A Portland Visit Continued - Joy Creek Nursery

It's always a pleasure to wander through the gardens and retail area at Joy Creek Nursery. It's like strolling through a friend's garden. The space is as spectacular as the staff. I fondly recall a visit several years ago with Alison. We'd arrived just before closing and did a quick bit of shopping. We were getting ready to leave when Mike, a co-owner, offered to give us a guided tour of the gardens.

Oh, that driveway!

With views like this, it's surprising that there aren't car crashes in the parking lot.

Clematis, one of the specialties of Joy Creek. Was it calling my name? Someone was.

Turns out, it was my pal Anna (Flutter and Hum.) Blogging pals Tamara and Ricki also now work with Mike and Maurice. I'm sorry I missed them but it was, as always, a pleasure to visit with Anna who was very excited to share her new favorite plants. Her stash was on one of the front tables. Do you think you'd actually make money working at a nursery?

So many shady characters.

More varieties of hardy fuchsia than you could shake a stick at.

Primula 'Green Lace'

Golden Hops Vine looks handsome with just about anything. Persicaria virginiana (maybe 'Lance Corporal') is likewise a great team player. Together they're quite a knockout.

While admiring a new Farfugium japonicum 'Shishi Botan' leaf, someone yelled, "Anna, come here quickly." What could the excitement be?

It was the largest and most beautiful garter snake I'd ever seen! Anna seemed very excited and not fazed by this sight at all. Snakes are beautiful but I don't often see them and they can move so quickly which makes them a bit scary to me. Unbeknownst to me, Anna, who seemed thrilled at the sighting shares my fear. It's all here in her post.