Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Bauman Farms goes a little Flora Grubb


Ya’ll know Flora Grubb Gardens right, the ultra-hip nursery in San Francisco? Well on a recent trip to Bauman Farm and Garden in little old Gervais, Oregon (where?) I came face to face with a display that almost looked like it could have been pulled right out of San Francisco. No, not the barn above (with a friendly ghost)...this:

That small rill was running down the center of an outdoor dining table…

While I find the red plates and stemware a little jarringly dark and holiday-themed for this setting, I was able to overlook them in person (for some reason it’s a little more difficult to do in pictures) and just concentrate on the skill and artistry involved in creating the table.

These “honeycomb benches” were selling for $115 each…

And these elevated succulent bowls would look great in my garden!

I have a love/hate relationship with fire in the garden. I think burning wood is highly inconsiderate in an urban setting. I’ve got neighbors who seem to think I want to fall asleep to the aroma of campfire and have nightmares all night about our house burning down. However I understand the draw of the flame, and let’s face it most evenings us Oregonians could use a little warmth outdoors. This rusty propane fueled “fire feature” ($1,140) I do like…

Moving on to explore the nursery…a little Rumex sanguineus seems to have escaped and found its happy place…

A picturesque pair of Honey Crisp...

The big draw of Bauman Farms for me is the succulent collection; there are usually great plants at nice prices. Agave Americana, $15.99

Agave victoriae-reginae 'porcupine,' $12.99

Agave schidigera 'Shira ito no Ohi,' $12.99

I bought my first Agave parryi 'J.C. Raulston' at the Bauman booth at the Yard, Garden & Patio Show a few years back. Tempting to get another…

More succulents…

Gorgeous Dasylirion!

I’m guessing these Agave bracteosa are the same ones from which I selected mine last summer. Only $12.99! (back then…not sure if they’ve upped the price at all).

At first I thought this was a huge Phlebodium pseudoaureum or Blue Fern, but now I’m not so sure, the leaves just don’t seem “right” (no tag that I could see).

At the base of the plant was this freaky business…

And proving that even I can sometimes walk away from a nursery visit empty-handed guess what! I bought nothing…although I’m kind of already regretting not picking up another one of those monster A. bracteosa…

26 comments:

  1. I love that table! I've seen a few on Pinterest that have just one row of succulents down the middle, or a cavity for chilling wine, but I've never sen both a water channel and two rows of succulents. I love it, which I guess is a testament to my tendency to go over the top.

    I'm as amazed as you that I didn't buy anything at Heidi's garden art festival! Although I might end up eventually buying one of those concrete orbs. I didn't like the blue one, I'd prefer a more mottled, sombre color scheme.

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    1. Are you talking about the orb with the hole in it? If so the Outlaw Gardener made his own...and might just give you a few hints on how to do it yourself!

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  2. Going to nursery is fun in itself, it somehow rekindles gardening passion. Purchasing is something else, just an option. The last photo definitely looks very threatening!

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    1. You are so right. It's a mood lifter and inspirational!

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  3. that is extraordinary! they have really beautiful succulent displays from the looks of it. And those agave prices are unheard of. agaves of that size would easily go for $50 up here, maybe even more. That is an amazing looking place. I would not exercise your will power to go away empty handed.

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    1. Oh Louis you so need to come down here and go shopping!

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  4. I remember seeing this nursery featured on local news a few months back...thanks for the reminder to check them out...although, with my limited (ok, non-existant) open space in the garden, any trip to a nursery is an exquisite kind of torture :-( I love the idea of the table...but fire pits are one of the garden trends that baffles me to this day. Just put on a sweater!

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    1. Perhaps it's time to start collection Agaves, you know containers can take up very little space...

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  5. Another great place to visit! Are you sure you're not part of the Oregon Tourist Board? Thanks for another mouthwatering post.

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  6. Oh wow! love, love, love that table. And that fern is gorgeous. Great tour, thanks.

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  7. A rill running in the middle of a table? How unique and love the idea (as long as the water is kept clean of course)! Gorgeous plants and love the elevated succulent bowls!

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    1. Yikes...stinky dirty water is definitely something to avoid right at the table! We'll just assume it was nice and clean.

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  8. Danger G. - Chairperson, Agave + Opuntia Oregon!

    Very nice. What a culture turned on to horticulture, and it never ceases to amaze me. So rare, and you all are really having fun with it - maybe more fun than many places in the SW do with our own plants! I like how proud they are to put agaves, dasylirions center stage...and that huge urn...wow!

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    1. Again you remind me how lucky I am to live here in Oregon. Visiting this nursery and driving through prime Willamette Valley growing lands is such a lovely outing!

      (I think Sean is the Chairperson, I settle for being his Assistant)

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  9. Total. Eye. Candy! I love the third photo of that urn with the Agave and Angelina Sedum frothing about. And those elevated succulent bowls, wowzers! This is one of the places Mark at Fry Road suggested we visit when Carol and I visited with him the other day. Thanks for the tour!

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    1. You haven't been Grace? Oh you really do need to go!

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  10. I guess they thought the red plates and glasses matched the reds in the Sempervivums, but they don't quite, do they? The turquoise color of the urn on the side might have been a better color. Or yellow...not that I know anything about design or colors.

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    1. Actually I really like both of your ideas Hoov!

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  11. WOW! Hot stuff--I've got to get out there. Portland, stop being such a wonderland of plants!

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    1. Oh don't complain...just admit your bank account will never be the same!

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  12. Hello everyone, Brian Bauman here, thanks for all the great comments! Okay so the plates I stole from my Mom's House (see loves red fiesta wear) and probably should get new ones but I just thought the table needed set.

    The fern is a blue star fern. One of our absolute favorites! Makes a great indoor plant or awesome summer outdoor basket.

    I have been collecting succulents for years and can't help myself. Last winter I made a trip to Annie's Annuals and found a whole new supple of awesome plants, which we will be having available soon.

    On the same trip I got inspired at Flora Grubb, how did you know??

    Thanks again for all the nice comments.

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    1. Nancy BaldwinAugust 06, 2012

      Ah but the red plates were gorgeous! I'm always thinking this is America and red, white, or blue are always a hit no matter what the season I love them! I have never come home from Bauman's empty handed.The plants are the best in the NW!
      See y'all soon.

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    2. Hi Brian, thanks for commenting! I agree red plates are better than no plates and really in person it didn't even occur to me, it was only later when looking at the photos and I almost couldn't see the plants for the plates.

      Please don't stop collecting succulents, you've got a great affordable collection. And new plants from Annie's...yay!

      Nancy, I agree it was hard to leave without buying anything...and it was only because I've bought so much from them in the past I guess that I was able to leave without pulling out my wallet.

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  13. Hey hey all, Annie Kirk of Red Bird Restorative Gardens checking in. Thank you Danger Garden for this feature on our "Farm AT Table" display.

    As the designer and creator of the garden display space and its table, fire, benches, it is wonderful to read the comments (and frank) feedback.
    Yep! A rill to chill bevies and evocative of the irrigation trenches roadside.
    Yep! Honeycomb benches inspired by the apiaries one sees out in the fields ('cause we need our bees!).
    Yep! A "Fire Box" like grandma and grandpa Kirk used on the farm.
    Yep! A table of ordinary parts and pieces carefully constructed so that you (yes, you) might harvest right to your plate or drink in plant delights (as well as garden at an ADA accessible table).

    My design and outreach work re: restorative gardens & power of plants is trial by... fire and I'm delighted to read of the response. Thank you. In collaborating with Baumans and Autumn Leaf Landscaping (contractor), I had hoped to allow everyday materials to sing, plants to shine, senses to be stirred, and bring y'all 'round the table. Hope you enjoy.

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