In a Vase on Monday - Treasures from the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

February 12, 2018, 6:00 am

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There are many outstanding vendors at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show and one of my perennial favorites is Artist & Potter Cindy Jenkins.  Just about everything she creates appeals to me and fortunately her prices are quite reasonable. Cindy's introduced some new abstract work with which I was smitten.  These three came home from the show with me this year. 

A single branch of Stachyurus praecox fills the tiny opening of the tall vase while  Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' (rooted and still growing in water from an September Monday vase) hellebores and snowdrops fill the squat pot.

In a Vase on Monday is hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  Click here to see her Monday Vase and to find links to those of other participating bloggers.

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The Northwest Flower and Garden Festival - More Fabulous Vendors

February 13, 2018, 6:00 am

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The NWFGF  has a lot of great gardens big and small, some great plant vendors, and thrilling art for sale. There was so much to see and admire that it's impossible to share more than a small fraction. Here are a few  things that caught my eye:

In the Northwest Stone Sculptors Association area was this piece by Larry Lawlor

Bedrock Industries had some delightful new designs as well as some old favorites. All of their wares are made from recycled glass.

Anthony Jamieson Designs had some cool architectural cast glass panels.

Vintage Glass Gardens

Oh those daffodils!

Modhome Ceramics 

Because of the texture, it feels like the white porcelain base was covered with a layer of porcelain slip mixed with cobalt and then the negative space carved away. 

I forgot who made these but it's an imaginative use of shovels.  Probably not so great for digging now though.

The delightful Katy Lareau is a Portland-based artist whose fused glass flowers and bugs have been a show favorite for many years.

Much of Andy Byrne's metal sculpture is difficult to capture with a camera as it really needs to be experienced to be appreciated, the minute details that make up the whole can best be appreciated in person in the context of the entire piece. 

Obviously a master of the material!

More from Abraxas Crow. 

Nothing quite like having a life-sized blue heron gliding just overhead.

Unless it's a pair of fighting bald eagles. 

Happy 30th birthday to this annual event!  Every celebration needs a cake, right? 

A summer floral pillbox hat  supporting a  Christmas tree decorated with spring colored macarons.  A cake for all seasons!

Wednesday Vignette

February 14, 2018, 6:00 am

≫ Next: February 18 Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

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Happy Valentine's Day All!  My Vignette this Wednesday (Joining host Anna at Flutter and Hum) is a display of primroses from our local everything store and seemed appropriate for today.

May your day be filled with love!

February 18 Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

February 15, 2018, 5:18 am

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Carol at May Dreams Gardens hosts Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day on the fifteenth of each month.  Click over to her blog to see what's blooming in gardens around the world today. Here's what's happening in my zone 8 Western Washington garden.

Primroses (cheating as these came home from the store already in bloom, those in the garden are a bit behind.)

Camellias japonica

My Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide' seems to be happy enough now and is starting to bloom.  Isn't this a little late for those to be starting?

Galanthus.

Hellebores 

There are a lot of these in my garden because they seem to thrive on neglect and don't mind dry shade.

Really, these are all different varieties and these are only about half of them. 

 Feel free to skip ahead if you're tired of the hellebore parade. 

Whew, you made it!

 Daphne odora.  There's nothing quite as sweet and welcome as this fragrance in the winter garden.

Of course there's also Chimonanthus praecox (Wintersweet.)

The parade of winter continues with Lonicera fragrantissima, a hummingbird favorite.

Weedy but swell Euphorbia wulfenii

Garrya's tassels are so long that the wind blows them up onto the leaves into an unsightly tangle. 

Arctostaphylos something or other

helleborus argutifolius

 Sweet little violets are making inroads toward taking over the lawn.  Hooray!

Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is no slouch in the fragrance department either.  

 Jasminum nudiflorum

Stachyurus praecox

It must be spring if the crocus are blooming, right?  

Happy GBBD all!

February 18 Foliage Follow-Up

February 16, 2018, 6:00 am

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Pam at Digging hosts Foliage Follow-up on the day after Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day to remind us of the important role of foliage in our gardens.   Join me in wishing this spectacular person, longtime blogger, inventor of the Garden Bloggers' Fling, and author a very happy twelfth blogging anniversary!

Here's some of the foliage currently thrilling me in my garden at the moment. 

This begonia, purchesed at a fall plant sale from Windcliff Plants never made it into the ground.  The pot is in a sheltered area outside and the foliage never died back.  Crazy!

Likewise, Darlingtonia californica, the carnivorous Cobra Lily, never died back this year.

I love the pink tones that this Hebe takes on in cold weather.

While it weeps during the winter, this Cylindropuntia, a cutting found by the side of the road beneath a free sign, will perk up again as the weather warms.

Arum italicum has looked glorious all winter long and, as warmer temperatures arrive, it'll die back for the summer. 

 The big excitement is that some  plants have decided it's time for spring.

Syneilesis palmata

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

Hydrangea

Persicaria 'Red Dragon'

Begonia pedatifida

 Tree peony 

Lonicera 

Mecanopsis 'Lingholm'  How grateful I am to live in a climate that is favored by the glorious blue poppy.  They like it even better in Alaska!

I keep forgetting the name of this ground cover but love the hairy new growth.

Join the party and show us your foliage!

In a Vase on Monday: I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

February 19, 2018, 6:00 am

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Recently, my garden blogging pal Alison (Bonney Lassie) gave me this sweet vase she'd purchased at Disneyland.  She'd noticed that I seemed a little grumpy about the cold snap predicted (and now beginning) and needed a little cheering up.

For those of you in cold winter climates, predictions of temperatures in the high teens may seem downright balmy but here it  felt as if spring would arrive early and plants, usually much later to make an appearance have begun to show their faces because of our warm January.  For those of you in the Pacific Northwest who are fretting about your plants, I offer these winter blooms from my garden in Alison's vase to pass the cheer along.

Joining the vase is this bird nest, a symbol of hope that spring will, indeed arrive...eventually.

A visit to Vassey Nursery (in the snow!) yesterday found the folks there busy protecting plants and unpacking all sorts of new merchandise like this cool and inexpensive head pot.  She's wearing a primrose dragged in from the cold.

The little red cyclamen begged to be added to the picture.  Who could say no to such a sweet redhead?

The crocus opened in the warmth of the house and,  like a cherished friendship warmed the cockles of my heart. 

As I write this, the wind is howling outside, the snow and hail on the ground are frozen and the temperature is below freezing (Accuweather says the real feel is 10 degrees) but inside there's a little pot of spring.

Perhaps this head pot's name should be Alison.  Thanks pal for the thoughtful gift, it made my day!

Cathy at Rambling in the Garden is the inspirational host of In a Vase on Monday.  Click here to see her vase this week and to find links to those of other participating bloggers.

A Four-Letter Word Beginning with "S" followed by the "F" word.

February 20, 2018, 6:00 am

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That's right, snow.  What were you thinking?   After our warm January and a cloudy  wet Candlemas we all thought that spring was arriving. 

If Candlemas day be dry and fair,  The half o' winter to come and mair. If Candlemas's day be wet and foul.  The half o' winter gane at Yule.  Seems that modern weather forecasters pay little attention to ancient Scottish wisdom.  Sunday morning brought big beautiful snowflakes.

The flakes were were joined for a time by hail.

Not a lot of snow but instead of melting off as usual, the mercury plummeted and brought that "F" word, freezing.  Again, where was your mind.

 

This was the only kind of snow drop I'd hoped to see.

Truth be told, the other two "S" and "F" words may have been uttered by more than one gardener in the PNW.

Even the early-blooming "Tommies" (crocus tommasinianus) are closed against the cold and look a little frost-bitten around the edges.

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide' doesn't seem to mind but the Camellia japonica flowers are frozen and will drop.  Fortunately, there are more buds to take their place.  Magnolia buds have started to fatten up and I worry that they might succumb as the temperatures get even lower over the next couple of days.

I've never seen hellebores do this before.  Hopefully they'll pop back up when the weather warms. 

Stachyurus praecox doesn't seem to mind. 

I keep throwing boiling water on top of the frozen bird baths so that our feathered friends can have a drink.  Interesting how fast it refreezes.

Rhododendrons do this when it gets cold but it's still sad to see. 

I was planning on bringing the dormant begonia tubers out of the basement and putting them into the stained glass room this weekend but why try to heat that space when it's so cold? 

Meanwhile, there ares some bright spots in the greenhouse even though it's a bit messy out there at the moment. 

Scadoxus puniceus is popping up and soon it's happy orange pompom blooms will open.  Maybe spring isn't so far off after all. 

How's your garden faring this winter? 

Wednesday Vignette - Time for a Garden Party!

February 21, 2018, 6:00 am

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This garden party comes from the vintage market at the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival.  While winter still holds us firmly in it's icy fingers, this kind of garden party will have to do.  Only 25 more days until spring!

I'm joining Anna at Flutter and Hum, the host of our Wednesday Vignette meme.  Click here to join the party.

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A Spring Preview in the Conservatory

February 22, 2018, 6:00 am

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As I write this on Wednesday evening, snow is once again flying and there's a powdered-sugar dusting on the grass and trees.  The white stuff started about twenty minutes before school was out and more is predicted for a while tonight as temperatures drop well below freezing.  Sigh.  Spring interrupted. Over the weekend, I walked over to the Seymour conservatory to get a breath of warmer air.  Outside, popping up through the dessicated banana leaves were these charming Leucojum (vernum? aestivum?) 

Inside, spring has already arrived.

A nice jolt of color in the seasonal display area is especially welcome during the cold months. 

Unusual orchid foliage.  Unfortunately, the plant wasn't marked so I'm not sure which one. 

Tephrocactus strobiliformis (guessing.)

If the weather ever warms up, this will be happening outside.

I know I've seen this one in catalogs but it's even nicer in person.  Such a sweet and subtle yellow color.

Once again, the huge NOID agave labeled simply, "Century Plant."  

There were some brown-edged leaves on some of the permanent large tropical plants including some tree ferns.  Upon inquiry, I learned that the furnace went out on one of the coldest nights of the year and it wasn't discovered until the next morning, the tree ferns, "haven't been happy for quite a while," and someone over fertilized a few things.  Sad news but it does make me feel better that even the pros have problems sometimes.

Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish Moss) looks very happy!

The gift shop is well stocked with Tillandsias at the moment, including this impressively large and blooming T. duratii. 

It's nice to know that no matter how much snow falls or how low the mercury falls, one can always visit Spring at the conservatory or in my own greenhouse.

Only 26 more days until spring!

The Two Words Every School Kid Lives For: SNOW DAY!

February 23, 2018, 6:00 am

≫ Next: In A Vase (?) on Monday - Laughing At Winter

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Teachers, on the other hand, much prefer the words "late start" which the automated phone message announced at five a.m.  We'd much rather be at work when it's too miserable to garden outside than on a sunny day in July.  (Missed days must be made up.)  However, as time progressed and it seemed as if road conditions wouldn't improve,  school was canceled altogether yesterday. 

Many of  us who live in this region  like to put pumpkin spice everything, eggnog, hot spiced cider, mulled wine and snow away when we drag out the Valentine's Day decorations so this late February freeze isn't particularly welcome.  Oh well, might as well take a little stroll through the snowy garden at dawn before spending a lazy day at home.

It's always winter in this stained glass panel created by my pal Florence. 

Frigid temperatures and ice-covered roads are an uncommon occurrence here so sand trucks and snow plows are equally scarce, 

One doesn't often see a snow-covered parakeet.

 Buddha doesn't seem amused in the least.

Stoic Camellia japonica.  Don't know if it doesn't mind or if it's just frozen.

Until the recent polar blast, it looked as if this Tetrapanax might just bloom; not so much anymore.

Someone has quite a dandruff problem. 

The sun's rising.  Time to go inside where it's warm and bask in the sun streaming through the windows.

In A Vase (?) on Monday - Laughing At Winter

February 26, 2018, 6:00 am

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You may remember from an earlier post that this happy woman came home with me from the Tacoma Home and Garden Show Vintage Market.

Her long neck begged for dangly earrings.  Fortunately, there is a collection of costume jewelry in the glass studio/craft room in the basement and on Saturday, I found a few bits that will work.   I've named her Tammy after my blogging pal, the author of Casa Mariposa.

Both Tammys have an infectious, sometimes mischievous, spirit of fun. 

(Photo from Tammy's blog, used with permission.)

Tammy (the mannequin, not the blogger) will eventually find a place in my greenhouse but until then, she's hanging out inside. I kept looking at her and thinking that she needed to wear something a bit different for a while so she's wearing my offering for In a Vase on Monday, an addictive meme hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  Click here to see what other bloggers have put together today.

Our recent cold snap did some damage to some plants in my garden, others simply laughed at the cold and kept going.

Hellebores were lying flat on the ground but now that the weather has warmed, they're perking back up again.  Stachyurus praecox never skipped a beat.

A few camellias got a little nipped; others acted like they hadn't noticed temperatures in the low 20's (-6 c)

Hey there bud!

I cheated and brought these primroses up on the back porch for a little protection.  Their friends that stayed outside are still looking unhappy.

Tammy's floral display didn't stay on her very long before they needed to be floated in a bowl of water.

So there she is with her floral jewels laughing at the cold.   I hope you're equally happy today.

Winter Walk-Off 2018

February 26, 2018, 6:00 am

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Every year at this time, Les at A Tidewater Gardener hosts "Winter Walk-Off."  We are challenged to walk, camera in hand, and capture what we've seen.  One can drive to his/her walking location but I chose to set off on foot from my front door.  Join me for a little saunter through the hood.

My neighbor, Katherine's hellebores.

Pieris japonica in the same garden. 

Can't decide what color to paint your house?  Why choose just one? 

This one is for sale.  See the listing here.

Thank goodness our deep freeze is over for this winter (hopefully!)

There are a lot of houses in this post.  I love old homes!

Nice to know that other people also have pot ghettos!

This moss lawn peppered with crocus stopped me in my tracks.  

 I always enjoy walking by this lovely and well-kept front garden.  It's beautiful even in the winter!

Looking down from the sidewalk at my pal, Florence's garden. 

No royalty invited me in for tea...

The following crime  scenes may not be suitable for the faint of heart.  Obviously, one is not meant to enter here.

Trees which have been pollarded for many years.  There are no power lines overhead.

The sign says it all!

Interesting fence.

Mystery shrub in bloom.  Any guesses?

21 more days until spring!

Wednesday Vignette

February 28, 2018, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Visiting Nurseries in the Snow

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Okay, not really vignettes,  just things that made me smile.  First, one more reason to love the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival, this sign:

I don't know how one would be able to walk around balancing camera, purchases, and a drink but it's nice to know the option exists.

Second is this license plate seen while driving home in the snow.  I was sorely tempted to follow the vehicle to see the garden but thought the driver might not appreciate that.

Thanks to Anna at Flutter and Hum for hosting Wednesday Vignette!  Click here to see what's caught the eye of  other participating bloggers.  Can you believe that today is the last day of February?  Hooray!

Visiting Nurseries in the Snow

March 1, 2018, 6:00 am

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How better to spend an afternoon just before the lowest temperatures of the winter were predicted to arrive than to visit a couple of nurseries?  A wiser gardener might have rushed home to throw the fuchsias that were already leafing out into the greenhouse to protect them from the impending freeze.  I don't think they've survived. Oh well, I've far too many plants anyway.  Besides, Vassey and Watson's are on my way home from my Sunday job and I wanted to see what the pros were doing to protect their plants. 

Fortunately, these flowers need no protection. 

Even winter hardy plants have been dragged under cover.  While mine, left outside, all perked up, they really looked unhappy during the cold.

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' would have gotten nipped since they're already this far above the soil.  Mine seem to be fine but they're still just tight buds close to the soil line.

Sycopsis sinensis

The pink winter coloration of Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' is quite lovely.

A battle of the choirs?

I didn't do a lot of outdoor exploration for some reason.  

Leaving Vassey and approaching Watson's, the snow let up a little bit but was replaced by hail while I was inside one of Watson's big greenhouses and the sound of the hailstones hitting the roof was really cool.

I know that the amazing red foliage color of Helleborus 'Reanna's Ruby' won't last as the season progresses but it's nice enough that this one had to come home with me along with a couple of other hellebores ('Onyx Odyssey,''Red Sapphire.')

Look at how healthy the Acacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' looks in these combination pots!

Pussy willow bird nest.

Getting ready for spring!

There are sometimes delightful surprises in the succulent section like these Aloe striata.  Since I had some reward dollars left, this really needed to jump into my cart.

Cacti and succulents seem to continue growing in popularity in both gardens and in decor.  I'm cacti/succulent-themed stuff everywhere these days.

Ooh, the deep red foliage of this Algaonema is gorgeous!

The hail storm lasted less than a minute but it dropped quite a bit in that brief time. 

It's always a good time to visit a nursery.  

A Little Summer Sunshine from Wincdliff

March 2, 2018, 6:00 am

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On a chilly late winter day, the memory of a warm July day spent in the garden of a master can be just the thing to take the edge off the cold.  Of course, a nice mug of hot chocolate laced with whipped-cream flavored vodka and/or peppermint Schnapps has a similar effect but I digress.  Here with few words is some visual warmth.

Helleborus hercegovinus has okay flowers but spectacular foliage.  

Trevesia aff. palmata.  Mine, still in a pot,  got thrown inside the greenhouse during our recent cold snap.

Can one ever see too much of Dan Hinkley's fabulous gardens?

Shall we continue?

Large Kniphofia (northiae?)

Rhodocoma capensis

Maianthemum in fruit.

Sinopanax formosanus, the mother of mine which sailed through our recent freeze outdoors in a pot.  Of course, the pot was right next to the greenhouse.

Lobelia tupa/ Yucca rostrata or lineariolia

Oh, that view...

One of my favorite features is this staircase designed by Robert Jones.

Seattle Skyline viewed through palm fronds.

I always admire (have lust in my heart for)  the deeply incised leaves of this Schefflera delavayi.

Fabulous Agave.  

Who doesn't admire the sexy peeling bark of Arctostaphylos?

Thank you Dan and Robert for creating such outstanding gardens, opening them to the public, and allowing us to share images.  

If you need a dose of plant shopping to chase away the winter blues, The Northwest Horticultural Society Spring Plant Sale is tomorrow and Heronswood is having a Hellebores and More sale.  Next weekend is the Northwest Perennial Alliance March Mania Plant Sale at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

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In a Vase on Monday

March 5, 2018, 6:00 am

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Sunday morning started out with a hail storm.  Fortunately, the storm was over in time for the drive to work and, while the sky remained cloudy during work and the weekly shopping, by the time we got home, the wind had picked up, the sky darkened and the rain began falling heavily with, at times, even more hail. Plans of wandering the garden to cut hellebores to float in a bowl were scrapped and instead, s few pots of bulbs were grabbed from the back steps and thrown into a glass basket that I made a few years ago.

The rain did eventually let up and I dashed out to pick a couple iris reticulata, a few primroses and some galanthus to plop into a little vase made by my pottery teacher in Alaska in the 70's.

None of the stems were really long enough but they'll nonetheless make me smile this week which is the goal of In a Vase on Monday, the meme hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  Click here to see what others have artfully arranged or unceremoniously plopped in a vase today.

Gardeners, Start Your Shovels, The Plant Sale Season Has Begun!

March 6, 2018, 6:00 am

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After a long hiatus, the sun made an appearance last weekend dragging gardeners out of hibernation.  We emerged squinting, mole like, at the bright orb in the sky.  What was that color up there?  Definitely not another shade of gray. If memory serves, it's called blue.  The first plant sale of the season, a benefit for the Elizabeth Miller Horticulture Library, was hosted by the Northwest Horticultural Society at the Center for Urban Horticulture in Seattle and recently revived gardeners
arrived in droves to peruse the offerings of many specialty growers.

 It's a treat to see the gardens here in any season. 

Moss and lichen love our soggy winters.

There were even some non-gardeners enjoying the day.

Can anyone identify this huge Yucca?  The consensus of those asked was that it's far too large to be Y. rostrata

On to the sale!

 There were vendors filling a couple of large spaces and some overflowing outside.  It seemed as if the attendees outnumbered the plants, and believe me, there were lots of plants. 

Ypsilandra thibetica in fragrant bloom.

Labeled Schefflera taiwaniana, this one, a Dan Hinkley selection, has especially narrow leaves and may have hitched a ride back to Tacoma.

 Wollmia nobilis casually hanging out in this contemporary setting.  It still amazes me to see this tree which has been around since the Mezoic era.  Yup, dinosaurs also laid eyes on these trees which were, until 1994, thought to only exist in fossil records. See more here.

Helleborus 'Golden Sunrise.'   

I would have taken more pictures of plants but the sale was crowded with passionate plant people, arms laden with boxes of plants.  Attendees were in a jovial mood and wagon after wagon filled with all manner of growing treasures rolled out to the parking areas.  A clever plant cart.

 It was fun to run into some familiar passionate plant people.  Say, is that artist Kim McCarthy aka Urbansoule pulling a cart overflowing with foliage?

Out back there was a demonstration of how raised beds should look

and how my raised beds, if I had them, would look this time of year.  

This coming weekend is the Northwest Perennial Society "March Mania" sale at the Bellevue Botanical Garden and the weather is supposed to be equally delightful.  Will I see you there?

Wednesday Vignette

March 7, 2018, 6:00 am

≫ Next: More White Stuff.

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For your convenience, drive up rainbows. Soon we'll never need to leave our cars.  Do you suppose either of those vehicles found the pot of gold at the end? 

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

More White Stuff.

March 8, 2018, 6:00 am

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Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day for gardening but I decided to go to a plant sale and visit nurseries to the north on that day.  Sunday morning wasn't bad while I was at work but by the time I got home and was ready to garden, the wind whipped up, rain came in sideways, there was a flash of lightening and hail began pelting the windows. 

Oh hail no, there would be no gardening done today other than potting up a few bulbs in the greenhouse.

The hail stones were relatively small and didn't cause any plant damage, thank goodness. 

Not as pretty as snow to be sure but at least this had the decency to melt quickly.

Well, that was exciting but now it's time for spring.  We're setting our clocks ahead an hour this weekend so the morning commute will, once again, be dark but on the bright side, there'll be an extra hour of daylight after the evening commute so I can get out and play in the garden during the week. 

Did someone overdo the rock salt out there? 

There's talk of highs in the sixties for a couple of days next week.   Something to look forward to!  

Let's get this spring thing underway!

Stopping By Wells Medina Nursery In March

March 9, 2018, 6:00 am

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I usually visit Wells Medina during the height of the gardening season but have never been there this early in the year before.  Since the stock here is mostly displayed outside (there are a couple of unheated greenhouses and a covered area but mostly just open air space) I wondered what they'd have on display after our big freeze.  Since I was roughly in the area for the Northwest Horticultural Society plant sale, might as well check it out, right?

Several of these arrangements graced the area separating the parking area from the sales areas.

It was interesting to see this place, which is filled to overflowing in the summer, with fewer plants.  There were still a lot of great offerings and everything looked beautiful.

Epimedium 'Spine Tingler'

The circular bed wearing winter finery.

Helonopsis orientalis

Pseudopanax laetus 'Kiwi Gem' which, from a distance, looks a bit like a schefflera.  It's a bit less tolerant of cold that some of the sheffleras though.

In the summer, I often overlook Drimys lanceolata but at this time of year, who wouldn't love this colorful small shrub?

The conifer section looks unfazed by the recent cold. 

Love this pot!

Another winter charmer, Ilex 'Little Rascal.'

There is a smallish indoor area with a nicely curated collection of houseplant offerings. 

Caged creatures?

 This huge log table is new.

Cactus: It's what's for dinner.

Since we're on the east side, might as well visit Bellevue Nursery and come to think of it, Molbak's is sort of on the way home.

The Northwest Perennial Alliance "March Madness" sale at the Bellevue Botanical Garden is tomorrow!  Hope you have time to enjoy your garden this weekend!