Breaking Dormancy

This year it seems as if plants are hesitant to do much more than break dormancy. I blame it on the cool nights. Last night the temperature was down to 33 again and the same is predicted for tonight. There is life but plants are waking up with a yawn and a stretch and a touch to the snooze alarm.

Here are some photos. Check out the vibrant, cherry-red Rhubarb leaves! Each of the three photos were taken a few days apart.

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum)

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum)

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum)

Earlier, I thought my 'Morello Cherry' Lupine was dead. Then I saw leaves. It's alive!

Lupinus polyphyllus 'Morello Cherry'

I love this fuzzy-leaved dwarf willow.

Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina

Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina

My Podphyllums are opening and looking fabulous. Apparently they like cooler weather.

Podophyllum pleianthum

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

Last fall I crafted a "fern table" with mostly objects and plants I had on hand. You can read about it here. Well, it survived the winter and doesn't look too worse for the wear.

Fern table now

Fern table last fall

Interestingly, the red Sempervivums on the right of this container were not always so. Some of them change color with the cooler temps.

Sempervivums now.

Sempervivums last fall

Here are some wide shots of the garden, such as it is.

Bergenia in flower

I took out the Boxwood at the left, bottom of the photo.

The patio area

I love these Saxifrages. (Saxifraga x urbium 'Aureopunctata')

This is my still-dormant Butterfly Weed (Asclepias speciosa) area.

Here it is from the other side. My son got me the rusty bed frame. Nice, huh?

I've still got a bunch of river rock to distribute. So many projects.

More projects.

Clematis macropetala 'Markham's Pink' getting ready to pop.

The HUGE Camellia bush in the front yard by the neighbor's property.

Pretty spring color.

More pretty spring color, flowering current -- Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Muscari madness

The grass widow (Olsynium douglasii) is almost finished blooming and producing seeds.

While the native Shooting Star (Dodecatheon sp) is coming up.

I'm a little worried about this new Clematis I purchased from Joy Creek Nursery last summer. I'm still waiting with crossed fingers that it will show some signs of life.

Clematis montana 'Marjorie'

Finally, do you ever plant something and wonder what the heck it is? I apparently planted this guy last fall and now I'm completely perplexed as to its identity. Any ideas? 

Mystery plant! Do you know what I am?

Thank you for visiting!

Nursery Jaunt: Garland Nursery

Most of you who read this are not local and therefore not familiar with my local plant shopping gigs. Garland Nursery is about a five minute drive from my home so I visit  here a lot, especially in spring when I'm in plant-shopping mode or just need some inspiration. Last week was my first visit of the season and I wasn't planning to take photos but changed my mind after seeing some really gorgeous (and expensive) pottery. 

The entrance.
There used to be a giant conifer growing right where the yellow-flowered
container is hanging but they had it removed a few years ago. I still miss it.

This Camellia caught my eye. Killer pink thing! I didn't get the name.

I always think of Mindy Northrop when I see Lewisia blooming.

If mine look half this good this year I'll be happy.

Love the Violas

And I think of Loree Bohl when I see an Agave.

I'm still not convinced that I like vertical succulents but this container was sure healthy.

I need another Semp like I need another hole in my head.
But aren't these pretty?

This one is fixing to have a litter.

I was tempted to get another variegated Knautia but
since I don't have good luck with them, I passed.

I kept waiting for a patron to run into the Monkey Puzzle. Ouch! 

This cute little Ilex was ready to be bonsaied.

I'm not a fan of Pieris but when I saw this burgundy-leaved one, I couldn't take my eyes off of it.

Another name that will confuse people. Is it a Katsura or a Pieris? Apparently both.

Spotting these Hesperaloes I was so glad I found them on clearance at Lowe's last fall...for five bucks.

Here's that stupid Saxifrage that I can't keep alive.

Such a sweet miniature meadow of blossoms.

Nope. Not going to buy it.

And of course, pink-flowering strawberry plants are always tempting,
but no.

These Ranunculus are nice to look at.

This white-flowered Dicentra was so elegant.

Why don't the leaves on my Saxifraga 'Maroon Beauty' look this fabulous?

After the harsh winter, all three of my Dieramas look questionable.
I was tempted by these replacement plants.

These Rosemary blossoms made me smile.

Here is the pot that caught my eye and heart.
I didn't even look at the price. I knew it was going to be outrageously costly.

Kudos to the potter who has perfected the process for this fantastic patina.
It's a moody surface with foreboding hints of rust and aged metal, but also of joyful bubbles on the beach.
Or at least that's how I see it.

And it seems to marry well with other pieces...

Other watchful eyes.

Here's another piece with the price tag.

And then I saw this fountain with a similar patina.

Someday I hope to win the lottery.

And of course, every nursery must have its whimsy.
A pink pig anyone?

Or how about a mother and child mountain goat ensemble?

And there was whimsy in small packages.

Apparently fairy gardens are still all the rage.

I'm always drawn to rusty metal so this flower caught my eye.
And the little critter sunning himself.

I was able to get really close. Check out his little hairs.
He couldn't have been more than a half-inch long but he still looks kind of menacing.

While looking things over in one of the hoop houses, I spotted this Annas hummingbird. I didn't know Pelargoniums had nectar. 

Can you see him/her?

I'm not a good photographer and snapped eight or ten photos, hoping for a at least one good one.

So what did I come home with? Here you go:

Clockwise from the top-left, Rhododendron macrosepalum 'Linear', Sidalacea cusickii,
Saxifraga oregana (on sale!), Saponaria 'Bressingham Pink', Delosperma and Gaura.