As I mentioned yesterday, the weekend before last had me at Gossler Farms Nursery in Springfield, Oregon. I’ve already sheared the biggest highlight of the visit but there was so much else to see!
This nice agave collection is cozied up next to the office under the eaves.
There are some good ones in there, especially surprising for a nursery specializing in magnolias, dogwoods and witchhazels...
But oh the magnolias...
Kinda hard to believe someday these will be tall cardiocrinum...
Don't you just love the possibilities?
Oh ya...
Fall color in March...
Rhododendron 'Elsie Frye'
Rhododendron edgeworthii
And the family from which my Rhododendron 'Ebony Pearl' came from...
Their gunnera, all toasty in a greenhouse, are a lot further along than mine. But heck, I'm just happy mine has a green leaf showing up after last winter's cold.
Trochodendron aralioides, or the Wheel Tree
I was just telling a friend the other day that I'm not so sure if I like these.
Oh the magic altered schedule of a greenhouse,!
No label on this grevillea, it's a looker though!
One of my strange infatuations, Cunninghamia lanceolata.
And one of those yellow pines everyone is so hot for...
Quercus dentata 'Carl Ferris Miller'
No label on this guy and he was the only one of his type around. I think it's Pittosporum illicioides 'Strappy' and since I killed mine by moving it and accidentally breaking off its largest root I really considered grabbing this one, but no, it stayed behind.
This greenhouse appears to be more of a propagation and "special plants" space, it's where I found the sad looking variegated daphniphyllum.
Finally it was time to wander the display garden a bit, just a bit though the weather was quite wet. Here's a large Trochodendron aralioides, see what I mean about not being sure I like it. It's not terribly attractive, in my opinion.
And see what I mean about wet?
And windy too.
I love these...
Okay I've fast forwarded to the end of our visit. I've paid for the daphniphyllum and it was time to get on the road home, however how could we leave when there was free entertainment. The little guy, a Corgi named Bennie was using the big dogs tail as a chew toy, and then his body as a trampoline, it was really too cute.
And he knows it...
All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Nice visit, I hope to get out there one day. The Cunninghamia lanceolata 'Glauca' is what I purchased from the Lan Su Chinese Garden plant sale about 4 years ago, planted in the middle of my garden. We love it - and it's getting tall...Again, the husband picked it out. I think he has a thing for spiky plants, come to think of it!
ReplyDeleteOh you really should make the trip Tamara, it's a wonderful place. And I totally remember your Cunninghamia lanceolata 'Glauca', it's a mental picture I've recalled often in thinking about what to plant in the former privet lands.
DeleteBack up a minute... what is that fabulously-variegated, somewhat pentagonal beauty in the right side of the image below the "Oh the magic altered schedule of a greenhouse" comment? It's kaleidoscopic -- I'm fascinated!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, isn't it fabulous? A podophyllum possibly "spotty dotty"...
Deletehttp://plantlust.com/plants/podophyllum-spotty-dotty/
This looks like a really cool nursery. I'm bummed that it's so far south, not at all within easy driving distance for a day trip for me.
ReplyDeleteMake a weekend of it!
DeleteGossler looks like a great destination nursery! I bet that since they come to some sales in the Portland area that if requested they might bring a desired plant(s) to the sales. I'm with you on Trochodendron aralioides. Got one many years ago because the label read "rare collector plant." Since I'm not a rare collector, rather a fairly common one, I got rid of it after a few years. The foliage reminds me of what mature hedera helix looks like as it strangles trees and provides cover and nesting space for rodents. But don't let that image sway you in any way.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm sure they would, and in fact they'll be at the HPSO sale if there is something you're after...
DeleteRoger almost always does a seminar at Joy Creek some Sunday and is happy to bring special orders. A visit to the source is more fun...maybe a road trip in sunnier weather? I need the Rhody edgeworthia and that Quercis.
ReplyDeleteJust a day or two ago I was scanning the Joy Creek seminar list and yes, I'm pretty sure I saw his name. Having the plants brought to you is a definite win/win situation!
DeleteThe dog's a poser! This nursery has reminded me so much of Cornish nurseries, with the selection plants, wet and windy weather, and magnolias everywhere yet succulents can be found in the same place too. So lucky to have that variegated Daphniphyllum!
ReplyDeleteYes he is! And yes I am...
DeleteI like it. I suppose it must be a cool place in the spring, summer and autumn.
ReplyDeleteThe only other time I've been there was in early April and it was delightful, this visit was a little early but c'est la vie!
Deletewhen Megan and I visited, Marj offhandedly referred to all those Agaves cozied up to the office as "just pets."
ReplyDeleteI remember that and I almost did the same...
DeleteThanks for the tour of Gossler -- hope to make it there one day. I'm with you on the Trochodendron -- cute as a young thing in the nursery, and fine if you have the space for it to sprawl, but otherwise I'd pass. I've been avoiding all rhodies (what to do about the lace bug threat?) but that Ebony Pearl is pretty tempting...
ReplyDeleteI hope you can Julie, it's pretty fun. As for the lace bug I am just keeping my fingers crossed...
DeleteMature Trochodendron can have interesting structure. Longwood Gardens has 3 specimens about 55 years old and the structure and smooth grey bark are nice, but still not enough for me to really want one. I should send you pictures though to show you what a mature wheel tree looks like. I love Cunninghamia especially the glauca form. I crawled inside a "grove" where branches had rooted with smaller trunks rising up from them. So magical! Love the texture, too. One of my favorite conifers. Too bad Rhododendron edgeworthii and 'Else Frye' are only hardy to 15 degrees. They have such great leaves.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see photos of that wheel tree Evan, if you run across them please send. I really did mental battle about putting a Cunninghamia lanceolata 'glauca' in the former privet-lands. I love them so, but that love tops out at about the 15ft mark, after that they're just a tall shape I can't understand.
DeleteThose Rhododendron look interesting. I did a bit of googling and the edgworthia is described as an epiphyte and requires perfect drainage; I think that I will pass on that one!
ReplyDeleteI have a Trochodendron in my back garden, I bought it 2 years ago and planted it out last Spring. It's only a little thing, but I am quite taken with it. I think it will be years before i reaches the size of the one in your photo.
I wonder if your mystery Podophyllum is actually a kaleidoscope?
Good call on the podophyllum, I bet your right!
DeleteFun visit Loree. It makes me really excited to go plant shopping. I haven't bought any plants yet this year. My two nursery trips were disappointing. My friend Carol and I are going to hit Fry Road tomorrow. That'll get me in the spirit. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteOh yes indeed, you need to get out there Grace!
Delete