The most recent stop on my 2010 Unemployed Portland Area Nursery Tour was The Gardener’s Choice in Tigard, OR.
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I hadn’t heard of this nursery until my former coworker, and graphic designer friend, Andrea mentioned it. Then in a comment on a recent post
Jared mentioned it was a great source for containers. Since I was going right by it in-route on an errand I decided to check it out.
Jared was right. This place has containers, lots and lots of containers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGqyOiIwfOP619RqEYPUvoWlzNb7W90yJ_HYLvVh9bFDz1JNvncqSAx8pLMvigqHtC-Jj0hMHSmxVUqz1cqwbSfMAM5rB-sIxwcfF2FjUoyeFc1G7CDa13_AO-yx0ef2lEY9NLzgK2X6P/s280/The+Gardeners+containers+1.jpg)
Every color, shape, size and material that you can imagine.
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They also had…
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Including this miniature Hosta venusta.
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And lots of pansies, violas and dusty miller.
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Now it’s true I did post about a particular
dusty miller that caught my eye last fall. But I quickly came to my senses and reverted to NOT liking dusty miller and I’ve never understood the appeal of pansies or violas. At least not in the garden, maybe as a spring lapel decoration on a 7-year old girl but that’s it.
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The large leaves and deep color on this Verbascum Pandora tempted me.
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They had a great selection of interesting groundcovers, like this Sedum confusum. Is that a great name or what?
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When I was just about ready to leave empty handed I saw this beacon of hope peaking out from under the tent covering…my people! The spiky ones…
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They had a small well edited selection.
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With handsome Squid Agaves…
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And a couple of fine little specimens that needed to join my collection.
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When I took my agave purchases to the cash register the clerk exclaimed “you’re buying my dangerous plants!”….yes ma’m the name’s danger garden and that’s what I do….I buy the dangerous plants and I leave the pansies to, well, the pansies…
Cute, Loree. I think you need to keep that "Watch Out..." sign and use it somewhere on your blog. It's so perfect. You don't like Dusty Miller? What's wrong with you? Kidding. I can't stand the stuff either. I think you and I are in the minority. I'm not into pansies either. The other day I found a cool planter at a garage sale, complete with pansies, like this was supposed to be a selling point. I'll be yanking them out but dare not tell anybody. I like Violas because they seed around. I usually dig them up and replant them in a container. Anyway, I'm sure you've read way more than you wanted to. ....
ReplyDeleteOh, the spiky people must stick (ha) together! You are a small but growing club. I will cop to liking pansies, I think it is their texture and fragrance more than their look. Plus, they re-sow so I never need to plant them anymore. But I agree on dusty miller, ugh.
ReplyDeleteWell I love pansies ;-) And they're actually quite tough - even blooming under the snow. But your agaves and such are growing on me as well. Looks like a fun nursery - what a great selection of pots.
ReplyDeleteIs it wishing for too much that their agaves are inexpensive? I suppose you would have mentioned it if they were. Remember a few years ago when there was not an agave to be found, or maybe a single gallon pot for $100 bucks? Now here I am hoping for bargains - I'm an ingrate.
ReplyDeleteJust look at the containers, so many to choose from and they are perfect and beautiful! ~bangchik
ReplyDeleteI love your humor! Great post. Looks like a wonderful place to shop!
ReplyDeleteI bought some of my first trees and shrubs at Gardener's Choice. Didn't have any idea what I was doing. They were very nice, though the Sango Kaku delivered wasn't the one I'd selected--and I've always pined for my original choice. (Some unfortunate watering issue on their end.) I don't remember if they had exotics back then. Of course, I wouldn't have known agave from sedum.
ReplyDeleteGrace, I just found a cute pair of swim goggles at my nephews...I tried to get him to put them on so I could take a picture, explaining the whole sharp plant thing to him. At 3.5 yrs he just didn't get it.
ReplyDeleteKaren, very funny...
VW, I bought my mom (in Spokane) a couple of cold hardy agaves for mothers day last year...they didn't make it. Are you considering the purchase???
Megan, yep. Ingrate.
Bangchik...there really were SO MANY!
Laura, thanks...it was a fun visit.
Patricia, they pulled a switch-a-roo on you!? That's horrible!
I love garden centres, and I love those stone looking pots - would suit succulents very well.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, Loree ... those pebbled, concrete-looking squarish containers are so great ... at least a few of them would've ended up in the Element!
ReplyDelete