Portland Nursery Deux: Stark Street

You may remember this post about visiting Portland Nursery on Division Street (website here) after attending the Portland Yard, Garden, and Patio Show on the first of March.  Today, we visit the nursery's other location on Stark Street. It's interesting that they are two locations of the same nursery as they are very different from each other and both need to be visited!  Loree and Hoover Boo posted about Alstroemeria 'Rock 'n' Roll' and both Alison and I loved the way the foliage looked.  When Loree told us that she saw it at a nursery in Portland that wasn't too far from where we were going next (Cistus) we jumped at the chance to make a side trip.  So, while Loree, Scott, and Heather enjoyed lunch together, we hopped into the plant mobile and headed out to Portland Nursery on Stark Street.


The first big surprise was that there was stop and go traffic on the street as cars waited in line to get into the parking lot.  It was a warmish and sunny day but I was impressed.  These Portlanders take gardening seriously!  By the way, for any of you wondering if Portland is anything like the television show "Portlandia," it behooves me to say, "No, not at all!" Although, stereotypes come from somewhere... The triumph of gardening  over the city painting on this van made me smile and start humming "If You're Going to San Francisco (Tell her to wear a flower in her hair)"
 I  love Portland and the people I've met there!   Who could not love a city with people this interested in gardening?




We started by thinking that we'd just go in, inquire about the plant, get a couple and then take off but then there were all of these cool things to admire.  Soon enough, we were coming closer to our prize.  Do you see it there in the orange pots?


The foliage is spectacular and Hoover Boo is using it in her California garden as a substitute for hostas which don't like the summer heat in her area.  Serious crush on the foliage but the blooms are pretty wonderful too! For those of you with refined taste who are fond of understated pastel flowers, please avert your eyes lest you be offended by the brashness of this foliage/flower combination.

I'm crazy about the thing which Loree says is all over the place in Portland right now but I haven't seen in my area at all. Sources say it's hardy to zone 8, 8b, or 9.  Alison and I think that we'll keep ours in pots and drag them in during the coldest part of the winter just to be on the safe side.

It was with a slight twinge of guilt for my premeditated murder of a couple of lilacs in my own garden that I bent to inhale the heavenly fragrance of this beauty.



We could have gotten lost in this huge rose area so decided not to start looking after all there were more places to go and people to meet (Heather, Loree, Scott.)

Like the Division Street location, there are a lot of beautiful bonsai trees and stock to make new ones.  Oh to have the talent, time, and patience.




I'd read about Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost' and admired pictures on the internet but this was my first live encounter.  I tried to remind myself that I don't need another maple in a pot but that color was too seductive.  It's just as lovely out of the sun by the way.
 The Division location has a huge houseplant section that even a non houseplant person can spend quite a while exploring.  The Stark location has far fewer houseplants but a more expansive outdoor area.