardens and give a feeling both of enclosure and of mystery beyond. (Like, do you think it might be cooler over there? Geeze, It's hot out today!)

Path to the cottage.

the sunken garden.  This, by the way, is not the swimming pool, that's hidden behind the hedge in the left rear.

 

 

 

The garden house.

Garden house from further away, looking across the sunken garden.

Aloe in bloom.

Agave parryi var. huachucensis.

Spectacular grown in a shallow pot and used as living statuary.

This may be Chartres Garden.

 

 

Part of he walled garden.   

More of the same.  the order gets a little blurry because of many trips back to the gift shop beneath the clock tower to get more water. 

 To see some amazing images of Filoli in all seasons taken by the talented Saxon Holt, go here.

The rose garden.

It was near the rose garden that Ms Playin' Outside showed me a water fountain.  Hooray, I could simply fill my water bottles rather than buying more!

Perennial border.

Knot Garden.

I'm tired just thinking about the maintenance on this.

And onward through the photinia.

The cutting garden.

Cutting garden.  Deer proof plants here!

The middle of the yew allee.

Looking back on the yew allee from the high place.

The high place. I thought that 60's Haight-Ashbury was the local high place but I'm pretty ignorant bout things like that.

I walked back on the far side of the fruit garden and daffodil meadow.  This is the gate to the woodland garden missing the wedding place and Dutch garden.  Should have looked at the map in my camera bag.   

Woodland garden offered welcome shade.

The Tennis court is very close to the lovely brick restroom building which were probably changing rooms at one time.  Because food and drink are not allowed in the house, the Garden house, now an education center is used for indoor dining and the tennis court is used for outdoor dining.

The swimming pool is beautifully maintained.  I guess the fact that no one swims in it helps with that.  On this sweltering day, it sure was tempting to roll up my pant legs and go wading!

Looking back at the clock tower from the other side of the sunken garden. 

I'm so glad that we had the opportunity to see this well known estate garden as it's truly a national treasure.  Tomorrow, we'll poke around inside the house.

 

And for a helicopter tour of the grounds.

Garden Bloggers' Fling: Filoli part two, the House

August 9, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Garden Bloggers' Fling; The Testa-Vought Garden

≪ Previous: Garden Bloggers' Fling Visiting Filoli part one: The Gardens.

$

0

0

 

The day we visited Filoli, the temperature reached a little over a hundred degrees.  Fortunately, the inside of the grand old home was relatively cool!

Another map to help you make sense of the place:

The thing that tickled me most was that right next to the holding room is a lavatory.  Talk about room specialization! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following text is taken from the self-guided tour booklet:

 

 

Filoli represents an excellent example of architecture and garden design from the first part of the twentieth century.  Although the house is predominantly modified-Georgian in style, other major architectural traditions are also represented in the desigh.  The arched window heads of the first floor, the French doors, the exterior brick laid in Flemish bond, and details of the trim are from the Stuart period while the tiled roof is in the Spanish tradition.  This eclecticism reflects a Golden Age in California's history, free from the conventional rules of design and exuding a pride in creativity and expression.

 

Ceiling detail in the portico.





The marble fonts in the niches flanking the portico came from the Bourns' San Francisco house and are copies of ones excavated from Pompeii.

The floor plan is U-Shaped, with the Servants' Wing on one side of the front courtyard and the Ballroom on the other.  The long Transverse Hallway runs north to south, parallel to the valley in which the house is set.  Both the rooms of the house and the formal Garden are organized along this axis.  The residence, which connects to the garden wall, was sited to one side, preserving the falley floor and the grand vista to the north towards Crystal Springs Lake.

 

In the middle of the transverse hall.

The house contains 36,000 swuare feet of interior floor space on two floors and a mezzanine.  The spacious major rooms have ceiling heights of seventeen feet, while the ballroom ceiling is twenty-two-and -a-half feet high.  There are forty-three rooms and seventeen fireplaces.

Reception room.  The door on the right goes to the library which is currently closed in order to repair fallen plaster and other water damage.

Drawing room.

During the blooming season, exquisite specimens of Mrs. Roth's collection of orchids are displayed in the house and garden pavilion.  The beautiful flower arrangements in each of the rooms reflect Mrs. Roth's desire that Filoli be shown as a family home. 

 

 Dining room.

Staircase.

Ballroom.

 

The ballroom fireplace is much taller than I.  For more on the decoration and history of the ballroom and the whole house, really, go here.

 Kitchen.  Not pictured are the pastry room and cold storage rooms.

Butler's Pantry

Servants' call board.

Storage in the butlers' pantry. 

And every butler's pantry needs a walk in silver vault, right?  The cavity at the base of the vault held the family silver in a specially-created Tiffany chest.

 

It's easy to get lost on the main floor so it's probably a good thing that the wing containing the servants' quarters and the entire upstairs of the house are not open to the public.  Wouldn't it be fun to see the attic and basement of such a large house?

 

The house is featured in several motion pictures and you may also remember it as the home of Blake and Krystle Carrington from Dynasty.

 

Here's an interesting half hour tour complete with insider stories from retired curator, Tom Rogers.

 



Garden Bloggers' Fling; The Testa-Vought Garden

August 12, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: A Quick Stop at Furney's Nusery

≪ Previous: Garden Bloggers' Fling: Filoli part two, the House

$

0

0

After leaving Filoli, we next visited the Testa-Vought Garden designed by Bernard Trainor.  In contrast to the century-old formal estate garden where plants are clipped and provide additional structure, this garden's structure was created by the use of earth-toned painted walls and other man-made elements.  The geometrical planes, vertical and horizontal were softened by plants that were allowed to grow with a higher degree of abandon.  The plants seemed to celebrate their very plantness by being given an uncluttered stage on which to star.

 

I noticed and liked the terra cotta walls, the taupe paving the contemporary pergola but in looking at my pictures, it was the plants that for me stole the show.

 

That's not to say that there weren't interesting pieces to notice all over the garden. 

 

 I recently read that winter moisture is fatal to Aloe polyphylla (they're usually covered with snow in their natural habitat) but that it can take more summer moisture than most aloes.  I'm trying it again this year because Mark and Gaz whose winters are similar to mine grow it to perfection in their garden!

What is this plant?  Quercus something?  Something quercifolia?   Sure is sweet!

This garden had several clumps of Mexican weeping bamboo on which I have a bit of a crush!

 

This Aloe zebrina with beautifully patterned leaves was present in many of the gardens in the area. Another gorgeous plant that I grow in a pot and drag in for the winter that's perfectly hardy in the ground in this part of the country.  Just today I moved mine to do a little weeding behind its pot and noticed several pups around the edges of the mother plant.

A marvelous color and texture combination. 

What do this group of Agave attenuata have in common with the bevvy of beauties behind it?

(Notice the walls,  flat planes which accentuate the natural beauty bark, foliage, leaf, and flower.  Here painted in muted tones they win the Oscar for best supporting role.)

Well, when these Agave attunuatas bloom, they'll also be dipping their extremities into the pool.  Check it out here.

Check out the chocolate color of this echiveria.  Gorgeous!

Which is more appealing on this Banksia (grandis, I'm guessing) the bloom or the zig zag foliage?   (Ready for an  old song?)  I got a smallish one this spring from The Dessert Northwest, potted it up and it's more than doubled in size.  We'll have to add a wing to the house to accommodate all of these tender babies for the winter.

 

Statuesque beauty of an agave!

Aloe plicatilis enjoying the sun.

Another aloe, candelabraesque enough for Liberace's piano!

Another Grevillea   looking a lot like 'Ned Kelly'  Sigh.

Help!  A giant squid is attacking this pot!    Or maybe it's just another aloe.  The color of this is incredible and really pops poolside!

There are no plants simply thrown in in this garden.  Each one is beautifully spotlighted, well placed, allowed to strut its stuff. 

I'm already trying to figure out how to make pots like this one.  Shouldn't be too hard.  Looks like it started as two pieces (a bowl for a form?) that were put together.

 

 

I'm sorry that I didn't get more images of larger sections of the garden but other bloggers who attended the fling will surely post some.  My camera kept seeing cool plants!

Another fabulous garden, gracious hosts, delicious refreshments.   

I could really get used to this eat, drink, hang out in beautiful gardens, go plant shopping, and sleep in a room that someone else cleans lifestyle!  Fortunately, the fling is an annual event!

A Quick Stop at Furney's Nusery

August 13, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Flinging in Rebecca Sweet's Garden

≪ Previous: Garden Bloggers' Fling; The Testa-Vought Garden

$

0

0

On one of those glorious Saturdays with Alison, we had a little time to visit Furney's Nursery before meeting Nigel for dinner.  I've posted here and here about previous visits.   The large pots of annuals spilling from the roof and top of the fence always grab one's eye when visiting here during the summer.

Quite the splash of color!  The fiesta like color combination of purple, pink, and orange made me smile.

Remember when Begonia boliviensis was a collector plant?  Enter tissue culture and marketing and now it's everywhere. 

These saturated colors scream summer!

My girlfriend, Monrovia,  is still there.   How I wish she would work in my garden.  Alas,  there's just not an appropriate place for her in my little plot.  Loree?  You know sometimes one truly beautiful piece of garden art is all that's needed to add a touch of refinement. 

 

 

Love the "smoke" on this cotinus!

This guy is obviously on grass!

Since Heather posted about her Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition,' I've been seeing it everywhere. 

Delphiniums doing their second set of blooms. For those of you reading in Alaska, here we cut these down after they bloom the first time.  They regrow and bloom again around this time of year.   Such a glorious blue color!

The Coneheads live!

Huge pot with its very own pergola.

Oh the pain of loving you!

There's a nice big water feature that's new since last we visited. 

Thanks for coming along on our quick walk through.  This is a large nursery with lots more to see!

 



Flinging in Rebecca Sweet's Garden

August 14, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, August 2013

≪ Previous: A Quick Stop at Furney's Nusery

$

0

0

Rebecca Sweet's Garden was the last we visited on day two of the fling.  Seeing citrus growing on trees is always as thrilling to me as it was the first time I experienced it 30 years ago.  It seems so exotic!

 

Rebecca's garden is chock full of wonderful plants and interesting objects.

Gorgeous agave/echiveria combination!

 

 

 Rebecca does a wonderful job of combining succulents!

In this garden, the birds have first class accommodations!

 

I may need to steal am inspired by this use of pinecones.  Imitation is the highest form of flattery, right? 

Another mantle.  The sansevieria tongues of flame make this extra special!

Everyone fell in love with this fabulous studio which is more tidy than most of our homes!

Harmony in the Garden is the name of Rebecca's business.  Wouldn't it be great to go to work every morning by walking across your garden to this office?

An exterior side of the studio.

Many interesting collections were well showcased.

  How does the potting area look so organized and clean?

 

 

These bark stepping stones are made of concrete.  Pretty nifty, huh?

 

 

 I don't see a speck of dirt.  Hmm. 

 

 Nice outdoor kitchen and amazing bougainvillea. 

Looks like a finial of some sort.  Mexican?  The object placement in this garden was impressive.

Another fabulous foliage combination. 

A larger view of the back garden.  sorry about the sun!

By this time we were happy but weary campers!  Judy, Jason, and Scott pause for a moment.  It's been quite a day!

And here's another lady taking a load off her feet.

 

And we were serenaded by the Sweet's feathered friends who live in this gorgeous aviary.

 

To see and read more about Rebecca's garden, go to her blog!  Thanks for being such a wonderful host and allowing us to traipse through your delightful garden!

We had this evening free so a small group of us decided to head down to the waterfront to grab dinner together.  The echiveria-bodied crab got a lot of attention.

Dinner over, a little walking through stores, and it was time to head back to the hotel. 



---

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, August 2013

August 15, 2013, 5:30 am

≫ Next: Foliage Follow Up August 2013

≪ Previous: Flinging in Rebecca Sweet's Garden

$

0

0

Here are a few blooms from my garden that caught my eye:

Impatiens niamniamensis ‘Congo Cockatoo’

The dreaded Impatiens  glandulifera.

The same wearing light pink.

Impatiens balfourii, another weedy one which Scott was kind(?) enough to pass along to me when we visited his lovely garden.

This tuberous begonia will represent all of the large-flowered ones this time.  I've had this one for at least five years and the blooms this year are bigger than ever. 

Here's one atop a bowling ball for reference. I often pick up the fallen blooms and float them in the closest  water feature outside or throw them on top of whatever's handy. 

More begonias.

Begonia boliviensis

If you try really hard, you too can grow phlox horizontally like this.  It takes some doing but it's worth the effort because you get to enjoy them even more when you're mowing the lawn and get to pick them up and enjoy their fragrance.

 

Pelargonum  whose flower shape I fell in love with this spring.  Hope it makes it through the winter.  I'll bring it in but usually kill houseplants so we'll hope for the best.

Pelargonum 'Indian Princess'

 

 

 Hardy geranium 'Ann Folkhard' shows up in the darndest places like 9 feet up this choisya.

Is it cheating to include this stunning Salvia dombeyi?  You see, It just came home from the Fronderosa Frolic where it was quite an eye catcher on the Far Reaches Farm table.

Crocosmia 'Hellfire.'  So pretty that I had to get another one at the Frolic.

It's a good thing that Clerodendrum bungei has such fragrant flowers that look all fresh faced and new in August!  Otherwise, I could never forgive it's tendency to come up everywhere and try to take over the world!

Echiveria blooms.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Pistachio'.  The novelty has worn off and I still like it.

 Who couldn't at least smile when seeing this member of the hydrangea clan which possesses all the subtle charm of a drag queen dressed for a fiesta.

Dichroa febrifuga

Abutilon megapotamicum.  (Yes, AGAIN!)

Acanthus mollis

Tangle of white lilies, Hydrangea 'Bavaria', Persicaria 'Golden Arrow' and a bunch of other stuff.

 

 

Clerodendrum trichotomum.

The last of the lilies for the summer.  Le sigh.

Anemone.

Dahlia.  This one has very dark foliage & the color combination is stunning.

 Crazy Tropaeolum speciosum popping up in another area.  I love but will never understand this plant that just appears and disappears in various areas.  Some things are just not for us to know.

 

 Needs some serious editing!

Clematis something or other growing up rosa glauca.

Alstromeria

Mt. Etna Broom.

 

 Maybe  a backhoe  would be the right tool to use to edit this mess.  Don't you feel better about your own garden now?

I've never met a hardy fuchsia I didn't like!

 Cyclamen still holding their own in the battle with the timber bamboo grove!

Fuchsia 'Shrimp Coctail'

And back up the steps to the back door is a brugmansia pouring out it's evening scent.  Hope your bloom day is as sweet as this smells!

Thanks Carol for hosting Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day on the 15th of each month!  To see what's blooming around the world, be sure to click over to May Dreams Gardens!

Foliage Follow Up August 2013

August 16, 2013, 5:43 am

≫ Next: Visiting The Barn

≪ Previous: Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, August 2013

$

0

0

Foliage follow up is hosted by Pam Penick at Digging to celebrate the beauty and importance of foliage in our gardens.  Do click on over to her blog to find interesting foliage in gardens all over the country.

Here is another random post of some of the foliage I'm currently enjoying in my garden.

 Leucadendron 'Jester' and  Calothamnus villosus (Silky Net Bush) that followed me home recently.

Coleus

Begonia maculata ‘Polka Dot’

O.K. from here, it's all succulents in the rain.  I'm too lazy to label them all but will be happy to tell you if you're curious.

 A

 My very first agave  that I got in a small pot from Melissa, a local grower who also had a retail space a few years ago.  It's grown into quite a beauty but never had a tag.  It comes in each winter and I prize the gorgeous colors of the leaf edges.

The succulent zig zag foliage of Cryptocereus anthonyanus excites me!  Another tender baby that will spend its winters inside.

Hope your foliage is making you happy and that you have the best weekend ever!

Visiting The Barn

August 19, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: A Luddite's Last Stand

≪ Previous: Foliage Follow Up August 2013

$

0

0

On a recent garden day of garden touring in the Olympia area, Alison and I stopped at The Barn Nursery.  Alison visited once before and posted about it here but I'd never had the pleasure. 

Sempervivums fit in just about anywhere.  What's not to love about these versatile plants.  Cute house planter.

The nursery is full of wonderful plants and great found object surprises like this one.

Well designed and nicely settled in water feature.

Speaking of interesting designs, I'd never seen a pot quite like this one.  Looks almost like a lotus seed head.  My first inclination was agave in the middle with an interesting collection of small succulents in the smaller holes.  What would you plant in this pot?  Spring bulbs would also look sweet in this planter. 

Interesting stacking pots.

There really were some great plants here but the interesting objects were pretty attention grabbing!

 

 

 I've a feeling that mine is not the only family who would find this funny.

I can think of a million and one uses for this pot!   O.K. maybe a few less than that but it's pretty funk o licious.

More interesting objects.

Crazy about these multi-rayed spheres.  Yes, a return visit is in order!

By the Fred Conlon, the same artist who gave us the Gnome Be Gone,  comes this cool piece which seems to be consuming Ciscoe Morris's book.

Some mornings are just like that, Mr. Onion.

Do they also sell a slug bait ornament?

What a great  piece & fun for displaying a few things.

This is a working wood stove that gets used in the winter. 

This place is for the birds, literally!

Nice old Monarch stove!

I may have to go back for this fellow.  Looks like he might scare the pesky raccoons away!

It was time to leave all too soon but we had more gardens to tour and didn't want to miss any.  I'll post later about the gardens which were surely worth the trip!

Happy Monday all!

A Luddite's Last Stand

August 20, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: The Garden of Tia Scarce

≪ Previous: Visiting The Barn

$

0

0

I once had a cell phone several years ago (long story but I got it by default, not by choice.)  but so seldom used it that I had it disconnected.  Really, why pay a monthly fee for nothing?  Instead, I was proud of my Luddite status and looked disparagingly on those whose heads were constantly buried in their hand-held virtual world while oblivious to the beauty in the real one  all around them.  Those who speak aloud to the air while shopping at the grocery store who don't take time to smile at the workers or nod to fellow shoppers seem to be missing out on a lot of human interaction.   Perhaps it was cheating when I made use of the navigation capability on someone else's phone or had them look things up for me at nurseries.  Anyway, I was perfectly happy being disconnected from things most of the time.  It seems like the person whose phone I'd use, or rather had him use because I was clueless about the whole thing, must have gotten tired of  my habit of depending on his phone because he gave me one of my own.  Yes it's true,  the last person on the planet without a Borg implant in his hand, now has a cellular device.   Resistance was futile.

To see how this thing works, it went with me on a recent visit to Jungle Fever.  Here then are my first ever pictures taken with a phone.  Next we'll learn how to open cans with a coffee pot.

You can read posts about Jungle Fever here, here,  and here.  On this trip, because the parking lot was full,  we parked by the house and were walking by the back yard towards the nursery when Jerry, the owner of Jungle Fever,  greeted us from his personal garden and invited us to come in.  I'd been in Jerry's garden before and seen his brugmansia sanguinea which has come back for him and bloomed each year.  It's in a very sheltered spot but I'm still amazed at its hardiness, even during the phormium killing winters.   Also very interesting was his variegated Trachycarpus fortunei.  Did I think to photograph either of those?  Of course not.  Here are some  other cool things in Jerry's garden though.

 

The bark of this eucalyptus is so attractive!

Cacti thriving in a raised bed with excellent drainage. 

Who wouldn't love this gorgeous bark?  The cell phone wasn't wanting to focus on the small branches with the bark peeling off in little curls.  Oh well.

While the front of the garden is full of xeric plants, the side garden transitions to the oasis in the back garden.  There are many palms, thick bamboo a loquat, and lots of other wonderful evergreen plants that surround this area. While it may not look like it, most of what you're seeing is a huge pond.  right now, the plants are so full and lush, and what surface that might have been visible is covered with floating plants.  The sound of gently cascading water and  adds to the tranquil feeling of the space.

I was shocked to see this citrus tree in the ground happily producing fruit.  The tree was quite large and has obviously been there for years.  Jerry told me what this is but I didn't make a note of it on the fancy phone. I'm encouraged to try growing one myself  for the fragrance of the blooms if nothing else. Surprisingly, the interweb says that  some citrus are hardy to 10 degrees. 

Grevillea victoriae getting ready to bloom all winter.  What's not to love about this plant?

 Puya.

Finally, here are some shots of sarracenias at the nursery.  Carniverious plants are an interesting bunch and these are looking especially beautiful.  I've a large pot of them that thrives atop my compost bin.

Yum!

Because there are already a lot of these in my garden, I resisted the temptation to get more.  Somehow  Mitraria coccinea,  Carex 'Rekohu Sunrise', Acacia dealbata, and Callistemon pallidus 'Eleanor' found their way into my car. 

I'm still learning things about the new gadget but it's pretty amazing what it can do.  While I still don't quite understand twitter, I've got an account where my blog feeds so with this post, I'll have tweeted thrice. You may also notice that there's a gadget which will allow you to follow me on twitter, whatever that means.  What is the world coming to?  

The Garden of Tia Scarce

August 21, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: A Saturday without Alison

≪ Previous: A Luddite's Last Stand

$

0

0

Another Northwest Perennial Alliance Tour Saturday with Alison found us touring the Kirlkand garden if Tia Scarce.  A relatively young garden (started in 2006) the Scarce garden had lots of wonderful secrets to discover.

  Is this a cool potting bench or what?

Everything in this garden is placed with a great deal of thought.

The pieces in turn invite the observer to think or at least to smile a little.

Tia bought this owl home some time ago placing it on the table to decide where it's permanent home might be.  Maybe it's found its place already!

Appealing use of an empty container.  So much about this composition makes it work well. 

 

Seems everyone is orange crazy these days.  Gotta say that I like it too and this piece, brought home from the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, is delightful.

What is the appropriate song to sing while cooking one of these?  Gnome, Gnome on the Range...

Speaking of things that are becoming more and  popular, here's an agave planted ITG.  As Loree said in one of her recent posts, "there are always agaves if you look hard enough." 

 

 

Colorful way to block a pathway!  I use five gallon buckets that were free.  There are usually a few of them strewn about full of weeds and stuff that has recently been pruned from plants.  Usually they're unintentionally in the middle of some pathway and I end up tripping over them.  But I digress.

 

Cute bird house façade.

 

 

These fun spheres popped up in various spots around this bed.

An attractive pot grouping. 

I never tire of seeing Mahonia 'Soft Caress.'  Such a wonderful plant!  This garden also contained a huge specimen of  Stachyurus salicifolia but my pictures didn't do it justice.   You'll just have to imagine it, 7 -8 feet tall and  nearly as wide.  Gorgeous!

Notice how the circle motif of the pot is echoed in the rusty metal artwork.  Nicely paired indeed!

Lots of hidden objects to be found in this special garden.  My hat's always off to folks who open their gardens to others.  Thanks Tia for being such a nice host and for  a lovely start to our day of garden touring!

A Saturday without Alison

August 22, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: So Then the Car Said...

≪ Previous: The Garden of Tia Scarce

$

0

0

Is like a day without sunshine. Thank you Orange Juice Council, your writers did a much better job than those responsible for hiring spokesmen.  (Anita Bryant, OJ Simpson)

So, on the first Saturday for quite a while that Alison and I didn't have plans, I thought it would be a good idea to stay home and get some work done in my garden.  So Tom and I got in the car to see where the car, having a mind of its own, would take us. (Poor neglected garden)  I know you'll be shocked to hear that the car drove us to some nurseries.  (I may have a problem.)  Our first stop was Elandan Gardens.  You can read about  a visit here nearly a year ago here. 

There are great things lying around everywhere outside.  Such a  great place to find unusual pieces. 

  
The inside of the shop is filled with an incredible variety of offerings ranging from jewelry, world music c.d.'s, and artwork to houseplants, Chinese and Indonesian antique carved fragments, merchandise from gift shows and just about anything else you can imagine.  The place is so stuffed with treasure that you could spend a whole day just taking it all in.  Unfortunately,  picture taking is not allowed inside the store because of the proprietary nature of some of the original artwork and because the owner fears the practice of showrooming.   The store is a wonder and if you're in the area, you should stop by.  Here are a few of the many outdoor offerings that caught my eye.

Elandan is on a smallish (6 acres) piece of land that juts out into the bay so the smell of the sea and the sound of the waves gently lapping  the shore is ever present as you walk around.  This pot, new but looking as if it just came up from the ocean floor looks totally at home in this setting.

Elandan sits on a site that was once a landfill.  Go here for the fascinating story of  the reclamation of the parcel.

I've a soft spot for head planters.  These weren't priced  and I didn't know if they were for sale or were just display pieces.

They don't look like they could stay out all winter in our climate so they'd be perfect for tender succulents that also want  a frost-free winter.  (I'm ready for a frost-free winter myself come to think of it.)  This hardy sempervivum is a perfect choice.

Shirley  at Rock-Oak-Deer posts about faux bois every now and then.  I'd not thought much about it before but now whenever I see an example, I think of her.

This piece was available this way or filled with concrete to make a table.  I'm thinking that they're sold empty to make moving them easier.  Could also be cool sans water,  glass over the top and an interesting collection of something inside.

More of Will Robinson's sculpture.  Calling the PNW home, Mr. Robinson is currently represented by galleries in Seattle, Los Angeles, Sun Valley and Toronto.

Will the circle be unbroken?  Just wondering is all.

 

The exuberance of this one makes me love it.

A little nautical yard art.  For some reason, they've not included any concrete seagulls.  Try to contain your disappointment.

We were just going to stop here but the car had other plans.  I mean, we'd already crossed the bridge and they charge us to go back to Tacoma so we might as well stay a while, right?  Which is more disturbing, that the car is talking to me or that it's reasoning makes sense?   Wonder where the car will take us tomorrow?

So Then the Car Said...

August 23, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Billardiera longiflora, My Favorite Plant in the Garden (this week.)

≪ Previous: A Saturday without Alison

$

0

0

"You know, Valley Nursery is only thirty minutes away, let's go there."  Leaving this delicious pot  ad Elandan, the car left the parking lot and sped off toward Poulsbo. (Previous posts here.)

It's always fun to visit the Cryptomeria japonica 'Christatas'  This is one of those curiosity plants that I'd definitely have in my garden if only I had a lot more space. It's easy to see where the common name  Cock's Comb Cryptomeria came from.

This one was talking to me but it's language was too cryptic for my understanding.

Wonder what this guy thinks about the whole thing?

Nothing says summer like beautiful and fragrant oriental lilies.  There's something about the simple elegance of their shape that makes me love them.  What do you think of the new doubles?  They don't float my boat but some people think they're the bees knees. 

Schefflera taiwaniana 'Yuan Shan'  

Schefflera brevipedunculata

Is the gnome stuck on that cactus?  Do you suppose that he'll be covered in glochids when he approaches that cute-looking opuntia?  I'm convinced that they can actually throw these!

Looking for answers to life's perplexing questions?  Valley's got you covered!

Valley is a large garden center type of place a plant store rather than a nursery.  (A nursery grows its own stock.)  This place always carries a great selection of lots of plants and have had, from time to time, some pretty unusual offerings.  Their house plant section is always a treat.  I wasn't prepared for the big surprise of seeing many tables full of plants from San Marcos Growers! 

Are those Leucadendrons lurking there?  And Agonis flexuosa on the far left?  (dark purple leaves with a minty smell!)

Why yes, yes they are and here's  a table full of Grevilleas.

 Leucadendron 'Jester' captured my heart in several of the gardens we visited on the Garden Bloggers' Fling in June.  Here was one just waiting to jump into my car.  It's as if all those seductive plants, hardy in California, followed me home to Washington.  (Yes, it's one more thing that will have to come inside for the winter.  Try not to think about it and whatever you do, don't remind me when I'm in the middle of the seasonal move that I could have simply left the plant there.)

 

 

 Holy Mary, it's a Kalanchoe forest! 

And, and, and, could that be a whole bunch of Calothamnus villosus  or  Silky Net Bush that tugged at my heart when I saw one in bloom at WeHop in the spring?



Oh yeah, baby!  And it was also available in sweet one gallon pots but the plants themselves were almost as large as the ones in bigger pots. 

 

 Cute little button buds of  Globularia x indubia.  Delightful but only hardy to twenty degrees F.  Not fascinating enough to haul around.

Those Agaves 'Mr. Ripple' in two gallon pots were pretty reasonably priced but I have (forgive me Loree) too many Agaves already.  And we'll be visiting here again soon.

Lastly,  one of my favorite (they're all pretty fab.) members of the Araliacea, Trevesia palmate.  The emerging  leaves resemble little silver snowflakes, it's relatively easy and can take fairly low light conditions when it comes inside for the winter to be a houseplant.

What a spectacular surprise to find so many plants, unusual to see in our climate, in one visit.   I'm so glad that Valley decided to take a chance with these exciting plants and I hope it's profitable for them so that they'll  keep offering  fun stuff like this!  

Thanks, car,  for taking us on this surprise visit!

My wish for you is that your every nursery visit will be filled with as many happy surprises as I experienced on this visit! 

---

Billardiera longiflora, My Favorite Plant in the Garden (this week.)

August 26, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: The Garden of Trang Tu

≪ Previous: So Then the Car Said...

$

0

0

My favorite plant in my garden for the last few days has been Billardiera longiflora, a sweet vine native to Tasmania and NWW, Australia.  Earlier in the season, it has nice little buttery yellow hanging trumpet shaped flowers which turn to lavender as they age.  The blooms are nice but often overlooked especially because I grow this vine with a showy double clematis (Josephine's a big show off) whose blooms upstage the subtler flowers of  Billardiera.

Stems are wiry and the foliage is nice but  not horribly substantial. If they'd been the only leaves handy in the garden of eden, many ecclesiastical paintings would loose their G ratings.

Neither flower nor foliage is the main attraction of this sweet vine; rather, it's these marble-sized, dark violet fruit that remains colorful through most of January.

I first saw this in fruit at Heronswood years ago and finally bought one three or four years ago.  It's grown slowly because it's growing in poor soil and only receives sporadic summer waterings. 

 This is the first year that this has produced fruit for me and since it's very near the front entry of our house, I'll see it and smile for months to come!

Hardy to zone 7 or 8 (conflicting sources)
Drought tolerant once established.
Fruits are seedy but edible.  Their taste is  somewhat like that of apples and hence the other popular name apple berry. (AKA Climbing Blueberry)
Climbs 3 - 10 feet.
Dan Hinkley says, "If I lived in a colder climate, I would attempt to grow this vine in a container - simply too remarkable for words.

My favorite plant in the garden (this week) is sponsored by Loree at Danger Garden.  Click on the link to find links to lots of other favorite plant posts.
.

The Garden of Trang Tu

August 27, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: I Went to a Garden Party!

≪ Previous: Billardiera longiflora, My Favorite Plant in the Garden (this week.)

$

0

0

Back on the Northwest Perennial Alliance open garden tour trail with Alison back in July, we had the pleasure of visiting the garden of Trang Tu.  One of the many things that the organizers of the tours did well, in my opinion, was to include a wide variety of garden situations and styles.  We visited only some of the open gardens this year but were treated to sprawling country estate gardens, much more compact gardens in  urban settings and everything in between.   

 

Of the gardens we saw, this one was the smallest but was clearly the garden of someone who loves making her garden, spending time there and welcoming others to enjoy her creation. The house sits way back on the lot.  Notice how we're in the middle of the two houses flanking this one.  

Off to one side of the concrete drive is this  lovely vignette.

Utilizing every inch of available space, the wall of the shed behind the house is covered with interesting ornaments and colorful plants.

Love this repurposed  object dragonfly.

Succulent gardens in containers.  The rusty iron pot is  outstanding used  as a sedum planter.

Simple and effective!  Notice how the lavender bottle picks up the similar color of the blooms.

Let there be light!

Every nook and cranny of this garden holds whimsical pieces to enjoy! 

One of my favorite containers in Trang's garden is this metal locker/drawer thing.

It's especially thoughtful that the hosts provide refreshments for their visitors.  Notice the repetition of the shiny copper color in the lanterns milk can and hosta leaf casting.

Vegetables mingle with ornamentals. The hand made bamboo trellises are very nice and have given me an idea about what to do with my garage full of timber bamboo that must be cut from my grove every year or so.

Looking back from the vegetable garden to where we entered the garden you can see that the space here is limited but it's used so well that this feels like a garden of larger proportions.

 Watch out, attack kitty on guard.  Dig the steely look in his eyes!  (Yes, you may groan.)

 Window sash with mirrors replacing the clear glass are a clever way of visually expanding the garden.  What a nice garden, wonderful gardener and thoughtful host. 

Thank you so much for opening your lovely garden for us to enjoy!

I Went to a Garden Party!

August 28, 2013, 8:43 am

≫ Next: Frolicing at Fancy Fronds Nursery

≪ Previous: The Garden of Trang Tu

$

0

0

A few weeks ago, the arrival in the mail of an invitation to a garden party didn't come as a surprise because my friend and glass mentor, Florence, had been excited about party planning for weeks.  Not only did the party celebrate the completion of the garden but also the completion of a large addition to the house. 

It's totally o.k. that you thought of Ricky Nelson's song.  Go ahead and listen, you know you want to!

 

You may remember my previous posts about this garden in progress.  I'm only sorry that I didn't take pictures when I first visited the vacant lot filled with overgrown brush or later when the heavy equipment had made a muddy mess of the whole thing. The party took place last weekend and the addition of people to the garden made such a difference as gardens need an audience.   A blue sky and pleasantly warm temperature,  two of the joys of the PNW in the summer made everything sparkle.  Music was provided by Christolphe Chagnard, director of the Northwest Sinfonietta, and his jazz/folk fusion group Touche 6.  The event couldn't have been any more enjoyable. 

 

We are greeted by this lovely lady.  Not very talkative but then she seems to be worried about a possible wardrobe malfunction.

Do sign the guest book.

 

Previous posts about Paradeisos, this gardens name, have contained lots of images and information, including the gardener's philosophy and process so today I'll try to be less wordy and just let you enjoy some pictures of the party.

 

The panels in the lamp were removed and replaced with these that Florence fused.

 

Let's peek inside for a moment, shall we?  Florence has gorgeous glass from a variety of places and periods. 

This gorgeous Victorian was found by Florence and her husband in an old mansion slated for demolition a few years ago.  The place had been used for a variety of purposes over the years and this panel was actually covered by wallboard.  Researching the house, Florence found an image showing that the missing center medallion was originally a painted snake.  Instead of replicating that, the choice was made to design a floral center instead.  I love this panel!  (I love them all!)

Part of a sweet English painted panel.

A couple Swiss Panels.  These were made from the late 15th century through the early 19th century  in Switzerland and Germany and are usually fairly small.

I'm guessing that this one is older than the first. 

 

This piece is the first that Florence ever made many years ago.  I think that just about everyone saves his or her first effort.

Florence and Howard, having imported antiques from the Far East and Europe (emphasis on Italy) for years have amassed an incredible collection of gorgeous objects.  The advent of ebay and auctions being held online have added another dimension to their collecting.   The huge Jardinière currently in the center of the room was an auction find.  It had been custom made in Italy of glazed terra cotta for someone who for some reason didn't want it when it arrived and it was sold for a small fraction of it's original price.  How many people have space for a four foot tall three foot round Urn around the house?

 The house is full of wonderful collections and they are always being changed around.  Different glass panels, different icons, etc. displayed.  Every visit is an adventure in beauty and a lesson in history and art!  The leaded panel which Florence sized to fit this opening is a Victorian  from Philadelphia.

The dining room used to end at the doors where you see the fellow walking. 

Every corner of the place is packed with objects of beauty and interest.  Each has a story and Florence's thirst for knowledge leads her to research the historical movements that brought about the creation of objects in certain ways. (function, tastes, technological advances.)

I've always admired this piece.  Looks like Prometheus to me but I'm not sure if that's who he is.

Notice the detail on the door frame. (view into the butler's pantry.)

Always a fan of beautifully handwork, Florence has collected random fragments of carved furniture.  This one has found a great home here as part of the kitchen expansion/remodel.

Although most of us had a grand time, this couple seemed a little put off by the whole thing.

Now THESE folks know how to party!

Hope you enjoyed the party as much as I did!

Frolicing at Fancy Fronds Nursery

August 29, 2013, 7:37 am

≫ Next: A Friday Quickie Raw and Uncensored

≪ Previous: I Went to a Garden Party!

$

0

0

Each year for the last 13 or so, Judith Jones, owner of Fancy Fronds Nursery, hosts the Fronderosa Frolic.  What is a Fronderosa Frolic? 

“Fronderosa Frolic is a celebration of plants and summer…that has become the horticultural equivalent of Woodstock”.
- (Val Easton, Seattle Times, 4/8/04)

"A festival of rare plants, garden art, artifacts, scintillating botanical conversations with some of the Northwests premier specialty growers and garden artists. Specialty nurseries are rapidly disappearing due to the aggressive marketing done by the large wholesale growers. Many of the new plants introduced by these commercial growers are first discovered or grown by keen growers operating small specialty nurseries. Please support them if you are interested in a diverse range of plants that have been correctly identified and tested to thrive in your gardens."  Judith Jones

There is a raffle every hour of donations from our vendors to benefit the Equine Stewardship Center, NWESC. This non profit horse rescue and rehabilitation center also offers classes in equine care. Fancy Fronds has been using horse manure for garden beds and as a potting additive for over thirty years. Bring a bucket or bag and you can take away some of this "horsey goodness"!

You may remember my posts about last years Frolic.  If not, you can see them here, here, here, and here.

For me, this is the last hurrah of summer.  Sure there are a couple more sales in the fall but this one holds a special place in my heart because it happens while I can still believe that summer and thinking mostly of gardening can last forever.  Just a couple of weeks before the major tasks of planning for the academic/choral year and the business of working six days a week has me stealing a few moments in the garden again, this event celebrates the carefree joy of  the season.

One of Far Reaches Farm's tables filled with treasure.  The climbing aconitum on the far right is one of the several beauties that hitched a ride home with me. 

Salvia dombeyi is another.  Here's Kelly's description of the plant: "Salvia of the Gods. A small padded kneeling bench is handy to have in front of this plant to make it easier for garden visitors as they spontaneously fall to their knees. We forgive its need to be grown frost-free because the flowers rule. Immense red pendulous flowers from the huge calyces."

Among the vendors were many long time participants  and some newer ones as well. 

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Japonicum' showing off  soft seed heads.  Growing 4 -5 feet, and hardy to zone 6, this is one gorgeous grass!

 How cool to see Celestial Dream Gardens at the sale!  Such nice people (plant folks tend to be that way!) and cool plants!

Some of Celestial Dream Gardens' offerings.  Looks dangerous!

Another thing that makes this event special is the bucolic setting.  We don't see scenes like this at many plant sales.  Chimacum Woods nursery from Port Ludlow was lucky enough to use this as the backdrop for their fabulous selection of unusual rhododendrons. 

While unusual plants are the main focus of the event, there is also quite a bit of beautiful garden art and furniture  available as well.

Couldn't stop looking at this simple but effective succulent combination.

Another plant area.  While this is a big sale, the vendors are spread out through the large property so, even though there are a lot of folks in attendance,  it doesn't seem horribly crowded.

 The Desert Northwest tables contained an array of delights including this one which almost came home with me.

Look at those seductive blooms.  Can you imagine a tree covered with these in August?  Glorious.

And the foliage is evergreen, who could ask for anything more?

Ian brought with him Leucadendrons 'Safari Sunset' and 'Jester' (pictured) among other wonders including a couple of Grevillea x gaudichaudii that he brought just for Loree and me.  Hooray!

The Frolic is the brainchild of and is hosted by Judith Jones, an international expert on ferns, co founder of the Northwest Perennial Alliance, and participant in the Northwest Flower and Garden Show since its inception.   Here she is doing what she does best, sharing her expertise with others.   I came across a nice article about her titled, "Fern Star Judith Jones can take you way beyond swords and maidenhair."  Very clever!  To read more about the self proclaimed Fern Madame, check out the article here.

How nice to see that mine is not the only garden with plants in pots waiting to be planted.  My garden is much smaller and the job easier though so I have no excuse.

Oh my goodness, look what's just escaped from his cage!  Judith's garden is full of whimsy!

Hosta la vista baby!  This monster snail could eat every hosta in the state!  We were warned about storing that nuclear waste  at Hanford!

A few pots out by the garage.

An oft photographed part of the garden. 

And a cute detail or two.

Still love this gazebo!

Behind the house and back garden we walk down to the river.

Something's been here before.   Hmmm, wonder what it was?

Vendors camp out by the river, some in tents, others in more comfortable digs.

Tell me I'm not the only one who thought of Matt Foley, motivational speaker when I saw these vans down by the river.

Such a beautiful site, it might not be such a bad thing!

You are welcome to bring a lunch and picnic anywhere on the grounds and this area would be a lovely spot for such a thing.  There's also a trampoline so you can work off those calories.  Didn't notice the zip line across the river this year.  I wonder if it's been taken down or if I just didn't see it.

Now these are some Fancy Fronds!

You never know what you'll come across in this garden but no one would be surprised if the giant whose chair this is popped out of the forest.

More of those fancy fronds!

Awww, I didn't know that Big Bird had passed away. 

Fun fused glass pieces.

 

 

 

Wonderful blown glass by Barbara Sanderson of Glass Gardens Northwest.  These "fiddleheads" are some of my favorite things that Barbara creates.  Next year I'm going to get a few!

To see more of Barbara's work, go here.

 

Another of my favorite things about attending the frolic is all of the cool places along the way.  We always stop at this nursery/fruit stand to get delicious seasonal fruit.  I'm a big fan of peaches and since the frolic takes place during peach season, it's easy to decide what's for lunch.  I picked up a whole box of them as they are so inexpensive now and they freeze well. 

 

 

They also have more than just run of the mill plants like this beautifully-shaped pelargonium.

 

 

And always quite a variety of sizes of brugmansias. 

 

Fancy Fronds nursery in Gold Bar isn't far from Flower World and Molbaks, and just a hop skip and a jump from Wells Medina Nursery so there are a lot of great plant adventures to be had if you're contemplating attending the event next year.  Hope to see you there!

 



A Friday Quickie Raw and Uncensored

August 30, 2013, 6:00 am

≫ Next: The Garden of Karen and Larry Decker

≪ Previous: Frolicing at Fancy Fronds Nursery

$

0

0

Busy, busy, busy time of the year for me so today here's a few uncensored pictures through my dirty kitchen window of  part of my neglected garden.  (Long boring story but the nice thing about gardens is that there's always another season to make it better.) 
The sweet perfume of Clerodendrum bungei (pink flowers) wafts beautifully over this part of the garden which causes me to forgive them for their rampant running habit;  after all, they're easy enough to pull up.  If left unchecked, these would take over the world. There's also a Clerodendrum trichotomum  (I think it's var. fargesii because its leaves are not as large and furry as  my other C. trichotomum, it hasn't taken on the tree-like proportions of the latter and it blooms later.) Anyway, it smells great around there right now!

You may remember this view from May.

It looks quite different now.  Floating plants on the pond and the foliage all around obscure a lot of what's visible at other times of the year. 

The potted agaves and other succulents belong back in the danger gardenette.  I pulled it apart to clean up the bamboo  that was encroaching and never put them back.  Oh well, it'll be time to pull them back inside for winter soon.

The pot sitting empty back there is for a hosta I recently bought which badly needs to be planted.  Oh well, it's raining out right now.  There's always tomorrow, right?

This lovely lady is disgusted that I didn't remove the bamboo litter from her hat before taking her picture.  She's looking directly at a slew of plants in pots that need to go into the ground.  She's so judgmental!

How has your garden season been this year?  Full of work, great projects, and efficiency or more of a time of maintaining and planning for the future?   Have a happy and productive weekend all!