Last Friday I had business south of town, down Salem way, I was visiting a couple of wholesale nurseries to talk with their growers. Anytime you're off Interstate 5 and traveling the back roads of the Willamette Valley you'll encounter small nursery after small nursery and occasionally a really big one. I have to admit my heart tends to swell with a bit of pride, this, my adopted state, is just so full of people doing what they love... growing plants. How amazing is this place? There are nurseries devoted to conifers, those specializing in daphne, fuschia, hosta (and more, more, more) and the hops! I meant to stop and take a photo of the hops which were just getting started growing up their tall, thin supports, but I did not. Darn. Cruising along at 50 mph I did spot this scene out of the corner of my eye...
I didn't have time to stop but circled back around after my meeting. How much do I love this? A lot....
So good!
This tennis/badminton (?) match was being played in front of the home adjacent to
Bountiful Farms Nursery. Evidently they specialize in
sculptured plants (among other things).
Here's a fellow mowing the lawn in front of his home.
While the kids play on the swing set.
And jump rope.
I was about to leave when I finally saw their name spelled out...
I wasn't sure I'd successfully captured the whole thing so I split the words for a close-up.
A fish looks about to encounter a sea monster but that's just the "s" in farms, seen from the back side.
Fun, no?
All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for
danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Yes, definitely fun! I didn't realize you liked this kind of thing so much.
ReplyDeleteI would never want a garden of it for myself (shapes yes, people no) but I appreciate a space like this which is so given over to it. Like the garden Peter posted about yesterday (Karp) I would never want that garden for myself (way too much stuff) but I appreciate the vision of the gardener.
DeleteHow whimsical! A great place to visit but I wouldn't want to have to keep all of those topiaries trimmed and looking good the way someone obviously does here. Love this!
ReplyDeleteThat's why you'd employ "staff"....
Deletehahaha! That's insane! I've got to say that's about the best I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteRight?
DeleteThis is not really my cup of tea, unless it's done on a large scale like this! A few sculpted shrubs is blah, but lots of them really works for me. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly. This is so over the top that you have to love it.
DeleteThis made me smile. Your description of the Willamette Valley sounds like heaven for plant lovers. I wish we had more independent nurseries and small growers in our neck of the woods, but with our chronic lack of water, running a nursery is a challenge.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a heaven Gerhard, I am lucky! I wish we had more time during the Fling to travel the whole Valley.
DeleteWhat a great way to show what you can do.
ReplyDeleteAs Diana says (below) what great advertising!
DeleteI wonder if there's a greenhouse filled with topiary people in process somewhere? Fun!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I bet there is. That would be fun to see. I wish I hadn't needed to get home (poor Lila had business to take care of outside) and I would have tried to see more.
DeleteOK, that's pretty fun! That first topiary of the badminton game (or tennis?) is amazing.
ReplyDeleteAh good one, probably badminton, I wasn't thinking
DeleteBadminton nets are higher, aren't they? I think tennis is correct. :)
DeleteOh wow, such a whimsical use if topiary! Yes, definitely fun!
ReplyDeleteIn this instance I agree whimsical (a word that usually makes me wince) seems the perfect description.
DeleteTopiary makes me wince, but I have to acknowledge the skill and effort involved in these creations. I will admit the fish and the "S" made me laugh. I see a little fish going after a big worm.
ReplyDeleteOh that's a good one.
DeleteThat is splendid Loree !
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed.
DeleteSo cool! And what a lot of work that must be. I can’t think of any better advertising, that’s for sure!
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, got me to notice!
DeleteSalem you say, is that the same as Salem's Lot? Boy, that film with David Soul scared the crap out of me!
ReplyDeleteTalking about films/tv shows I noticed that Bates Motel is supposed to be set in White Pine Bay in Oregon, I take it that place is made up? It certainly looks very pretty there and Vera Farmiga makes me smile!
Like many posters up above I am not a fan of topiary, but those shots above get the thumbs up from me :)
We were down that way on the weekend. Missed this one though...never will see them all. You're right: we are blessed.
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant!!! And, by the way, I hope my acer will be one day as splendid as the one from your photo!
ReplyDeleteFun stuff, Loree. Last Saturday, my sister and I went on the Cascade Trail Nursery trek. We actually only made it to two of the five nurseries around Molalla/Woodburn but we found a few other nurseries not on the trail with great plants and prices. It's definitely a worthy way to spend a day. Plant shopping releases many endorphins.
ReplyDelete