Friday, February 8, 2013

More from Cistus…

Yesterday I shared my newest yucca obsession and a couple photos taken at Cistus Nursery. You didn't think I’d visit this slice of horticultural heaven and come home with only a couple of photos did you? No, of course not! Won't you join me as we stroll around the nursery?

They've been busy doing some winter down-time clean up. Paths that had been semi hidden were very visible, just begging to be explored.

And the overcast skies along with a bit of moisture made the bright greens and browns pop!

Anyone care to make a prediction how much longer I'm in the "don't care for epimediums" camp? (no my resolve isn't slipping, except for that ultra sexy Epimedium wushanense I saw at last years HPSO plant sale).

I do love (LOVE) these striped and spotted Aspidistra!

Beautiful!

The plain ol' just spotted ones are pretty sweet too.

I tried to get a picture with the red filaments on this Mahonia...

In front of this striking red container. Impossible unless I wanted to lay face-down on the path and slightly contort my body, I did not.

Inside the big-top...

Dudleya cymosa...yes I bought the one on the left. Yes I already have one..but these look different!

Looks like a little vino might be consumed after hours?

What's that!? Beaucarnea 'Gold Star'...

"Closely related to agaves and yuccas -- and not a palm at all -- this woody lily was discovered as a plant mutation of B. recurvata in The Netherlands in 1996. To 4-6 ft tall and wide eventually, the narrow green leaves margined in creamy yellow with red tinges surrounding a stem that arises from a swollen base. Needs good light -- full sun outdoors or bright light inside and infrequent but deep watering. Frost hardy to 25F, USDA zone 9b, but fine in containers that spend time in full sun outdoors."

Citrus x meyeri 'Improved Meyer'...with a lemon as large as the container!

Time to head back outside...where it's always a bit of a shock this time of year to see the nursery so empty.

Fear not, there are plenty of plants tucked safely inside the pavilions. I was very tempted by this Olearia paniculata...

The leaves stay just as gorgeous when it's larger.

I do believe I take this same photo every-time I visit in the "off season"...all those gorgeous Mahonia are hidden by other equally gorgeous plants the rest of the year.

Osmanthus 'Jim Porter'...spiky!

Great color!

Hey what's that I spy behind the fence with the bamboo? It's a lovely Schefflera....

A little climber trying to "blend" with the metal...

I wonder what's waiting for us inside?

Another wonderful Mahonia gracilipes. Mine does not look this good!

Mahonia fortunei 'Curlyque'...

And Pittosporum illicioides 'Strappy'

I love this plant and rarely take photos of mine, it's kind of hidden. Maybe I should move it!

*sigh*...Magnolia laevifolia 'Snowbird'

I swoon every-time I see one of these. My tiny tiny plant hasn't hardly grown at all (my fault for placement) and it's only got a couple of small buds. Do you hear the rationalization? Yes...I did it, this one's mine.

A new way to plant up your stock tanks!

Opuntia polyacantha 'Peter Pan' in the center. On the left I believe is a Yucca schottii...

Twisty sexy agaves!

Agave americana 'Yellow Ribbons'

What do I spy against the back wall?

Yep! Blue Atlas Cedar!

Columnar! Sweet...


I never tire of this scene, it's so welcoming.

Lupinus arboreus I believe?

Walking back down the driveway entrance to head back inside and pay for our purchases...

My friend Bridget spied these tucked away off the path...

More cute little Schefflera, which I've missed seeing in the past.

About to flower quince with fruit.

Here's a little color repetition for you...

And finally, our visit is over...until next time!

36 comments:

  1. You're killing me with these ones! I want to be there. I want to list after those gorgeous plants in the flesh!!!! But seriously, that double headed rostrata ... Epic! I was actually zooming in on certain pics in way to pretend I was able to check out everything on the table.

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    1. Just think of it as an appetizer for your future visit!

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  2. Nice tour for those of us who only get packages from that great nursery. I didn't know there was a columnar version of blue atlas cedar! Must check into that... Thanks Loree!

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    1. I didn't know either Alan...pretty cool eh?

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  3. What a cool place. Love the agave pups poking out the bottom of their mommy's pot!

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    1. Oh me too! They are hard to save when they start doing that but with a little skill and a sharp knife I can usually cut down the side of the container and free the little guy.

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  4. Oh, I want that Osmanthus 'Jim Porter'! Can't wait for spring!

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    1. That makes two of us. Winter's over right?

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  5. It's your happy place...along with quite a few other nurseries! The columnar Blue Atlas Cedar is VERY compelling - I'm wondering where I could find six feet of garden for it to go....

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    1. I have faith in you Jane...you can do it!

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  6. Those corks are cracking me up. I was just wondering what to do with my humongous stash . . .

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    1. If you run out of agaves at your house maybe you could take the left overs out to Cistus?

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  7. I've lusted after Beaucarnea 'Gold Star' since I first saw one in a huge pot that was much too expensive for my wallet. I see some smaller ones in your picture and I think it's time to try Oleria paniculata again. I've only killed it twice (PKW to blame for one.) Ian says the secret to their survival here is sharp drainage and lean soil. I feel the need to travel highway 30 again sometime in the first week of April!

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    1. Uhm...first week of April huh? Like perhaps the same weekend of the HPSO plant sale (13/14)? Do it!

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  8. Hmmmm, nursery heaven!

    Thanks for sharing those Loree.

    I like Epimedium and have a few of them in my garden, but none of them have the red veining like that Epimedium wushanense, very cool :8

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    1. I just don't know what it is about those plants...they do nothing for me! (the empimedium)

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  9. What a great tour around Cistus! You are even worse a plant nerd than me: not one picture of Sean's shining face, or Nathan's, or his young and delightful staff? Just all those lush plants that look so lustrous and happy in your cloudy skies while we're sun drenched and winter scalded here on our god-forsaken steppe...oh well.

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    1. A worse plant nerd than you?! That's kinda hard to believe!

      Sadly we picked a day to visit when Sean was out of town, and unfortunately Nathan is no longer a fixture at the nursery. I miss him there terribly!

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  10. Great plants and tour but the thing that caught my attention is the fence. We inherited wire fence panels with the house and I've been looking for ideas on installing it. Thanks for showing all that detail along with the plants!

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    1. You are oh so welcome. When I went over to investigate the Schefflera I spent a little time staring at the fence too, it's well done!

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  11. Cistus looks great even at this time of the year. Would love to visit this nursery someday, soon hopefully!

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  12. that red jar was stunning...Osmanthus...tea...reminds me of southern China...wish i could smell it....

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    1. I love that jar too, it makes such a punctuation statement.

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  13. Heading down to Cistus & the garden show tomorrow...I am so not going to be able to sleep tonight!!!!

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    1. Well that way you can get on the road early and be there at opening! There's a great line up of speakers at the show today, but you probably already know that. Enjoy!

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  14. The second set of Schefflera pictures caught my attention. Did you happen to get their name. I see in the second of that series of pictures a plant label at the base of the plant. It is one of the double whorled leaflet Schefflera like hoi or S. hoi ssp fansipanensis. There are many more of these types. Several years ago at a plant sale Sean and I were talking about Schefflera and he said he has all the Schefflera or most of them that Crug Farms in England has. These pictures confirm that he has at least more than just S. delavayi and S. taiwaniana. I hope he offers them in the Cistus catalog soon, before I'm too old to garden, LOL.
    John (Aberdeen, Wa)

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    1. I did go off path and pull out that tag (don't tell Sean)...all it said was Schefflera sp. not terribly helpful. I too hope for a wider offering. Then again I have no idea where I'd put them!

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  15. Loree:
    Methinks you need to reconsider Epimedium. If you've got shade, you've got room for them. They are super hardy. have stunning often wine infused foliage in the Spring and flowers that range from white to yellow, pink, orange, brown.... like a rainbow I tell you! Lets put it this way, due to your influence I have an Agave..... need I say more? I'll be keeping a close eye....

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    1. Barry...I'll take your recommendation under careful consideration. You are not alone in your feelings, some of my favorite gardeners also see the charms of this plant. To be continued...

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  16. I'm still with you on Epimedium. The flowers just aren't showy enough and the foliage is frequently only slightly exciting. I know some have cool leaves but the ones I can grow here...blah. I always hear "oh they're such a great dry shade groundcover" Bull. They're so slow growing it makes me want to rip my eyes out. Even if the wild gingers aren't tragically exciting at least they grow fast in the same conditions.

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    1. Oh please don't rip your eyes out! That would make it nearly impossible to garden, or blog! But thank you...it's good to know I'm not alone on this one.

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  17. very nice!
    Do you know the name of these fabulous striped and spotted Aspidistra

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    1. I think it might be this one: http://plantlust.com/plants/aspidistra-elatior-stars-and-stripes/ or this one: http://plantlust.com/plants/aspidistra-typica-old-glory/

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  18. I keep trying to get Richard to build us one of those pavilions, but so far no luck. You keep me from having to bop on over to Cistus quite so often.

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    1. Oh no! I don't want to do that. You should bop on down there every week beings as you're so close!

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