Thursday, March 1, 2012
Nurseries of Flagstaff and Prescott, Arizona
I still have so many photos to share from our October trip to the desert Southwest, knowing this I seriously considered not posting pictures I took at these four nursery visits. But I love to visit nurseries in other cities; it helps me round out my idea of what the gardening climate is like there. Sometimes it makes me even more appreciative of what I’ve got at home, sometimes just the opposite. In case you enjoy it too I decided to go ahead and post them.
We start in Flagstaff, Arizona at Warner’s Nursery, and it’s not what you typically think of when you think of Arizona gardening. With all of its tall conifers Flagstaff looks a lot like Eastern Washington, where I grew up, it’s a USDA Hardiness zone 6a (-5 to -10 degrees F, yikes!). When I pulled up in front of the nursery I was blown away by the traffic. Their parking lot was full; I ended up parking on a side street and walking back to the nursery. For an excited moment or two I thought I’d discovered the center of the gardening world…then I realized it was simply a good old fashioned Fall festival complete with a petting zoo, kids in costume, mums and pumpkins.
Most of the outdoor plants were on sale.
There was a small indoor succulent section, even smaller than what I typically find here in Portland.
Onward to Flagstaff Native Plant and Seed…this was a completely different shopping experience. Much calmer, much less “Fall” color and more natural Fall beauty.
Obviously a more specialized destination.
Dasylirion wheeleri
Cerococarpus intricatus, Little Leaf Mahogany
Cerocarpus ledifolius, Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany
Yucca baccata
That’s a huge rain barrel!
I really liked this place and wish I would have been visiting at the height of the season, rather than at the end.
This concludes the Flagstaff portion of our visit…
On to Prescott, AZ…or as they want to be known…
Strolling Cortez Street waiting for our take-out Thai I happened upon this happy window.
The fabulous curly cactus had this tiny black bloom…
Mortimer Nursery
I’d never head of Winter Fat (the plant) before this!
Pretty…
(sort of)
I’m not sure who disturbed who, I jumped and he hopped.
Freeze thaw damage already? Or perhaps just an accident?
On to Watters Garden Center…(still in Prescott)...
Where they were promising me I’d love to shop!
Bamboo Muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa)
Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaries)
False Red Agave (Beschorneria septentrionalis)
They must have had difficulty with overzealous nursery staff?
Soft Leaf Yucca (Yucca recurvifolia)
Aren’t the seeds of the Crocosmia beautiful? A much better Fall accent than Mums, in my opinion.
Okay I think that's it for overtly "Fall" nursery vacation images, from here-on-out it's all sunny desert all the time! I hope you enjoyed your quick four nursery tour.
HOLY pictures! You have a lot of great shots of cacti and other desert friendly plants.....isn't Flagstaff perfection in October?!
ReplyDeleteActually the night/day we were there was the big NAU football rivalry game. We couldn't get near the campus, traffic was a nightmare, the restaurants were packed and we were warned that the bars turn into complete chaos after midnight and to stay away. So to be honest...it wasn't all that for us!
DeleteAs far as I'm concerned, you can post photos of nursery visits all day long. I will never get tired of them because like you, I'm always looking for the next nursery to check out :-)
ReplyDeleteYay! Thanks Gerhard, there are a few more to die for nurseries in the queue...
DeleteBefore I forget to ask, do you know what the plant with the dark seed heads was? I absolutely LOVE Pink Muhly Grass…stunning in the fall and even holds those blooms during winter until cut down in spring. Unfortunately, its one grass that is utterly boring otherwise…super-drab foliage. You are right about that Winter Fat plant…one can only hope it's messy habit is due to being grown in a pot and it would have better form once planted…one can hope.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I wish I did. It was growing out by the sign along the street. By the time I saw an employee I had forgotten about it, until I looked at my pictures and then wished I had remembered to ask.
DeleteGood to know about the Pink Muhly grass, I've thought about growing it...but I've been afraid it would get so big and unruly!
That's an interesting and informative way for a gardener to tour a city. I'll have to try that next trip. The first one could be almost anywhere, the last one has great plants for their region.
ReplyDeleteGood shot of the jackrabbit too.
I wish I could have toured a couple of nurseries when we were in Italy. Maybe next time...
DeleteSame here Loree, we love visiting nurseries from various parts of the country. Serious plantaholics here! Thanks for sharing your visit, some superb plants. And it made me smile seeing all those pumpkins at this time of the year :)
ReplyDeleteI know! Isn't it crazy to have your seasons moved around on you like that?
DeleteAn interesting series of contrasts, nursery-wise. I loved the complete plant information on the signs at Mortimer Nursery...it's so rare. I would have been desperate to take so many of the plants home...no doubt you were scheming how to, yourself!
ReplyDeleteWinterfat is native as far north as Eastern Washington. I was sort of looking for it our Chelan trip but did not encounter it. I think it would be a great ornamental in the Northwest with really good drainage.
ReplyDeleteNo, no, no...never hold back. We love these photographic tours of places we will probably never see in person.
ReplyDelete(glad I accidentally found this post, since I missed it originally) Nice to see those nurseries carrying more SW-region and arid plants...many there used to be about Denver plants, say in the mid-90's. I like how some are similar to NM - they sell for locals, plus people from places 3000' different and much different temperatures who shop in town, to bring back the spiky goods to their homes. Your husband was probably glad you weren't driving a cargo van around!
ReplyDeleteGreat info. Planning a trip from michigan and will definitely check out the nursery in Flagstaff. Thanks! Glad i stumbled across your post.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing what a professional photographer can do. Well done:) K
ReplyDeleteHa! You're too kind Ken. I am nothing but an amateur with a point and shoot camera!
DeleteYou should check out The Native Garden in Prescott, AZ!
ReplyDeleteNext time I'm there I will - thanks for the tip!
DeleteThat Winterfat plant in the photo, it is a female plant, and the cool white fuzzy parts are seeds. Male winterfat causes allergies, but the female plants are allergy-fighting and they shed no pollen, and trap and remove airborne pollen. They're also neat looking, different, winter hardy, and totally drought tolerant. If you find some like this one, buy 'em!
ReplyDeleteLook for my new book, just published yesterday! The Allergy-Fighting Garden, from Ten Speed Press and Random House.