Friday, October 25, 2013

After Heronswood, a visit to Celestial Dream Gardens…

Location location location…is there anything more important for any business? Okay reputation maybe but since Celestial Dream Gardens is located mere yards from Heronswood, they’re super nice people, and they’ve got great plants I think they’re destined to succeed.

This was my second time visiting Celestial Gardens, however the first time it started to rain as soon as we arrived (and we were overdue for lunch) so my visit that time was quick and concentrated on the greenhouses. This time I made sure to spend a great deal of time wandering their display garden. That’s also where I took almost all of my photos...

This is only the second Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' I’ve seen in the ground (the other one is in this garden).

Not reliable hardy its days are numbered. But then again it’s gorgeous while it lasts!

I think this is an Azara microphylla (?)

And Ozothamnus ‘Sussex Silver’ (?) – which I am going to remember to plant in my garden next year damn-it!

Colletia hystrix also known as Crucifixion Thorn or Barbed Wire Bush

My Fremontodendron died last year.

I am still bummed about that.

This one! My friend Peter (aka The Outlaw) spotted it in the nursery and inquired about it, Carlina acaulis ssp. simplex, it’s in the Aster family!

He tracked me down in the garden to make sure I saw it and knew it was available for purchase; my only regret is that I bought just one.

This was my next "stop and stare" moment. What the heck?

I asked Jeff (the owner) for id and more importantly if had any for sale. He did not, I guess it’s rather hard to propagate. He did write down the name however, Microcachrys tetragona, I tucked that piece of paper in my wallet for safe keeping.

How cool are those little orange balls?

Here are the only two photos I managed to take in the greenhouses. Obviously I was still a little concerned about the hebe I bought earlier at Valley Nursery and then the HUGE one I spotted at Heronswood. These are obviously well on their way to being full grown.

If you find yourself visiting Heronswood during one of their open gardens you really should venture a but further down the road (only a very little bit) and stop in at Celestial Dream. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

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

21 comments:

  1. I planted two Silver Sussex ozamanthus in my garden this summer. Seeing these pictures has me excited to watch them grow! My only concern is that their stems seem flexible, and I hope they spring back up if we get significant snow in NE Portland.
    Glad to see KPTV's 7 day forecast you mentioned has been changed. The high 20's early next week has been changed to upper 30's. Don't have to worry about covering my echium fatsuosum Star of Madeira!

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    1. Here's hoping there will be no significant snow! And thanks for the word on the KPTV forecast, I hadn't seen the update. Always a good day when we can push back the first frost!

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  2. Celestial Dream nursery and gardens are full of great plants. Definitely will be visiting them again! Thanks bringing up my fond memories of that fun day!

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    1. I just wish they were easier for me to get to...

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  3. When you plant Ozthamnus 'Sussex Silver', I hope you will share whatever pruning techniques you devise. I'm flummoxed by mine (having trouble keeping it looking good after it blooms).
    Who knew that the Aster family had such a spiky member closeted away?
    I was discouraged by 'Axminster Gold' looking quite tatty in several sightings. It looks wonderful in your photo.

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    1. Uhm...that sounds like a challenge! (the pruning).

      I can easily see how 'Axminster Gold' could look a bit shaggy with those big droopy leaves. So far I've only seen them looking good, thanks for the heads up!

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  4. I remain entirely impressed by the quality (and quantity) of independent nurseries in the PNW.

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  5. This is one of those posts when I don't recognize a single species name (make that genus name). It's like you live on a different continent, not just in a different climate. Beautiful stuff though -- Carlina acaulis ssp. simplex is something I'm going to try and find for my garden! Also, the Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' is stunning!

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    1. Yay...a plant that's hardy for you. I hope you find it. I know Jeff has talked about doing mail order, perhaps you could talk him into sending you a couple?

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  6. I have a Microcachrys tetragona, and I love it! Got mine at Egan Gardens in Salem. They have a small, but interesting (and very reasonably priced) selection of dwarf conifers, and I'm pretty sure I've seen Microcachrys tetragona there every year.

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    1. Good to know, thank you Jennifer! I've never been to Egan Gardens. Obviously that needs to change. What I forgot to mention was how surprised I was that it was a conifer. We were guessing all sort of things but not that!

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  7. Great pics! Love following along with all of your nursery expeditions. Celestial Dream nursery was at the Heronswood 2.0 (my moniker) last spring. I wish I'd seen her plants earlier; I think most of her good stuff went right away.

    Love, love, love the Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea'. Could not find a source after a quick web search. If you happen to see one available ...

    Thanks!

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    1. They were there again this time too (at the Heronswood Sale), hopefully the word is getting out about them. You didn't go over to the nursery after the sale?

      I got my Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' at Cistus...not sure if they've still got them?

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    2. I dearly wanted to go over, but I had no money left. The pathetic truth is that I had to borrow $20 from Kelly (Far Reaches) for ferry fare. I guess I really need to go to Plants Anonymous. I'll check to see if they have any Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea'. Thanks for the tip.

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  8. What a gorgeous post! Thanks for all of the great pictures. They mean much to people who can't be there in person, like me.

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    1. Thank you for that Deborah, that's part of why I do it!

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  9. Good location! After seeing so many gorgeous plants in a garden it's always nice to cap it off with some retail therapy.

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    1. Oh yes indeed, I like the way you guys think!

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  10. Che piante impressionanti! Grazie per aver fatto queste foto!! :)

    Un saluto!

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