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DIG Nursery

May 4, 2018, 6:00 am
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For me, Vashon Island means DIG nursery.  In fact, although the island is a wonderful place, it was the description of DIG in the late Stephanie Feeney's The Northwest Gardeners' Resource Directory that prompted my first visit to the island and it was through many subsequent DIG visits that I came to appreciate Vashon's many charms, including a few other nurseries there.  Since the nursery and property are for sale, I worried that this gem of a place would perhaps not be as stellar as in previous years.  Turns out, the opposite is the case and there were treasures abounding, mouthwateringly displayed in Sylvia's inimitable style. 




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

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

Oh, that Little and Lewis fountain. 

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


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

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


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

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


The fab industrial water feature. 

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora 'Tricolor'

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

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

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



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

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


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


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

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

Back outside


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


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


Geranium (Pelargonium)  'Black Boar'   

So sweet.

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'  

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





Time to pay for my plants and load the plantmobile. 
Hope you enjoyed looking around DIG.  We'll visit again soon.

Have a great and garden-filled weekend all and may the fourth be with you!
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In a Vase on Monday - Cheating Again

May 7, 2018, 6:00 am
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Cathy at Rambling in the Garden encourages garden bloggers to cut something from their gardens or foraged nearby to bring inside to enjoy all week.  I did bring some flowers inside to enjoy but they were mostly abutilons that needed to be pruned before coming out of the greenhouse and tons of Spanish bluebells.  However, I worked in the garden until dark after work on Sunday and didn't feel inspired to try to do anything with the flowers sitting in vases in the kitchen. (Nothing like having an open garden in just a couple of weeks to motivate one to get things in order early.)   On Saturday, I sang at a funeral and was impressed with the flowers which weren't the typical stiff florist arrangements one often sees.  I didn't have my camera but did have my phone which takes horrible pictures, please forgive their quality..

'President Roosevelt' is one of my favorite rhododendrons not only for the white and pink flowers but also for the variegated foliage. Those in my garden just finished blooming.


Add some lilacs for fragrance...

Our native sword  and Akebia quinata around the bottom.

These were done by a friend  of the family who used blooms from her own garden, which must be spectacular.





In addition, there were lovely small arrangements on all of the tables in the parish hall.  Each of the small arrangements was unique and gorgeous.  Unfortunately, I didn't think to snap pictures of them. To see what other bloggers, especially those who didn't cheat,  have put in a vase today, visit Cathy's blog.
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What's Jumping at Jungle Fever?

May 8, 2018, 6:00 am
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Driving round to the parking lot of Tacoma's Jungle Fever Nursery for the Adventurous Gardener, the fabulous new purple, teal, and orange gates really pop out of the foliage!



Feeling adventurous?  Let's go in, shall we? 

Jerry, JF's owner, celebrates all phases of the garden.  These cool Tracycarpus berries were tastefully displayed in several areas.

It was at Jungle Fever that Ciscoe Morris (Northwest garden show host, author, and all around plant enthusiast) and I first saw grevilleas growing and for sale in our area.   'Canberra Gem' with rosemary-like foliage is in full bloom right now.


What's everyone looking at? 


Plants, that's what!

So much to see!


You can't see it in this picture but the head and footboards flank a water feature making this a waterbed.

Exotic, fun, and funky as always, there's something for everyone.

It's not all big-leafed hardy exotics, there are also pretty flowers and a great selection of unusual plants of all sorts.

Got bugs?  We'll eat them for you!


Langley Fine Gardens grows a lot of hard-to-find vines, perennials, and annuals and Jungle Fever is one of the few nurseries in the area that carries plants from this groovy grower.

Ooh, this Osteospermum is much darker than it appears in this picture so the golden bits really make a statement.

These had to come home with me along with a few other fab plants.

 This is the kind of place where you can simply sit and enjoy the garden for a while during your shopping visit.

All too soon, it was time to head back out the purple gates with my plants and head back home. 
I'm so glad that this unusual and fun nursery continues to operate only fifteen minutes from my house!
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Wednesday Vignette

May 9, 2018, 6:00 am
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Spring has brought with it so much beauty that one feels compelled to share a bit.  Okay, and a bit of fun as well.  At the church where I work, it seems that the restrooms have a maximum occupancy of 90 people.  Hmmm.  Those must be some huge restrooms. 😋


On the walk from the church to the parking lot, this pink dogwood is looking especially gorgeous against the blue (really!) sky.

It ain't too bad up close either.  

Wednesday Vignette is hosted by the amazing Anna at Flutter and Hum.  Flutter on over there and see what all the hum is about.
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So, What's Happening in My Garden?

May 10, 2018, 6:00 am
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After work yesterday, I took a quick walk around the garden, well part of it, before getting busy with the many jobs that need doing.  Here's some of what made me smile.

Last summer, a few nurseries were offering Polygonatum x Hybrid 'Striatum' which have highly variegated leaves.  I got one, planted it immediately and it promptly died.  Well, perhaps I'd not watered it enough so I found another and left it in the pot where I could baby it a bit more.  It also decided to die. Being a lazy gardener, I just left the pot near the dead specimen in the ground.  This spring, I decided to start cleaning up some things, picked up the pot to empty the soil and saw shoots coming up.

The one in the ground was also coming up.  Wow, they weren't dead after all.  Hooray. 

The combination of Dicentra 'Gold Heart' and Podophyllum delavayi always thrill me and the white Polygonatum is now planted in front to take over when the dicentra goes dormant for the summer.

The first of the carnivorous plants to bloom this year is  Darlingtonia californica.

Most of the tuberous begonias are still inside but these, from Marbott's Nursery in Portland really wanted to be outside.

Robins have been busy picking at the Spanish Moss to make their nests, so I keep giving them more.

Every now and then, the thought enters my mind that  there are too many Camellias in my garden.  It passes.

Somehow, this Cardiocrinum preparing to bloom escaped my notice until it was about six feet tall.  What a nice surprise!

Rhododendron 'Wine and Rose' is just about finished blooming but it's the fabulous purple indumentum on the foliage that makes this plant so special.  It's growing in a pot on a pillar so I get to enjoy those leaves every time I pass.


Acer palmatum ‘Ukigumo’ looking ghostly white.


The divine fragrance of Magnolia dianica or Magnolia laevifolia or Michelia yunnanensis wafts over the garden, especially on warm days.  "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Canna 'Stuttgart' will look even better when it fills in a bit and those naked twgs of Clerodendrum bungei clothe themselves.  Their late and fragrant blooms earn forgiveness for the being late to leaf out and their tendency to take over the world.

Another Rhododendron in bloom.

Progress has been made  on the danger gardenette but there are still more plants to be added. 


In September, my pal Camille gave me this plant stand that her mother was getting rid of.   I'd no idea what I'd do with it but it's hard to turn down anything rusty.

It's perfect to hold some of the bromeliads during their summer vacation outside. 


Really, there are bricks under all those Forget-Me-Nots but I let these pretty weeds stay until they're done blooming when they all get pulled out.  Fortunately(?) they produce enough seed to come back year after year.

Some of the begonia baskets are out  but a couple are still in the greenhouse getting fattened up.

The pot ghetto is a mess but at least I can walk down the narrow path without tripping on empty pots.  Small steps.


The sorta stumpery is coming along nicely.

Hosta haven is okay but needs a little tidying.  and re-arranging.

The fire pit looks a bit different this year.  As I was planting it, I noticed that the Canna 'Tropicanna' from last year survived and is sending up new shoots as well.

I usually buy one or two of these intense blue gentians each year and have tried them in a variety of areas of my garden.  None seems to suit them but these, growing in a pot beneath a rhododendron seem happy enough and this will be the second or third year that they've bloomed for me.

Schefflera delavayi reaching it's new little hands skyward, trying to catch the sun.  
Next tour, we'll look at what's happening in some other areas but don't want to bore you with too many pictures.  Happy Friday Eve!
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Kathy's Corner is Packed Full

May 11, 2018, 6:00 am
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Or so the sign says.  Let's investigate, shall we? 


Good advice!

Oh yes, packed full of plants of all kinds!

I love the Sempervivums with webbing like this but for some reason, they seldom last long in my garden while the furless varieties thrive.

Oh the sunlight through these iris leaves.  These always remind me of my visit to Chava's garden where they grow beautifully.


Oh, to have space for another rhododendron.  'Fire Rim' is a beauty!

This visit took place in mid April and bulbs were still in full swing. 

One of the things I love about Kathy's Corner is that the shade plants are displayed in the shade of some rather fabulous old trees so you really get the feel of the plant in natural shade conditions.

Oh my, yes, I'd say the sign is quite accurate!

Table after table of veggie starts.  


 Smoldering  foliage of Gold Flame Spirea.  Hardy to zone 3!

Aeonium 'Kiwi' is such a pretty thing.  I envy those California gardeners who can grow this, and so many other succulents in the ground.

Let's sneak into the growing areas (I got permission) and get a glimpse of the future. I love that these houses are full of both new plants just starting their lives and also some of Kathy's personal collection. 

Lots of strings of pearls!


A new pelargonium with white variegated leaves.  These will be fun!

Just a dahlia but ain't she sweet?


Of course the Garden Geeks label made me take a second look.  Senecio candicans 'Angel Wings' was perfectly hardy for me here in a pot above ground.

Epiphyllum in bloom....sigh.

Rat tail cactus.


Billbergia nutans

Through greenhouse magic (and generous applications of water soluble fertilizer) these will soon be sumptuous hanging baskets o' beauty.




If you just believe, there's always an agave!

A few orchids.



Plugs of a lovely heuchera.

Clematis somethingorother.   

Kathy's also stocks a lot of great and somewhat unusual annuals.  Next time you're on the island, make sure you stop by and see for yourself.

Happy weekend all and happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!
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In a Vase on Monday

May 14, 2018, 6:00 am
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Plants tend to grow.  Today's vase contains Ceanothus that needed to be cut back in the parking strip  on one side of the house and Euphorbia wulfenii that needed to be cut back in the parking strip on the other side. 



Throw in a few leaves of a Catalpa tree that I cut down many years ago that still emerge every spring.

They all went together in a vase placed inside of a glass thingy I made.  Joining the arrangement is a mask made by a local artist (because it was already on the wall.)
In a vase on Monday is hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the garden.  Click here to join the floral fiesta.
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May 2018 Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

May 15, 2018, 6:00 am
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On the fifteenth of each month, Carol at May Dreams Gardens hosts Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, inviting garden bloggers all over the world to show what's blooming in their gardens on this day.  Click here to see what's blooming in the gardens of other participating  bloggers.  Here is some of what's blooming in my garden this month.

Meconopsis cambrica

I don't quite know how pansies bloom through the winter and then really take off and continur through much of the summer but I'm sure glad they do.

It's warm enough outside for the begonias and impatiens to be happy.




The first of the alliums.

Our native plant formerly known as Dicentra (bleeding heart) is quite thug in my garden and each year it seems to spread further.

Parahebe perfoliata

This one will represent quite a few abutilons in bloom this month. 

Plant formerly known as Magnolia laevifolia

Gentiana acaulis 

Columbines show up in all sorts of places and one never knows what kinds of hybrids they'll create with each other.

While some camellias are definitely finished, others are just hitting their stride. 


Ceanothus time! 



Crinodendron hookerianum


Rhododendron something or other.

Fuchsia.  The hardy ones haven't started blooming yet.  This is a cheat from the store. 

Polygonatum odoratum


Kolkwitzia amabilis

Magnolia 'Black Tulip' was much darker earlier but I enjoy how it holds onto it's petals as it fades to a lighter shade.

Noid rhododendron that a neighbor was going to throw away many years ago.

Honeysuckle 

 Grevillea 'Canberra Gem'


Rosa sericea ssp. omeiensis f. pteracantha has small silky white single blooms but is grown for it's incredible red thorns.

This Ceanothus has grown into quite a monster.

Ceanothus and Ribes speciosum

Buddleja globosa


Euphorbia mellifera

Aesculus pavia

Another neighbor-discarded rhodendron from several years ago. 

Rosa rugosa 'Yankee Lady'

These dianthus were a teacher-appreciation gift last year.  Sold as annuals, they filled in nicely over the summer and I thought that would be it.  However, they seem to have missed the annual lecture about dying after one year.  They are such a sweet red color that I don't think I'll tell them.

Melianthus and Euphorbia wulfenii 

A couple of  clematis.  A smarter gardener might have planted vines with different bloom times. 


Iris confusa

Paeonia delavayi

Paeonia ludlowii

Abutilon vitifolium

Pelargoniums are enjoying the heat. 

One last rhododendron planted years ago for the size of it's leaves.  It's now a pretty tall shrub and I had to use a telephoto lens to get a close enough picture of the huge truss. (It's a little over a foot wide.)
Happy GBBD everyone!

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Wednesday Vignette - A House is not a Home And Foliage Follow-Up

May 16, 2018, 6:00 am
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Several weeks ago there was some exciting activity as a robin worked industriously at building a nest.  The noise of the bird landing and moving about in a group of Mahonia 'Charity' was  interesting.  The nest looked completed to me and then mom disappeared.  Fast forward to last week and I noticed a robin gathering bits of  Spanish Moss and flying to the nest.  A new couple moving into the nest?  The same bird returning?   This time mom stayed with the nest for about 7 days.

She'd be there morning and night and sometimes would stand at the side of the nest peering down and, I thought turning her eggs.  How delightful to see her raise her brood.  Alas, a couple of days ago, she was no longer on the nest and hasn't returned since.  Perhaps this nest wasn't meant to be a home.  Will she return?  Will another robin think it's a groovy pad?  We shall see.

Wednesday Vignette is hosted by Anna at Flutter and Hum.  Mosey on over to her blog to join the party.

On the day after Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, celebrated garden author, blogger, Garden Bloggers' Fling creator, and all around wonderful person, Pam Penick hosts Foliage Follow-Up to remind us of the important role foliage plays in our gardens every day. Click here to join in the foliar feast. Here are some shots of various foliage in my garden this month.


Oops, remember to remove the hose filling the pond before taking a picture.  




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Come on Out to the Greenhouse

May 17, 2018, 6:00 am
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Let's take a stroll out to the greenhouse and see what's up.  You may recall this post from November  when things were getting fairly crowded.  It's now possible to walk through the whole space again.


This papyrus got so tall that it's reaching through the beams and hitting the top of the greenhouse so it gets to be a permanent resident.




 The Cascade Cactus and Succulents Society will be stopping by on Sunday so a few plants that spend the winter in the house were moved out here including a few that were purchased at that group's annual September sale.

These wonderful tiny pots and their plants came from the sale and were made by Pete of Pete's Pots and Plants.

Some of these could probably come out where they could be better enjoyed.  

Looking downright empty.

On the Trevesia palmata.  Looks like it's getting ready to bloom. 






Time to head back out and get some gardening done.  Thanks for taking a little break with me.

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Retail Therapy at Wells-Medina Nursery

May 18, 2018, 6:00 am
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On the twenty-eighth of April, my pal Alison (Bonney Lassie) and I led a workshop about garden blogging at the Bellevue Botanical Garden under the auspices of the Northwest Perennial Alliance.  I shared everything I know about blogging and when that three minutes were over, Alison did the rest.  It was great fun chatting with other gardeners and hopefully some of the participants will start garden blogs of their own.  Since we were already on the east side, it just made sense to stop by Wells Medina for some retail therapy.

Hey look, new wallpaper!


It was interesting to note that just a couple of weeks ago, these trees were still leafless.  Now they'd be fully leafed out.  May is a magical month in the garden.

This combination looked great all winter and is still quite lovely.


Nice large specimens of Cordyline 'Electric Pink' 

Bright spring color decorates the tiered bed 



The nursery was packed to the gills with all sorts of plants.  Arisaema ovale 'Variegata' was a temptation.


I love peonies and wish I had space for more.  Oh well in the next garden will have acreage.


Fremontodendron californicum


That's Salvia leucantha 'White Mischief' between the Mandevillas. Things are warming up.


Anigozanthos from down under. 

In addition to the vast array of evergreens, trees, rhododendrons, roses, perennials, etc. there were some surprises of the succulent variety.

Aloe mitriformis

Aloe nobile 'Gold Tooth'

Agave bovicornuta is not often seen in nurseries here.  It was so tempting to bring one of these home but my poor mistreated specimen seems to be recovering


One could take a bit of california home. 

 How exciting, the time has come and everything can safely go outside!  I took things out a bit early this year but they don't seem to mind too awfully much. 
Rare Plant Research in Oregon City is having their annual Garden Sale this weekend.  There are always great plants and cool pots made by Burl, the owner.  Whatever you do, hope your weekend is stellar!
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In a Vase on Monday

May 21, 2018, 6:00 am
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Today's vase started with Loree's idea about using Buddleja globosa in a vase.  I couldn't find the vase I'd thought of for today but this one has been sitting around, waiting to be used for months.


In addition to the buddleja, I found a few other things out int he parking strip to throw together:  Ceanothus 'Dark Star,'  NoID rhododendron,  Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae, and a bit of Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Ice' foliage.





May is such a wonderful month in the garden when simply trimming wayward plants can yield a bouquet.

The Cascade Cactus and Succulents Society visited the garden today and in honor of their visit, joining the arrangement are this made by Jeff Pinto  silly-looking cactus whose spines are tied up in a bow

and a less silly-looking cactus vase. 

There was more
Sincere thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for hosting IaVoM.  To see more of what participating bloggers are plopping into vases today, visit Cathy's blog!
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Rare Plant Research Annual Open House

May 22, 2018, 6:00 am
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Rare Plant Research is a wholesale grower of unusual plants that opens it's doors to the public one weekend a year.  I'd purchased their plants from local nurseries for years before visiting myself and now try to make it to the open every spring.   To see many previous posts from RPR, look here.  You can also search my blog by typing Rare Plant Research (or any other term you might be interested in) in the white box with the magnifying glass in the upper left hand corner of the screen.   Once again this year, I met my pal Loree (yes, THE Loree Bohl of Sunset Magazine Fame.) in her equally famous garden from which we set out to Rare Plant Research together.   Loree warned me that the garden was a mess so I didn't ask about taking pictures but his lady doesn't know from mess - her garden looked fabulous as always.  Here's a bit of what we saw.

Lots of tiny agaves.

Some more stressed than others. 

Only in the Pacific Northwest...Our native sword fern finding its way into potted agaves. 

Trachycarpus wagnerianus for a ridiculously low price had me wondering where I could squeeze in another 

This NFS variegated pineapple made me glad that I purchased one here several years ago. 

Speaking of bromeliads...


The hot and bright conditions in these greenhouses really bring out the vibrant colors of these beauties. 


I would want more bromeliads if I didn't already have so many from a number of years of attending this sale.


Citrus trees are lots of fun to see but My garden is out of space. 

 Cussonia looking quite happy.  I wonder if they'll have these for sale in the future?

Fucrea gigantia is such a stunning thing.  Mine is struggling along in the greenhouse.  Wouldn't it be divine to live in a climate where these could happily grow in the ground?

Musa zebrina 

Look at the size of those velvety leaves .  That's the head of a shopper included for scale. 

Agave geminiflora.


Colorful succulents. 

Aloe dorotheae

Carnivorous and colorful Sarracenias aka  Pitcher Plants.


NoID NFS coolness. 



 Well, isn't that different?   


Now for some of what my pal, Alison, calls  fat bottomed girls (Caudiciform plants) 




Calabanus hookeri looked so fabulous  at RPR.  

It jumped into Loree's new plantmobile along with a few other things.  To be fair, some of these are Loree's.  (well, one box)  Someone has no control.
We opted not to visit the house, gardens, and vineyard this year.  It's beautiful but another nursery and lunch were calling.
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Wednesday Vignette - Clever Design.

May 23, 2018, 6:00 am
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Garden statuary is becoming more and more realistic all of the time.  This vignette was captured at Xera Plants in Portland.

Notice how the blue of the pot is echoed in the cherub's blue shirt.  and how the garden designer cleverly used golden foliage to set off the blues beautifully. 
Wednesday Vignette is hosted by Anna at Flutter and Hum.  Click on over to her blog to see more.
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Xera Plants and Contained Exuberance

May 24, 2018, 6:00 am
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As we drove up to Xera Plants in Portland, the bright color of this rose caught my eye. One also caught a ride home with me.


Xera had been a great wholesale grower of plants for many years before they opened their own retail space.  Luckily, their plants are still carried by other retailers but there's nothing like visiting their own space which is always packed with fabulous plants.


Sweet and tiny Polygonatum humile.



Epimedium x  'Pierre's Purple' has great purple flowers but the color of it's new foliage is also very attractive.

Acanthus  syriacus is a gorgeous thing.


Arthropodium candidum 'Maculatum' caught a ride home with Danger along with a brown aeonium.  Can't wait to see what she does with them.  

Xera and Hyland Garden Design/Contained Exuberance flow together nicely.  





This is my kind of pot shop!



Anne Boleyn? Catherine Howard?   Looks like someone's axe or sword needs sharpening.  




Allium seed heads are a repeated  theme at CE.  Aren't they cool?



A burlap bag tree seems like it could hold up the whole building. 


 Pots by apotspot.  
Happy Friday Eve!
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A Little Friday Fun at Digs Inside and Out

May 25, 2018, 6:00 am
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After thirteen years, Digs Inside and Out is moving from it's Alberta Street location in Northeast Portland to a new location in Sellwood, an area of Southeast Portland.  As packing boxes were being filled and the move was imminent we visited the Alberta Street location one last time.


They're hoping to open in their new location on June first.  Do check their website for updates.

Those of you who've had the pleasure of visiting the private garden of JJ DeSousa, the owner of Digs, will recognize her eclectic style and sense of humor.



As an object, this string bean vase is cool but just think how great it would look filled with blooms.  It would look almost as if the flowers were standing on their stems right on the table.

I love this shop but am glad that it's 150 miles from my house or I'd be broke in short order. 



Looking one last time out at Alberta Street from inside Digs.   See those orange stools?

Things aren't always what they seem and although the loss of Digs will be felt on Alberta Street, I'm certain that the creative force behind this special store will work it's magic in their new home. (A cool historical building which you can check out on google maps.)
Happy weekend!
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Cecile Brunner In a Vase on Monday

May 28, 2018, 7:32 am
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One might say that Cecile Brunner is in her cups on Monday but casting aspersions on such a sweet little thing might not be the best way to start the week.   On the other hand,  the climbing Cecile Brunner in my garden, planted on the previous site of a compost heap, grows is such a wild way that it might seem inebriated.  Rose experts call it vigorous and healthy.    Even in a jungly/casual garden like my own,  frequent pruning is  requited to keep it from taking over the world.  The tiny, perfectly-formed blooms are so endearing that a few got rescued from being tossed into the yard waste bin.


The cheery blooms and luxurious fragrance are a joy to experience as we pass through the butler's pantry.  Of course, the yard waste bin smells pretty nice at the moment too.

In the U.S. today is Memorial Day, originally Decoration (of graves) Day, which originated after the Civil War, a conflict which claimed more lives than any  U.S. history and required the establishment of the country's first national cemeteries.  Today is day of remembrance of all the men and women who've lost their lives in the service of their country and is unofficially the beginning of summer.   The civil war ended in  1865 and communities began holding ceremonies of remembrance shortly thereafter.  Cecile Brunner was introduced in 1881.  I wonder how many graves she's decorated.  As we remember the fallen, let us cling to the hope for peace.

 In a Vase on Monday is hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.  Click here to see what others have cut to enjoy this week.

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Drawing Inspiration from Friends

May 29, 2018, 6:00 am
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Okay so the title was a nice way to say stealing ideas from blogging pals.  In keeping with the theme, I'm stealing some photographs to illustrate this post.  I'd long admired Pam Penick's fabulous entry planting of Dasyliron longissimum in her entry garden.

Photo by Loree Bohl, stolen from Danger Garden.  You can see Pam's post about installing this here. 

Back in April, I saw A dasylirion longissimum at Cistus Nursery and decided that I'd make this work somehow in my own garden even though it's way overcrowded.  


I almost gave the plant away because there is simply no place in my garden that would allow the same kind of empty plane that Pam's entry has but a couple of weeks ago, Loree reminded me of how well her dish planters worked in her garden without the negative space. 

Photo by Loree Bohl.
Then this post of Gerhard's Garden showed his Dasylirion  growing beautifully in a metal planter.  The universe must be trying to tell me something. 


While I love the look of rusty steel, it's heavy and often expensive.  However a recent stroll through a local hardware store (a big plant sale and 50% off all pots had nothing to do with the visit) had me contemplating shiny aluminum tubes that were inexpensive and light. 



The hottest and sunniest location at my place is out front but when standing the tube here it just didn't  work very well so the tube went into the greenhouse perhaps for use as a plant stand but it didn't  work there either

The pipe/Dasylirion idea still made me want to find a place for it  so it got put in near the Danger Gardenette. This isn't the hottest spot in my garden but perhaps the plant will still grow in this mash-up area.  


I


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Wednesday Vignette -What is That?

May 30, 2018, 6:00 am
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Costume idea for Handmaid's Tale?


(Image lifted from the interweb.)
Image result for Handmaid's tale images


No, that's not it.  


It's Lupinus 'Westcountry Blacksmith' 

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

May 31, 2018, 6:00 am
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More than 20 years ago, I admired this garden from the outside and it's gardener, who was working outside, invited me to view the garden inside the gate.  She said that she wished she hadn't planted ornamental cherry trees in the front as they're so prone to disease.  As I recall, those trees were sizeable. 

They were obviously been replaced by maples quite a while ago. I'm seldom in this neighborhood and always forget the exact cross streets so coming upon this garden is always a surprise to me. 

What lies behind the well manicured shrubbery is a magical treat of a garden that can be enjoyed from the sidewalk.


One simply cannot walk briskly down this part of the sidewalk as there are surprises tucked away in every corner of the garden.  Everything is exquisitely well manicured, coiffed, fluffed, and trimmed and yet the garden is exuberant and welcoming.





Some years ago, this gardener won a prize for her garden design from Thompson & Morgan Seeds. 


Feeling especially bold, I knocked on the door but no one answered.  What a treat it would be to once again see the inside garden and all the changes that must have taken place in the last 20 years or so.

An imaginative and talented colorist came up with this great mostly-evergreen combination with coleus and tuberous begonia jewels.



In a sunny corner, near the intersection of the sidewalks on this corner lot stands this perfect pairing of Yucca rostrata  and pot. 

Even the gravel is special. 



Another view of the sunny corner. 

Here's the other street side of the garden.


This garden must bring great joy to both the gardener and passersby.  What a great space.  Perhaps one day I'll get a peek at the inside garden again. 

Can you believe that this is the last day of May already? 


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