Friday, June 7, 2013

Xera retail, open for business...

You know that saying about how the rich just keep getting richer? It's true. We Portlanders are spoiled with so many excellent nurseries and yet here's another one, just opened yesterday!

If you live anywhere in Western Washington or Oregon you're no doubt familiar with the Xera Plants label as they've been supplying local nurseries with fabulous plants for years. Now they've opened their own shop in SE Portland...it's pretty amazing to look around and see nothing but Xera plants!

Paul and Greg (the owners of Xera) are sharing space with Bob Hyland who has started a new venture called Potted, which as you might imagine is selling containers, potted up and otherwise...

Nice!

But let's take a look at the plants shall we?

Fabulous texture and color. I should have went back and grabbed one of these. Next time...

Everything was so happy and healthy...ready for their new homes in YOUR garden (or mine).

Speaking of gardens Greg said he's going to put together a photo album (not online but one you can actually hold in your hands!) of both his and Paul's gardens. As you might imagine they both were created with Xera plants but one is water-wise and on the formal side of things, while the other is water-wise and wild...sounds interesting no? Plus I hope to score a tour of both soon and you know I'll share photos here...

It will be fun to watch these new plantings along the fence fill in and mature over time. I wonder if they'll be able to leave them as-is or will be tweaking and adding plants constantly? (like I would be doing)

Eryngium agavifolium is the first plant I remember buying from Xera years and years ago at a Hardy Plant Society of Oregon Plant Sale (back when it was held out in Hillsboro, for you locals) I still love the description: "Multiple, glossy, sexy rosettes with dramatic spines....Yeowrrrrrr.. In midsummer robust spikes of dark green handsome, rounded clover-like flowers ( to 30" tall.) Full sun and regular soil with occasional summer water. Impressive evergreen perennial for the front of a border, mixes well with airy flowers. Fantastic in a dry rockery planting with boulders, rocks. What do you call a gardener with multiple sexy rosettes? A HAPPY Gardener." I was hooked! (that's it dead center below)

Look at those fabulous brownish-orange flowers! Salvia africana-lutea...I was very very tempted by this one but it's only marginally hardy here and you know I've already got plenty of those.

The wonderful shiny-silver leaves of Convolvulus cneorum...

I realized too late that I didn't get a close up of the cool materials they used for the plant tables. They are a metal mesh with a nice rolled solid metal edge, on stacked concrete blocks. Simple and clean.

Of course there are succulents.

And some spikes!

I had to also take a look inside the office and check out the wall-paper from Makelike. The same talent behind my pointy poster.

Pretty cool eh?

There's a Grand Opening party this Saturday June 8th, 2013, to celebrate so if you're in the Portland area you should plan to make a stop. They're at 1114 SE Clay St... on  SE 11th Ave 1 block south of Hawthorne Blvd. If you can't make it on Saturday you'll want to pay them a visit soon, they're open Thursday - Sunday from 10 am - 6 pm... yay!

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

34 comments:

  1. Fabulous, your journalistic eye and Xera's plants!!!

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    1. Journalistic eye...that's funny. So what did you buy?

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  2. Hooray! How cool is it that Xera now has a retail space? Thanks for the tour!

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    1. Naturally you'll need to visit on your next trip to P-town.

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  3. So cool. I'm going to have to plan a trip to Portland. Thanks for the delicious photos.

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    1. Grace have you ever made that Joy Creek/Cistus visit you've talked about? You can do all three in a day...

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  4. You guys are SO LUCKY. One of these days I'll have to heard to Portland in the van so I can load it up!

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    1. Yes!!! We can all submit our wishlist for plants for you to bring up and then you can empty the van and fill it up with your own plants for the return...I like it!

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  5. fifi la fontaineJune 07, 2013

    Uh OH. I promised myself that Rare Plant Research was going to be my last plant shopping of the summer. Dang!

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    1. You can't be serious...there is still so much plant goodness to be found. (I saw a couple of nice 'chocolate chips' at Cistus last week)

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  6. Gotta get down there again to see this! It looks fabulous!

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  7. Oh my! extremely jealous here. What a fantastic selection of goodies!

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    1. I read someone say "kid in a candy store" seems like a great analogy.

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  8. Are we allowed to boo if we're located days by car away from Portland? Booooo!!!! (That's jealous booing, if you didn't know.)

    Looks fantastic! I was also immediately interested in the various plant tables and stands. More details on those after your next visit, okay?

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  9. It's an embarrassment of riches having Xera open this shop and I love your take on their first day. I was so overwhelmed when I went that I only managed to buy two plants. I think I almost went into shock with the overload!

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    1. Overwhelmed indeed...and there is always next time!

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  10. Oh man, that Convolvulus has been calling to me . . . thank you for posting so quickly and with such great photos. I can't wait to make it over there!

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    1. Maybe you'll need to hit the G.O. party today after our "class" at Joy Creek?

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  11. I was thinking of Xera all day yesterday as I was stuck at my desk. I can't wait to get there - and I will be there on Saturday for sure. I already see things I want (but don't need).

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  12. Lucky you, looks like a great combination all those lovely plants, and lovely pots to top it off.

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    1. I almost grabbed one of those adorable opuntia...but do I really need another?

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  13. Richer indeed, with Xera and Potted as great new additions. You guys are spoilt for choice!

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    1. Is it any wonder I've got a plant addiction?

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  14. Just love the stuff you blog about. Most of the lovely prickly stuff, here in Nova Scotia, Canada, would have to be houseplants. But I have Eryngium agavifolium. Started them from seed last spring, four our of six survived the winter well and look great now. A little bit of danger garden in my garden. Thanks for all the shots and commentary.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Jeff...Eryngium agavilfolium is such a cool plant, everyone should have one, or two..or three...

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  15. Was this our version of a "be-in"? Love the Portland spirit: gathering to cheer on every effort to bring yet more horticultural diversity to our fair city.

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    1. Indeed, it was fabulous to read of so many people stopping by to wish them well!

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  16. I'm so excited by this (it's so close to my house)! I had to work late all week, but am looking forward to visiting this weekend...so dangerous, though, I have no where left to plant...must resist urge to shop!

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    1. I didn't even think of that but you're right...so close. Danger! Surely you can squeeze in one or two things. There's always room for another sedum right?

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  17. AnonymousJune 08, 2013

    Thanks for the mouthwatering preview! I'm staying away until I get the first paycheck from my new job, but then....watch out! Maybe I could fit something really small in, somewhere...

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  18. Concerning the Begonia soli-mutata, I had a terrible time getting mine to thrive until I put it in a bell jar.

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