Nowlens Bridge is located in Molalla, Oregon. About 40 miles south of Portland, it was a beautiful drive.
When visiting a new (to you) nursery, off the beaten path, there's always a fear the trip will be a wasted one. Thankfully this was not.
Quercus dentata 'Pinnatifida'
Mahonia gracilipes
Spigelia marilandica
Sciadopitys verticillata (Japanese Umbrella Pine)
I love this plant!
As you can see the plants were healthy and the selection was great. Edgeworthia...
The tag on this one said Farfugium japonica 'Kaimon Drake', with a picture of a creamy leaf with green splotches. I thought it must not be right until I looked it up and read this from Plant Delights Nursery: "This unusual Japanese selection of leopard plant could easily have been named "snow leopard." Farfugium 'Kaimon Dake' emerges with large white leaves, each highlighted with a random pattern of central dark green specks...sort of like a cheap flat screen television after the warranty expires. The aging foliage eventually turns solid green which gives the clump a surprising amount of vigor. This cultivar does not like deep shade, actually preferring an hour or two of sun daily."
That beauty wasn't for sale, but I found a smaller one that I purchased (along with a pair of Dierama 'Merlin' that I'm pretty sure died over the winter...so sad).
Physocarpus opulifolius something or other. I love the way the new foliage glows...
Silene regia
Close-up...
You probably won't be surprised to hear I became incredibly obsessed with this collection of things.
I really wanted these.
And that! I want that in my garden!
Acer pseudoplatanus 'Esk Sunset', I think.
Don't you just love a whole hoop-house to explore?
Schefflera delavayi
x Gordlinia grandiflora "An intergeneric cross between Franklinia and Gordonia. Early white 2 in. flowers, semi-evergreen foliage, and a robust tree-like growth habit"
I wonder if this would make a good hellstrip tree?
Just asking "for a friend"...
Eomecon chionantha (Snow Poppy)
On the right, Cedrus deodora 'Cream Puff'? Totally a guess, but I love the two textures together.
Oh to have a sea of happy Podophyllum like this.
Back outside I noticed this Nicotiana loving the heat in an off-limits section.
There was one more shady area to explore, but I neglected to take photos there.
Other than to imagine what a nightmare this must be.
Agreed.
Oh! And speaking of buying plants, Nowlins Bridge Perennials will be selling their plants at the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon's plant sale, Hortlandia, on April 15 and 16! Details here.
Weather Diary, March 22: Hi 55, Low 42/ Precip .10
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
My dream job would be writing nusery reviews. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteOh! Can you imagine getting paid to visit nurseries!? (well, evidently you can) That would be wonderful.
DeleteLove those umbrella pines but I, of course, first noticed the pot of Geranium phaeum next to them since it's one of my faves. I think those are the dread branches/needles from one of my now deceased evergreens. Every spring I used to put on heavy gloves and run my hands up and down the branches knocking off the dead stuff. Don't miss that job or the plant.
ReplyDeleteThe tall Douglas Fir trees growing behind us reward me every year for my fighting the developer not to cut them down. The "reward" is in the form of male cones, falling and falling and falling. I've often wondered if I should stop using gravel much and start using the cones instead. (all that is to say I understand the sentiment)
DeleteLooks like a great nursery well worth the drive. Okay, the sign alone was worth the drive but they had a lot of really cool plants!
ReplyDeleteThey did...can't wait to see what they bring to Hortlandia.
DeleteAnother great nursery with an impressive variety of plants but I must ask: what exactly would you do with that giant grain silo thingy?
ReplyDeleteIt would be a place to grow vines!
DeleteI love exploring nurseries, can't think of a better thing to do except exploring botanical gardens. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat rusty disc looks like a train wheel. Bet you could find lots of such things by visiting a train yard and asking to look at their junk pile. Better bring a burly friend, just in case. ;)
Sounds dangerous! And yes, gardens and nurseries...the makings of a perfect vacation! (who needs beaches?)
DeleteIt's what I like to do on vacations, beaches are boring in comparison. ;)
DeleteGreat selection, indeed. Those Mahonia gracilipes are drool-worthy. I hope mine burst into growth this year...and the rabbits stay away from them...
ReplyDeleteThey were picture perfect.
DeleteI could totally see you making a cool planter out of those rusty round things. Or maybe the whole stack of them, looking like an Elizabethan collar around the neck of an Agave.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you think!
DeleteSome very interesting plants--the Franklinia hybrid is quite stunning--but seeing Oregon looking rather dry is a bit of a shock after all the PNW puddle photos of this winter. So your state does dry out every few years?
ReplyDeleteYou're joking right? Every summer. Tinder dry in the summer, soggy in the winter. Although this year I am starting to wonder if we'll ever dry out.
DeleteLovely landscape photo from the drive: it exudes warm weather.
ReplyDeleteI'm also a fan of Umbrella pine, unfortunately I can't accommodate it's eventual size. The sign is so good, I laughed out loud. A perfect way to start my Friday.
Ya, that thing does get big. As for the warmth, I could almost feel it.
DeleteNice nursery and love that sign. I have a very tiny twig-of-a-thing xGordlinia that I'm watching carefully to see if it comes back this year. It went all deciduous and I hope it's still alive.
ReplyDeleteSea of happy Podophyllum? Yes, please.
I was never impressed with Spigelia marilandica until I bought one because it was touted as a great hummingbird plant. Much more impressive in person, and so far I'm very happy with it.
Road trip! Road trip!
ReplyDelete