Thursday, June 28, 2012

Coming face to face with the enemy…

I never thought I would see this

…in a nursery, but I did! Last Sunday in Seattle, at one of my old favorites, City Peoples Garden Store (I’ve blogged about them here, here, and here). I briefly entertained the idea of buying them all and then staging some dramatic protest in the parking lot. But then I figured there are probably more where those came from (after all we all know what a prolific plant this is!). And besides, really who am I to tell others what they can plant in their garden? I just hope I won’t ever be gardening where they’ve gardened. At least they did have a perfectly lovely sign warning of the danger…

And speaking of danger…

Next to those dangerous Yuccas was a whole bunch of small Nolina nelsonii…

Ever since reading about them (and seeing the picture!) on Linda Cochran’s blog I’ve been wanting one. Of course this poor little guy is tiny. Maybe in 30 years it will look like hers.

14 comments:

  1. Yikes... I think a bishops weed ceremonial burning in the parking lot would have been amazing! You might even make the news! "Customers at local nursery burn plants in protest, sources say she goes by danger!" At least they have an informative sign. I loove the nolina nelsonii.

    Funny story about those yuccas... I had a friend come to look at the garden the other day, and she got right into the plants and POKE right in the eye from a yucca gloriosa variegata. All was fine but that nursery picture kind of makes me chuckle now. It's true.

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    1. Now you're making me wish I would have done it, ya really think the news might have shown up? Oh but the pride parade was going on downtown that same day so they probably had their mobile units all parked along the route and they wouldn't have wanted to move just to come see the likes of me.

      I have to admit when I see a sign like that (the yucca one) I kind of laugh, but then again those signs usually go up after there has been an incident, so I suppose I shouldn't.

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  2. Kudos to the nursery for their honest signage. Refreshing.

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    1. Agreed. Reminds me of the time I saw a sign warning that certain plants were not hardy here outside through the winter. Nice when they assume the customer might not know!

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  3. That is nice to see they had proper signage which saved you having to stage a protest.

    The eye poking sign is something useful we never see around here. I do always have the staff cart spiky plants to the front for me.

    The nolina nelsonii tag is amusing because it says "rare and unusual plants". That's a common one here just north of its native territory. We do have some nolina native to this area that I've been collecting.

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    1. It is interesting what is "rare and unusual" in one place is common in another. I think that label is used a little too often thinking it might encourage purchasing.

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  4. What's worse than visiting a nursery with an annoying plethora of Bishop's Weed for sale, is seeing it for sale without the caveat emptor. At least this nursery had integrity. On the Albany garden tour a few weeks ago, a garden had two nice pots of BW. They looked wonderful.

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    1. I toured a friends garden on the way up to Seattle (pictures coming next week) and he has a nice little patch of it growing...and it looked fabulous! Of course it's competing with the bamboo so that helps keep it in check.

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  5. I guess any ground cover that really covers ground is in danger of falling into this category. I have done battle with a number of plants (common day lily and evil water iris for two) that most people would consider perfectly harmless. Given your recent experience with the plant in question, I think you could have been forgiven almost any form of over-reaction. We will bail you out if you land in the slammer.

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    1. Now that's a real friend! Thank you Ricki, hopefully I'll never have to take you up on that offer.

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  6. Interesting to see the Nolina also called Bear Grass. I'm more familiar with the native bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax) found at elevation in sunny clearings in Oregon. It has a gorgeous flower, too. But apparently it's in a different family entirely.

    Instead of the Bishops Weed, people should grow that nice purple ajuga I see next to it in your pic!

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    1. Aren't common names fun that way?

      I overheard a conversation between a shopper and an employee at Portland Nursery the other day. Her question... "Do you have that Moses plant?"...he politely replied "I don't know a plant by that name, do you know it's botanical name, or can you describe it"...

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  7. that is just so wrong...and yet, I've seen it for sale at PDX Nursery on numerous occasions. Then again, they also sell scouring rush...which is just as bad (at least they have a warning on that one)!

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    1. Wow I really wouldn't expect to see it there, I heard tell of employees freaking out when a gardener brought a sample in to be identified!

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