Friday, August 2, 2013

North to the Southern Hemisphere!

I made a very quick trip (less than 24hrs) up to Seattle a couple of weeks ago, but naturally I had to squeeze in a visit to City Peoples Garden Store (thankfully the friend I was staying with lives nearby). Since I was just there a month ago I didn’t expect to buy anything, silly me. I was very tempted by these Tea Cup Taro (Colocasia esculenta ‘Tea Cup’)…

Wouldn't it be fun to watch them fill with rainwater and then tip over, pouring the water on the ground?

But instead of the Taro I picked up a Pseudopanax x 'Sabre'...

...which I’d been lusting after ever since seeing it in the “hobbit” garden at last year’s NW Flower and Garden Show.

Only hardy into the upper teens this one is a risk, but a one I’m willing to take, especially because it was a nice gallon-sized plant for only $13.99. Other times I’ve seen it in nurseries it’s been much bigger and much more expensive.

Happy score!

As I was paying for my “Exotic, evergreen shrub from New Zealand” (so says the Cistus description of this plant) I remembered the Pacific Connections Garden in the Washington Park Arboretum, which as luck would have it is conveniently located just up the street from City Peoples!

Since my visit last October I know the gardeners picked up a huge quantity of plants from Cistus. I wonder if they’ve been planted? I had to go check it out. First the Zew Zealand section...

Oh man...I want this plant SO BAD! Grevillea x gaudichaudii...

Isn't it fabulous?

No I didn't take any cuttings. Yes that would be wrong, doubly so for me since they would have just died anyway. Moving on...

Now we've wandered into the New Zealand section...

I so want my libertia to bloom, just so I can get these fabulous seeds!

That's kind of funny.

A hebe island in a sea of purple.

Back when Andrew Keys was visiting he picked up a couple of these Hebe (H. ochracea) from Cistus. I wasn't sure that I liked them but seeing them here...WOW!

Pittosporum divaricatum I believe? I love this plant.

Art?

Or a clever screening device? Sadly I didn't have time to investigate as I was late to meet up with my friend. Besides it's good to leave a little mystery for next time...

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

26 comments:

  1. I'm saying Art. And I REALLY like it! The bare ground in front of the pieces, not so much, but surely it will be planted. Do you know what that great purple groundcover is? I can't quite get the leaf shape... Oh, and the Grevillea - YES to coveting that one!

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    1. It will be interesting to see if they do plant up that area, I get the feeling this while thing is still very much in process.

      As for the ground over Scott knows what it is, I can never remember the name! We'll have to ask him.

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    2. Ah the Outlaw called it! Acaena purpurea

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  2. The New Zealand garden looks sooo cool. I think I love it all!

    And your pseudopanax sabre is really cool. I am continually tempted by them.

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    1. Are they just great? I swear the colors of the midribs change throughout the day, depending on the light.

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  3. Talk about flying visit! You'll have to ask Cistus next time you visit them if they have any of that grevillea tucked somewhere that you can give a home to :)

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    1. Actually I have already. Sean says he's rooting some right now. However it looks like I might have a line on a coulple small plants soon!

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  4. Oh, you found a cool plant at City People's. It reminds me of a Euphorbia. And thanks for the great shots of the New Zealand section at the Arboretum. Some day I'll get up there.

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    1. You should pack a lunch and drag Nigel along. There are so many interesting things to see

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  5. I've often looked at similar "cupped" Colocasia, but they just seem like plants that have something wrong with them. I mean, if you can't really see the wonderful huge leaves (because they're contorted into a cup) then what's the point?

    I like the plant you chose MUCH more. :)

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    1. At first I thought something was wrong with them, but the longer I stared I started to like.

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  6. Love the Chionochloa in the background...so nice!

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    1. Yes indeed, and thank you for the identification!

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  7. Sounds like you had a fun but fast trip! City People's is way cool! Thanks for turning us on to them! We drove through the arboretum to get to Ravenna gardens after we visited People's and vowed to go back to see more! Happy new Pseudopanax to you! Love those mats of Acaena purpurea! YUM!

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    1. Oh yes indeed, that is my favorite route to take between the two. Sometimes I really miss Seattle!

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  8. So glad Scott confirmed my guess about the chionochloa. I've got to find a couple for fall planting. And the pseudopanax and grevillea are both intensely desirable too...

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    1. I should run all my posts pass Scott for grass i.d. before posting, I am so clueless about them!

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  9. Oh yeah, love that Grevillea. Great plants.

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  10. Great foliage on that grevillea! And I love the berries on the libertia. Never seen those before. Now I really have to find a less overgrown spot for mine so it performs...

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    1. Yep, moving the libertia is on my fall "to do" list also...

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  11. Next time I go to Seattle I'm going to ask you for an itinerary. Love your new purchase. I would be satisfied if I could just get a Libertia to live.

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    1. I can fix you up with a whole list of places to visit Ricki...a long long list.

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  12. I want that Grevillea too, I hope you can find it and incorporate it to your garden. Nice garden.

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    1. I think I've got a line on a small one. Gotta start somewhere!

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  13. Hi, i remember you as Mark and Gaz visitor who showed us the different angles of Alternative Eden. I realized you have lots of wonderful awesome 'unusual' plants too, like them. And yes what are those plants being hidden by those dividers?

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