A Trip North

Lately, the nights have been surprisingly cool, right around the freezing point. This means I'm still a bit tentative about doing too much gardening. To  keep busy, last Friday I drove north to attend the annual Plant Nerd Night. The next day, my sister and I hit the local nurseries. I got lots of inspiration while at Bauman Farms in Gervais.

This hanging heart-shaped planter had cute flowers.

Wood or ceramic? I had to check. Answer: ceramic.

Cute succulent table

Succulent wall art

This funky fountain was calling my name.

But I left without it.

Stuffed to the brim.

Fans are apparently all the rage right now.

I wanted this too.

Are these cute or what?

More fans or faux windmill parts.

I love rocks so these were really tempting.

I love that they brought Birch branches inside to complement the displays.

Such cool wall art

This golden Agave attenuata was gorgeous. I wish they would have had a small one for sale.

An oddity

My sister and I did a bunch of shopping. Below is my loot.

The big fern is Arachnoides simplicior 'Variegata'. 

 

From left to right, two double primrose plants, Dryopteris 'Parsley' (dormant), Chiastrophyllum oppositifolium 'Jim's Pride', Variegated Red-Veined Sorrel, Scutellaria 'Greg Starr', Iris reticulata 'Purple Gem', Saxifraga stoloniferum 'Harvest Moon', Carex 'Sparkler', Tulbaghia natalensis and Parahebe olsonii. 

And finally,

Ribes speciosum 'Rana Creek' (Now I have two. Notice the thorns. It will go at the back of the border.)

 Well, it's not quite spring yet but I say, who cares? 

Bring it on! I'm ready to putter. 

How about you?

Loving This Time of Year

ISN'T THIS TIME OF YEAR wonderful? The spring bloomers are gone now allowing me to spend time cleaning up and cutting back. I enjoy the instant gratification and sense of possibility that comes with this task. I've been so busy that I haven't taken very many photos lately. Here are a few I took a few weeks ago.     

Japanese Blood Grass, (Imperata cylindrica) likes moist soil. 

I've been keeping this clump watered and the results are gorgeous.

Carex 'Something or Other' (my term) looks good next to the Hypericum. 

This Lavatera looks great for 5 minutes.  Unfortunately, the old petals don't fall off
so by mid-season the plant is a mess. I'm digging it out.
I'll keep this nice photo as a memento of how pretty that five minutes is.  

My Clemmy 'Venosa Violacea' put on a stellar performance in June and July.
I cut it all down yesterday. If I keep it watered, it will grow and produce a second flush of flowers.

I'm loving my Acanthus mollis (Bear's Breeches) even if it's too shady for it to bloom. 

Oxalis crassipes likes to bend towards the sunlight and open its bazillion blossoms. 

Alstromeria is also on its second flush of blossoms.
Note the Persicaria amplexicaulis foliage threatening to encroach.

Sorry for the blurry photo but I must show off my Saponaria 'Max Frei.'
Morning sun and afternoon shade seem to be the best recipe for these blossoms. 

Recently, I succumbed to my plant-shopping whims and purchased this
tall, stately (and big blossomed) Scabiosa.
I got it planted this week after taking out one of my bazillon clumps
of Phlox 'David'--a plant that is planning to rule the world. 

I also purchased this sweet, perennial creeping Baby's Breath
that I believe is Gysophila repens 'Rosea' 

Here is a photo of the  the plants when I brought them home three weeks ago.
They're now twice as wide and blooming away in their new home on the side of a rock-line raised bed. 

This is the first flower on my Gardenia 'Frost Proof.'
Last week I counted 13 blossoms! I am so pleased with this plant.
I've never had a Gardenia perform so well. No bugs and loaded with blossoms.
Now if it lives up to its name and survives the winter, I'll be in heaven. 

Finally, a little evidence of my voyeurism with nature. I caught these two lovers
who couldn't seem to wait for a room. My photo is blurry but maybe it was intentional
since it protects their identity. We wouldn't want to embarrass them. 

Keep happy in the garden everybody!

Chartreuse and Pink

I've had problems with my blog. I won't go into the why's and where-to-fores. Suffice it to say that I'm working on getting it up and running again. Thank you for those who continue to visit.