Monday, March 11, 2013

Plant Nerds Unite!

I finally experienced Plant Nerd Night. What is Nerd Night you ask? Well it’s hard to explain. People wait in line like they do for the day after Thanksgiving sales. These pictures were taken when I arrived at 5:30; the doors open at 6 pm. I heard the lines start forming at about 4...

And nursery tables covered with plants are mobbed like 99 cent sock bins at Walmart. This was the Cistus table. People were 3 or 4 deep; cash was practically being thrown at the group working the table.

The nursery owners themselves are treated like rock stars. In fact they even sang, up on stage, like real rock stars, sort of. Notice Sue and Kelley's (Far Reaches Farm) dog Callie (in front of Sue, on the far left), she's singing too!

This was the 12th Annual Nerd Night. Hosted by Mike Darcy (that’s him above in the blue shirt) and KXL101, the station that hosts his radio program. The event starts with an hour of plant shopping, followed by 12 minute presentations from the 6 invited nurseries (Cistus, Dancing Oaks, Far Reaches, Gossler Farms, Northwest Garden Nursery and Rare Plant Research this year). There was intermission entertainment with a dog fashion show (dogs and nurseries seem to go hand in hand) and even several plant give-a-ways. Because of the extreme crowds I only got a couple of plant photos, this Yucca rostrata was snapped up fast by my friend JJ.

I was eyeing these Dyckia from Rare Plant, but I held off on purchasing since I plan to visit their open house in May.

Podophyllum on the Gossler Farms table…

I really didn't intend to buy anything but got stuck in the crowd at the Gossler table staring at this Rhododendron sinogrande long enough that we bonded. I couldn't just leave it behind!

I read an estimate that 600 people attend Nerd Night, that’s a lot of plant crazed people in one room.

Free stuff!

The first nursery to present was Far Reaches, Kelley and Sue do a great stand up act.

In addition to several images of their pooches…

They featured many drool worthy plants like this Pyrrosia sheareri…

The really beautiful image was the next one up on the screen (which I didn’t get) that showed the underside of the leaves. It’s on their website though, right here. I also lusted after this Lobelia which I believe they said is L. excels.

For me the highlight of Burl Mostul’s (Rare Plant Research) talk was his account of buying a few mature olive trees in California and hauling them up to Oregon. I missed the photo of the olive hauling semi-truck but got this one of a tree being planted. Instant history!

This gorgeous magnolia (maybe M. sieboldii?) was part of Roger Gosslers presentation.

Fred Weisensee from Dancing Oaks was the next up…

He wowed with photos of Alstroemeria isabellana.

And Ugni molinae ‘Flambeau’ (along with many others)...

Marietta O'Byrne from Northwest Garden Nursery shared photos from her and Ernie’s garden, proving it’s not just about hellebores for them. Arisaema consanguineum…

A gorgeous group of Podophyllums…

And yes, there were a few of these too. Helleborus Amethyst Gem.

Finishing up the show was Sean Hogan from Cistus.

Some of his featured plants...Yucca schottii

Agave neomexicana, which by the way is having another fabulous year in my garden. Unfortunately mine aren’t quite this size yet (not even close).

And Schefflera delavayi...

Even better a couple of lucky nerds got to take home their very own S. delavayi when Sean gave a pair of them away. It was a good night for the plant nerds in Portland. I can't believe I bought a Rhododendron.

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

23 comments:

  1. Hortopia? Sounds like a fun night but maybe a little crowded. Traveling to all of these places to check out their plants when one is not in the way of a crowd of crazed plant geeks might be a little less stressful but the entertainment looks amazing!

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    1. The crowds are why I'd stayed away in the past. This year I thought "what the heck" and really went for the experience more than to see/buy any plants. I don't like the feeling of making a purchase decision under pressure, besides with the exception of Far Reaches they are all relatively local nurseries I can visit another time. And even Far Reaches will be back for the spring. HPSO plant sale!

      But yes, it was a fun night!

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  2. The plant part of this is very tempting, but I'm with Peter, your description of too many people crowding around and getting snatchy is already making me claustrophobic. I probably would have bought that Rhodie too, if I didn't end up cowering under the table. That picture of the Podophyllums is impressive.

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    1. People crowding yes but snatchy not so much, I thought everyone was very polite. Oh and you couldn't have cowered, there was plants under the tables too!

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  3. Wow, this event looks so much fun Loree! You can almost feel the heart palpitation and excitement of those who attended, scrambling their way to the front of the stalls getting their hands on some of the gorgeous plants available for sale. Mind you we would do the same if we attended!

    I feel like plant shopping now, wish we had such an event here. It really does look so much fun. As for the Rhodendron, I think big leafed types like the sinogrande are still very much underused and underrated in most exotic style gardens. Well done on getting one, and welcome to the club :)

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    1. I'm so glad you could feel the excitement via the computer screen, maybe you guys could organize your own version there?

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  4. Sinogrande is a gateway plant...welcome to
    Rhodyland.

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    1. Yikes! But they get so BIG! I am charmed by the ones with the cinnamon indumentum, but that's it!

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  5. It was my first PNN too, and it was fun in a crazy, crowded way. I was amazed I found a seat with all the experienced PNNers grabbing them up so quickly! I missed the name of Roger Gossler's gorgeous magnolia too. Among several other choice items (red oxalis, a sweet fern and Abutilon vitifolium 'Tennant's White'), I came home with one of those pretty silver Dyckia hybrids in your shot of Rare Plant Research's offerings. And I won a sizable Clematis cartmanii 'Early Sensation'! Woo Hoo!

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    1. I was oblivious to the need for grabbing a seat and just staring at the people and the plants, thankfully one of the folks I'd been chatting with in line saw me and asked if I'd gotten a seat "there's free stuff on the chairs, better nab one!"...

      Wow Jane I am impressed you came home with so many plants!

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  6. Loree-
    Its nice to see the O'Byrne's branching out - Arisaema 'Perfect Wave' IS a delight in the garden - snatch one up if you get the chance, and I am rather besotted with the Podophyllum 'Red Panda.' Quite smashing the pair!

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    1. Indeed, I will be on the look out for both. Have you ever met the O'Byrnes? Marietta spoke at a Hardy Plant Society meeting last year and she just cracked me up. I'd forgotten how wonderful she is until she started speaking on Friday. Such a love of life, and plants!

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  7. I would have loved to be there. Was it in Portland? How did you hear about it? Do you need a membership?

    I have got to get me some of those amazing Podophyllums.
    By the way, I grow Arisaema 'The Perfect Wave' and it is magnificent. It always sets seeds, but I've never seen any seedlings. I did pull some pups off last year though to take my plant count from one to four.

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    1. Yep in Portland, or well actually Lake Oswego. No membership, although it is heavily promoted in the Hardy Plant Society newsletters. Maybe try watching this page (http://www.kxl.com/pages/in_the_garden) next year for details.

      Good to know about your experience with Arisaema 'The Perfect Wave,' do you recall where you bought it?

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    2. It got it from Seneca Hill Perennials, mail order. They had some great plants, but closed there doors a few years ago.

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  8. This is the type of event that could only be pulled off in certain geographical locations...The PNW is a no-brainer !

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    1. Agreed, I hear Seattle started their own version last year.

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  9. I'm green with envy...thanks for sharing the pictures and stories. I always tell myself that I'm going to go and then I forget. Time to write it in my calendar. I'm surprised by your rhododendron purchase too. But, it's a beautiful choice.

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    1. I'll try and remember to put it on my events page (http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/p/gardening-events-around-pnw.html) next year when I hear about it. And I'm glad to hear you're surprised by my purchase too!

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  10. I swear, just yesterday before I read your post I was googling Alstroe isabellana. No signs of life from mine. The regular alstroes always have some leaves showing year-round, and the isabellana is described as deciduous, so hope remains.

    The event sounds like the rock concert of plant sales. I'd go!

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    1. Rock concert indeed! Although don't crowds get to you? (I"m trying not to worry about my A. isabellana...)

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  11. You bought a Rhodie. Didn't you just get rid of a Rhodie?

    hah! Gardens! You never know what lies beyond that bend in the path!

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    1. Oh but Jenn this Rhody is different!!! Those big beautiful leaves...could you say no? I think not (well if you lived here).

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