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.

Sloppy, Soggy, Soupy and Saturated, Part II

Rain. It's just more and more rain. I am reusing a title I first used last March. The deliberate alliteration seems even more apropos this year. 

Before I show a few photos, I have a have to tell you what happened yesterday. 

I was puttering on the patio, when I heard something on the roof. My first thought was cat, but we don't have any outdoor cats anymore. My second thought was squirrel of which there are many. So I tiptoed over to the edge of the patio for a glimpse. As I looked up, I saw--a heron! And when he saw me, he couldn't have flapped his wings any faster. I'm not sure who was more shocked. I certainly didn't expect to see something that ginormous and I don't think he expected to see me interrupt his pond surveillance. Whew!

Plants are really taking their time breaking dormancy but slowly I'm seeing signs of life. The Star Magnolia is awake and blooming. 

Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star'

Looking up during a brief period of blue sky.

Little Violas reseed everywhere. This pale-flowered one is blooming below my dwarf palm.

I bought this little dwarf Salix (willow) it an informal plant sale two years ago. I love how fuzzy the leaves are when it leafs out.

Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina

And check out the fuzzy catkins too.

Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina

The purple and yellow Polygala is now blooming beside its partner in crime, the yellow one.

Polygala chamaebuxus 'Kaminski'

Polygala chamaebuxus 'Kaminski'

I'm really happy to see this 'Morello Cherry' Lupine come back. Last year I passed up the cheaper four-inch pots for this thickly rooted one gallon. What a difference! Look how happy it is. And yes, I've been diligent with the slug bait.

Lupinus x 'Morello Cherry'

Speaking of slugs and slug bait, um yes. 'Britt-Marie Crawford' Ligularia is also being watched closely. 

Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford'

This sweet little Korean Violet was a hitchhiker on my Ledbouria cooperi which pretty much died after the unkind winter of 2013-14. Like the aforementioned Viola, it too reseeds all over the place. But I don't mind. Those tiny, variegated leaves are really cute.

Viola koreana 

Last summer, I got this cute Lychnis offered by Far Reaches Farm. I was able to propagate it. One plant is in the ground, this one stayed in my little greenhouse where it grew and is blooming! 

Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Petite Jenny'

Chionodoxa 

This cute variegated Sedum is also looking good despite the rain.

Sedum ‘Winky’ 

Finally, we noticed a visitor sleeping on the heat mat in the little greenhouse. I'm sure he found some aphids to eat while he was there.