Monday, June 6, 2011

Blue sky and carefully curated plants, at Pomarius

Saturday’s warm sun and blue sky combination was the perfect backdrop for a visit to Pomarius in NW Portland. Pomarius is a nursery unlike any other in Portland. Its setting in an industrial area, (nearly) under the Fremont Bridge, is not where you expect to find topiary and chickens along with a carefully curated collection of beautiful plants. A lot has changed since my first visit two years ago. There are more small plants for sale (the first visit I saw primarily large specimens). And now things are very well tagged with name and price, no cultural information though. Looks like the makings of a greenhouse? That appeared to be glass in the crates. Wandering around the (almost) deserted nursery was perfect, as invigorating as a mini vacation. On my way home I drove by Garden Fever, “my” neighborhood nursery in NE Portland. As you would expect on a day that virtually screamed “plant your tomatoes today!” they were very busy…which a very good thing (I want them to thrive after all), but I felt fortunate to have spent my afternoon at Pomarius, a little bit of paradise in downtown Portland.

13 comments:

  1. Great nursery. i love the sign on the agave, although I am not sure that "poky garden" has the same ring as danger garden!

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  2. Absolutely no reason for me to have a greenhouse, but that doesn't stop me wanting one in the worst way. What a great nursery.

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  3. I liked Pomarius' style and quiet before and the changes you note make it that much more compelling. I see I need to find a reason to go to Northwest Portland - wait, that's reason enough!

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  4. What a fun, eye-candy nursery. The blue sky helps too, doesn't it? I love that it's situated in an area of town that probably can really use a little nature infusion.

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  5. Looks like a fun place. I like that they have the plants arranged in such attractive displays.

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  6. Love that place! Definitely time for another visit.

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  7. At least I know where to go, if I'm in the Portland area.

    I really liked that plant that was spiral next to that small plant. Do you know if it grows that way on it's own or somebody has to trim it that way?

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  8. Pomarius IS a great nursery...funny, it was almost deserted when I was last there too! It nice to find a nursery with large plants to sell...ultra landscape ready!

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  9. For some strange reason, I've never gone to Pomarius before...I need to make a point of it soon :-)

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  10. My kind of Nursery Loree, perfect mix of lush plants with arid ones! I still gravitate towards Cercidiphyllum and Mahonias even if they're not that rare. And of course the Yuccas, such an architectural group of plants :)

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  11. Spiky O, so true. If I had the "poky garden" it would sound not so dangerous but rather kind of slow...like I spent my days just poking around.

    Denise, I've probably shared this before but it's my dream to buy the neighbors house to the south of us, rent out the house and annex their backyard for a greenhouse. It would look just like this one!

    MulchMaid, get yourself there!

    Grace, yes the blue sky definitely sets the tone. Although with all the rusted metal and brick buildings nearby I bet it would be a pretty cool place on a grey day too.

    College G, their displays create a desire (at least in me to take home multiple plants, in order to recreate them for myself.

    ricki, just don't buy that fern I'm going back for ok?

    zz, looks like a topiary trim job to me. Last time I was there someone was working away snipping at several plants turning them into fantastical shapes.

    Lauren, true...now if I could just afford them!

    scott, you really do! With your camera and skills I look forward to a beautiful post.

    Mark and Gaz, it took quite a bit of will power to leave those fabulous Yucca behind. They were just amazing!

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  12. Green-roofed chicken coop: fun!

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  13. - Danger -

    Okay. I figured they didn't grow that way. But that would have been really neat if they did.

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