Thursday, July 11, 2013

A fabulous send off…

The day before we left for San Francisco, when I should have been packing, I instead went to lunch with a couple of ladies from WeHoP (Western Horticultural Products). As if hanging out with fun plant crazy people wasn’t already a great way to spend an afternoon they also brought me plants!!! And not just any plants but plants from California and a couple of my favorite nurseries...

I’ve been lusting after an Adenanthos sericeus (Coastal Woollybush) ever since seeing it at Potted last May and I am happy to say I’ve now got a beautiful specimen of my very own…

I am SO EXCITED! It was seriously hard to leave this plant behind and take off for California…

But then when I saw this…

A monster version in the Matt Gil Sculpture Garden (a stop on the Garden Bloggers Fling) well let’s just say I felt quite content to know I have my very own, much smaller, version at home. Since this guy isn’t hardy in my winter temps he’ll be living life in a container, I’ll try very hard to keep him happy.

But it doesn’t stop there! Here's a second plant, one I hadn’t heard of before, one with spikes! Erythrina crista-galli - Cockspur Coral Tree

There are tiny spurs on the bottom side of the leaves too; however you’ll have to use your imagination because I couldn’t get a good photo of them.

I became even more excited about the Cockspur Coral Tree when I thought I spotted it at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.

It turns out what I saw was Erythrina x bidwillii not Erythrina crista-galli, oh well, I was kind of close!

I think I’ll over winter this not-really-so-hardy tree (15-20F) in a container and then plant it out next spring when we remove the privet (notice I didn’t say “if” I’m trying to psych myself up for it).

Finally there was a Dyckia, ‘Nickel Silver’ to be exact.

I can’t be sure, but the spiky guy shown in the exquisite planting below (also spotted at the Matt Gil Sculpture Garden) had me thinking it might be ‘Nickel Silver’ and quickly sent my thoughts to the one waiting for me at home (and yes, a smile appeared on my face)…

You might think the fact I already had a nice, new, little stash of “California” plants in my possession prior to leaving for the Fling meant I surely didn’t buy anything while I was there, right? Well you would be mistaken of course…(to be continued)…

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

19 comments:

  1. I typically don't let myself get too excited about plants I can't easily grow, but I have to admit that the 'Nickel Silver' is pretty darn nice! I love not only the color but the leaf shape too.

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    1. ah come on, just a container or two...outside for the summer, inside on a sunny windowsill...

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  2. Hooray! Are the ladies from WeHop the best or what? Can't wait to get back over there! How cool that you got to see your newly acquired plants at the fling! You'll have to come up and visit WeHop in person sometime & make sure you have lots of space in your car!

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    1. The best indeed, and yes I do need to get up that way. WeHoP, Dragonfly, Far Reaches...so many fabulous places, so little time...

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  3. With all these new plants, you definitely need to take out the Privet ;-)

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    1. If only that 'woolly bush' could go in the ground there and get BIG...that would be wonderful!

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  4. Those are all amazing...but that silver nickle....oh my....what a stunner!

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    1. Ah Heather and I bet you could grow it outside?

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  5. Tell us more about WeHop, will you? I have never heard of them, but they are obviously a class act.

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    1. A class act indeed. I became aware of them when I first attended the Farwest Trade show (for plantlust.com). Last year I struck up a conversation with Sally and we've kept in touch. They bring plants up from California growers for PNW nurseries. Peter has posted about visiting Sally's greenhouse on the Kitsap Peninsula a couple of times.

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    2. Thanks, Loree. I remember that post of Peter's, but didn't make the connection.

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  6. Adenanthos sericeus is a beautiful plant, I love it's soft foliage. We had a beautiful specimen growing in the back garden until a few month old Border Collie dug up it's root system many years ago. I have just planted another one in one of our strata sections. Hope you get to keep yours for a great many years.

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    1. Darn dogs! We love em but man can they be destructive too. I hope your new know takes off...

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  7. You can understand why I was thinking of a place to plant these things in my yard--can't you? But only for a second, I swear.

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    1. Nothing wrong with a little creative scheming...

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  8. Three very nice plants! The coastal woollybush looks so tactile!

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    1. Oh it is! I finally planted it (in a container) yesterday and I couldn't stop touching it...

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  9. That woollybush is amazing. Lucky girl!

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  10. AnonymousJuly 12, 2013

    Love them all, but that Woollybush is wonderful! Almost huggable!

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