Taking pictures was like the days of old film photography where you were never quite sure what the photos were going look like when you picked them up (you young’nes just have to trust me on this…there used to be a day when every single picture you took had to be developed and printed. You never knew if your images would be in focus, or if your brother was blinking, until days after the photo had been taken).
Don’t worry; driving wasn’t difficult mainly because I didn’t need to read any signs to know where I was going. But when I pointed the camera at something I found interesting I couldn’t see the image on the screen…was I even pointing it at the right angle? And forget reading plant tags, not possible AT ALL, so there won’t be any names here unless it’s something I already knew.
The wealth of Opuntia photos is because I ran into Sean in the parking lot and he pulled me over to make sure I saw the hordes of flowering cactus in the greenhouses. Pretty impressive yes?
They turned out pretty good (the photos I mean).
Hairy and not so hairy.
Spiky!
And purple...
Moving into the gardens that surround the nursery...
I was awe-struck by this bamboo...
And this Yucca glowed, even to my eyes.
Every time I visit the nursery this time of year this grass stops me, Stipa barbata I believe?
Entering the nursery...
New signage, I like it!
Look a wagon just waiting for me to come a long and fill it up...
Spikes!
Happy leaves...
And baby palms.
I ducked back out into the garden only to be face to face with a lovely Schefflera or two...
S. delavayi I believe?
Schefflera taiwaniana
And Epimedium wushanense...
Back in the nursery...
Things are really looking different these days, new tables, new plant groupings. Change is good and I'm enjoying it...
Time to head into The Big Top where I was happy to find Alberta, our new Yucca rostrata.
This is where our visit ends...every trip to Cistus is special but this one was extra so because I experienced a slightly distorted version in person and then could finally see the finer details when when looking through these photos. It was like two visits instead of just one!
All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I'm sure I would have stopped even with only one good eye too! The scariest thing for me was reading about your blurred vision in the section with the hundreds of cactus -- picturing you bending over trying to get a closer view, inching closer and closer to the nasty spikies...
ReplyDeleteBoth eyes were so bad that I couldn't take off my sunglasses, so I was actually safer than normal with the spikes and my eyes, you're right though my depth perception may have been a little off and my hands and arms could have suffered for it. Thankfully it didn't happen!
DeleteWas your vision better when you left Cistus??
ReplyDeleteLuckily, your camera had no vision issues. The photos are great!
Yes, by the time I was paying for Alberta it was getting better. And thanks!
DeleteThanks for this tantalizing view of this spectacular place. I feel the urge to visit!
ReplyDeleteAnd as Ricki recently said to me..."don't you have that urge everyday?"...
DeleteThose tables on overturned barrels along with the signage and other changes are telling me it's time for a visit...and Sauvie Island is resplendent this time of year. What am I waiting for?
ReplyDeleteExactly, what are you waiting for? Get over there STAT!
DeleteHope your eyes are perfectly back to normal now! Those opuntia en masse and flowering too looks impressive indeed. With blurred vision you wouldn't want to venture too much in it though, at the risk of falling over, ouch!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding us of Cistus Nursery. You'll have to take us there next year, definitely on the list to visit!
Cistus will be on the official fling itinerary should you be here for that, if not we will still get out there...I wouldn't let you visit Portland and not hit Cistus!
DeleteAll those fabulous plants, and I'm dreaming of the orange urn.
ReplyDeleteMark and Gaz are visiting? Groovy!!!
It would look lovely in your garden...and yes, won't that be fun!?
DeleteI'm impressed with your fortitude Loree, I don't function well when my eyes are dilated, and I do a pretty good job of talking the eye doc out of it most years-you promise to let them do it the next year-works every time. There is no way in hell I could have driven out to Sauvie Island with my eyes in that condition ! However, you got some great photos !
ReplyDeleteI didn't want to have to go back next year...I'm on the 2 year plan with the eye doc. And I'm usually of the "let's get it over-with" mindset.
DeleteThat definitely looks like Stipa barbata...very pretty :-)
ReplyDeleteI will be adding at least one to my garden this year, dammit!
DeleteOne worthwhile trip in my book. Just how Cistus groups plant types by ecoregion makes me very happy...Laurasia, etc. Your pics not only came out well, but I enjoy how there are more Opuntia available than most any nursery in NM or west TX, unless you venture to the back lot!
ReplyDeleteIt is a PNW cactus lovers dream. I think I'll take a picnic out there and have lunch among the opuntia next winter, just to get a desert-fix.
DeleteYou have a great eye even partially blind! LOL I have had my eyes dilated also and this must have been really difficult. You really did see the nursery twice! Love it!
ReplyDelete