Friday, November 27, 2015

Visiting Grand Marketplace

Grand Marketplace, here in Portland, recently celebrated it's second anniversary. I know because I was there the day before the big party. I am a little embarrassed to admit it had been just about two years since I'd last visited. Where does the time go?

I hadn't intended to write about my visit but the planters out front kind of begged to be photographed.

Then when I stepped inside there was more plant goodness (uhm, note...an Agave!)...

I'd never seen an Osage orange until I moved to Portland (and that was in a flower shop). Andrew tells me they grew on his family farm back in Nebraska. The wood is extremely dense and can withstand years in the ground without rotting - hence it's great for fence posts.

So I thought it particularly apt that I write about my visit to the Grand Marketplace today, on Back Friday. This is the kind of gift shopping that thrills me. Not at the mall, fighting for the latest accessory or electronic device. Instead a plant or one-of-a-kind vintage find...that's what makes my heart sing.

So many treasures!

This I want. As in I really want.

I need to go back and check the price and start scheming.

These I want to make!

Paper flowers, how beautiful.

And I see there is a financial incentive for making my own!

I'm still noticing ornamental cabbage and kale everywhere!

There was a time when I would have moved heaven and earth to have owned this. I still love it, but don't need it...

What a life-like statue! Ha, no, that's the real thing - and he's quite the character.

Good good stuff...

$175 and that fabulous aluminum chair can be yours...

I've written a lot about Digs on Alberta. Well there's another location here at the Grand Marketplace.

Little did I know she's carrying Bauer reproductions! I wonder if they're at the main shop too?

Love that Tillandsia! I hope you can find a soul feeding (rather than soul depleting) place to shop for the holidays...

A note for those expecting to see my "favorite plants" end of the month wrap-up today. I've decided to put the fav's on hiatus for the rest of the year, since the last Friday of November falls on Black Friday, and on Christmas next month. The fav's feature will be back in on January 29, 2016. Thank you!

All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

35 comments:

  1. I was there last weekend ! I loved those paper flowers, wish I had some books I could cut up or maybe newspaper ?
    I think you should scheme very hard . I'm going back tomorrow, I spotted a couple of metal bud vases , that I wish I'd bought , why didn't I ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A newspaper, a magazine...or maybe even a book from Goodwill (although it pains me a bit to say it). I'm just back from Thanksgiving in Spokane and discovered a paper florist...sadly when they were closed. I'll be back!

      Delete
  2. What a cool place to shop! Love that simple bowl of acorns. Someone who knows how to do decoupage could make you one of those black plaques of botanical flower buds. It is cool, but I bet it's darn spendy. Then again, you might keep in mind the saying "Why spend $10 at the craft fair for something I can make with $92 worth of craft supplies." My favorite place to shop is always going to be my office chair. Thank God for internet shopping.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Internet shopping, and good old cash (for the niece and nephews) is my mainstay, shopping like this is only for certain friends.

      Delete
  3. I think you should figure out how to make those paper flowers and put them in a vase on Monday. (And publish instructions so some of us less crafty types can copy you.) I'm staying clear of the stores, even the on-line ones, right now, although I may venture out to a garden center on Sunday...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Kris...as I said above to Linda - I discovered a paper florist in Spokane (where we were for Thanksgiving) and just missed be there at open hours. Now I'm obsessed.

      Delete
  4. Holiday shopping gets me down. I need to go to more places like this I think.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You do! (and on the way home from a holiday away we listened to Terry gross/Fresh Air with Richard Carpenter....your comment has me hearing "rainy days and Sundays get me down..." (in Karen's incredible voice)

      Delete
  5. I'm planning to visit Portland in August. Hope I remember this place!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Email me in advance for a list of must-see spots!

      Delete
  6. Really enjoyed this store excursion, as it is exactly the look and feel I strive for in my online store. Botanical art and plants, living and faux - I offer real succulent planters in warmer months when shipping is not so treacherous weather-wise. Would be ever so grateful if you had a visit and look around - https://www.etsy.com/shop/rosekraft
    Here's to celebrating the seasons through the garden arts!
    (Understand if you find this comment inappropriate to post....)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not at all inappropriate, thank you for sharing the link. I'm always looking for inspired online stores! Can't wait to check it out.

      Delete
  7. Grand Marketplace is my dream shopping adventure...the galvanized rolling cart, white teardrop standing pots, birchbark candles for $3 really?, the glorious orange at Digs and all the visuals... DANG! This was an early Christmas present!!! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome! If you're even in Portland...

      Delete
    2. Our daughter used to live in Portland... dang! I'd love to live in your beautiful city, but I just can't handle all the grey days, maybe why we moved to Denver from Chicago?

      Delete
  8. Oh my lord, I'd go nuts. Absolutely nuts.Couple places I'm thinking about visiting tomorrow: the Mexican Hat Cactus Nursery (again. Possibly still open -- was having a closing-business sale after almost 50 years), and my fave local salvage place. Freeze Warnings for our area, but the weekend should be sunny... and your post has put me in a shopping mood :~)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shop on sister! We got down to 28.4 here over the weekend (according to my thermometer) 25 according to the professionals.

      Delete
  9. What a lovely shop! I love your blog, I learn and read about plants and gardens I've never seen, osage orange, who knew that existed? Thank you for taking me on a journey. And I have 2 agaves, small and protected from English weather against the housewall. We rarely get snow, maybe 2-3 weeks intermittent frost in my area, so they seem ok against the wall for a few months.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting Helena, I hope your Agaves overwinter well.

      Delete
  10. That's my kind of shopping so thanks for adding another soul-feeding destination to my list.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Those paper flowers look just like ornamental cabbages. And, they won't bolt! I don't think you need to do any more scheming - just go back and buy it! (The painting, that is...) It is obviously for you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love that place. Have you done the Monticello holiday walk yet? Heaven.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not yet...probably next week. Thanks for the reminder.

      Delete
  13. Looks like a really interesting place to browse, but I'll be sticking to my typical end of the year respites from mass merchandizing; UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, local bookstores, AW Pottery for wholesale pots near the Oakland Colliseum, and a trip down to Watsonville to shop at Monterey Bay Nursery, Rosendales and Suncrest. Just. Can't. Handle. Anything. Else this time of year. Nieces and nephews just get cards and a check.

    ReplyDelete
  14. What great stuff you found, so much charm! I love that painting too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will be going back to check the price.

      Delete
  15. cute quirky retro stuff - but yikes - is that a stuffed dog?!!?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No!...that's why I wrote: "What a life-like statue! Ha, no, that's the real thing - and he's quite the character"

      Delete
  16. What a cool store. So, have you bought the print yet?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, but I did go back to check the price, $160.

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!