Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The bright spot on an otherwise grey day…50% off all plants!

I am convinced some of life’s happiest discoveries occur when you least expect them. Case in point I was not planning a nursery visit last weekend when I found myself driving right by Larsen Farm Nursery, heck I didn’t even know there was a nursery there! Then to see the "50% off all plants" sign…well you know I stopped… The sale runs through the 25th, so those of you in the Portland/Hillsboro area have got until Sunday to get yourselves out there. So many great plants! Grapes And lots of these things… Hesperaloes And huge lovely Disporum cantoniense 'Green Giant'… What was I most interested in? Well how about a Callistemon tree (C. viminalis 'Red Cascade’) for half off $47.99 (ya, that’s only $24!)… I passed it up, though it was hard to do; I was a little suspect of the zone 8 identified by the hang tag. A choice agave parryi (only $16.50)…omg…it was gorgeous. But I’ve already got 1,2,36,7,8…11 of these! (not all this big) Hedychium ‘Tahitian Flame’ gorgeous, not hardy here. Homalocladium platycladum, Ribbon Bush, or Tapeworm Plant…so exotically odd! (and just plain “exotic” as it’s hardy only to zone 9). They had several wonderful healthy Mahonia including ‘Soft Caress’ and this Mahonia × media‘Charity’ which I did let myself buy (a 5-gallon plant for only $13.50!) The one I had inexplicably died early this summer. For a beauty like this I’m willing to give it another try…

7 comments:

  1. Hi! Great post! I remember going to Larsen Nursery years ago when I lived in the area. I agree that it is kinda hidden and you may drive by several times before you realize there is a nursery there. I loved it for all the different types of shrubs they carried. Makes me want to make a trip to PNW but I can't go again. I already came up this year for the blueberries! Like your choice of Mahonia, should be beautiful!

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  2. Callistemon viminalis is not all that cold hardy... I think you're wise to pass it up! There are many better Callistemon choices for the Northwest.

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  3. I've never heard of that place before...but that first shot makes me think I HAVE to check out those half-price grasses!

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  4. love a good nursery sale. The bottle brush trees are hardy here in our humid zone 8 if that helps any.

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  5. I have coveted a botttle brush also, but like you we have to be careful about our selection. It looks like one of the best for us is 'Clemson Hardy'.

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  6. igardendaily, they certainly do have a lot of shrubs...the whole sale made me wish I had a lot of empty space to plant!

    Ian, thank you...you've confirmed what my bit of research (after the fact) told me.

    scott, yes you do...and get a Mahonia too!

    Darla, I think it's all in what bottle-brush you've got.

    Les, yes! That one has been a superstar for me too. None of mine are as big as the one at Larson's but they've sailed through a couple of winters so hopefully someday they will be.

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  7. The ribbon thing (I refuse to recognize that other name) has been on my want list for ages...but another indoor plant?...I don't think so.

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