As you can see from the sign above Solabee shares space with a business called Boy's Fort. Like Salvage Works they've got a wealth of used items for sale, which definitely adds to the overall shopping experience.
As I stood just inside the entrance and scanned the space (getting my bearings) I heard the sound of splashing water, yet looking around I couldn't find the source.
The tall rusty centaur got my eye though.
That's when I put two and two together...
Yes for the low price of $4,000 you can own a peeing centaur...
I'd much rather own these chairs. That fabric is fabulous!
The Solabee selection was concentrated in a corner of the space.
Oh yes, these look interesting!
Care cards for the succulents, nice!
I always vow to keep my dried up blooms, but usually end up tossing them.
Next time?
Couldn't manage a non-blurry picture but I really liked this...
And those wood block images...
Back on the Boy's Fort side to check out some inventive lighting...
A metal tire ramp, plumbing parts and a hanging metal shade, I like it!
Back out on the street I had to ask myself if these planters were new. I know it's been awhile since I strolled around downtown, surely I would have remembered them? I do remember the fun graphics on the side of the Nordstrom building.
And I did buy one of the old Cactus and Succulent Journals, I selected this one for the cover shot of William Hertrich surrounded by books. I hoped there would be an article on the Huntington Gardens inside and I was not disappointed.
Look at this early shot of the Huntington cactus garden, amazing. If you're interested in Hertrich and the Huntington I recommend the book The Huntington Botanical Gardens, 1905-1949: Personal Recollections of William Hertrich, it's only $2.58 on amazon!
I'm particularly taken with the illustration across the bottom of the journal. Excellent find...
All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
What a fabulous shop! I have a feeling, after seeing photos of Floramagoria, that peeing centaur would be right at home there.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, I can definitely see that!
DeleteNice shop, I like the Manthropology version of Man Cave quite a lot. Even the beer signs are classy. Love the illustrations too.
ReplyDeleteThe peeing centaur is at least a bit more artful than the peeing dog fountains in San Antonio.
Oh gosh...peeing dog fountains, just say no!
DeleteI saw lots of things to covet at the Boys Fort--there were some white, relief tiles behind the centaur and some striped, metal? disks in the picture with the flag.... What a great store! But I don't personally need a peeing centaur. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt would be quite a job to haul it home too, tiles and discs would be much easier!
DeleteI love that you find these places, because they always give me such great ideas! (no, not the centaur fountain, although the sculpture itself is quite good)
ReplyDeleteDarn, I thought we were going to see a "how to" for your version of the peeing fountain.
DeleteOh my. I kind of feel like I need to check that out now. Well played, peeing centaur.
ReplyDeleteOn Morrison, street level under the smart park. We'd just enjoyed a margarita at Mayas Taqueria, you probably should too.
DeleteYou guys have so many fun shops to shop for...fun things! That peeing centaur, top marks for being quirky and unique!
ReplyDeleteDo you agree with Spiky O, that you don't have shops like this in the UK?
DeleteNot really. They exist and there a few but they are far from each other and obscure. Unlike there where there seems to be many of similar concept in the same city. Lucky lot! :)
DeleteI didn't know Boy's Fort and Solabee had moved from Kenton, that's how aware I am. It's a very fun shopping experience! Those big street planters have been in place for several years now. I always admire one (and even a few of the plants in it) I see in the 300 block of SW Morrison.
ReplyDeleteAnd I didn't know that Boy's Fort had ever been in Kenton...
DeleteI stumbled upon this shop after you wrote about it last time. They have great style.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! What did you buy?
DeleteOh no...I thought I could see all the wonderful garden related things in Portland with this visit...but there are morrrrrrreeeee. And you keep showing them to people from every part of the world and making us want to go again :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes Lisa, so much more! You'll have to come back...
DeleteTom found this store on one of his walking adventures. It was very close to the hotel. We went back but they were closed. Did some fun window shopping and sent Tom back the next day while we were flinging to take pictures. He picked up a few tillandsias for me me but strangely, no centaur.
ReplyDeleteYay for Tom! Can't wait to see his photos (assuming they find their way to a certain blog...). Why do you suppose he didn't get the centaur?
DeleteDoes PNW have interesting botanical stuff everywhere?! I'm sitting here wondering if I could get my husband to build me a file card style cabinet to hold plants (and where I'd put such a thing).
ReplyDeleteYep, everywhere! (no, not really) I bet you could find a place for it...
DeleteI've been looking for a big dried protea and after reading your blog I walked right over there from my office and bought one! The cool cement planters on the downtown streets have been there at least a year (all over the city center). The plants are a nice mix of contrasting evergreen foliage and they look pretty nice in winter. They did a great job.
ReplyDeleteGuess what I put in the yard waste container last week? About 5 of those blooms. Wish I had known.
DeleteI agree about the planters, nice plant choices. Yay for that!
I mentioned on your previous posts how jealous I am of your shops like these. We don't have anything like them in the UK.
ReplyDeleteI just find that so bizarre...
DeleteAs a succulent nut...I must visit. Previous visit to Boy's Fort did not leave me disappointed. Amazing looking space; can't wait to visit!
ReplyDeleteVery cool illustration. I kept my dried banksia flowers (that I bought, mine haven't bloomed yet) and they're in a vase. I couldn't part with them. I wonder if the person set out to make a peeing centaur, or they realised they could turn it into a fountain and had nowhere else plausible for the water to run from? Ha!
ReplyDeleteI think the peeing centaur would look great in someone else's home.
ReplyDelete