Thursday, May 25, 2017

A May visit to Joy Creek Nursery

Free sunny days are for working in the garden, whereas free rainy days are for visiting nurseries. That's why I found myself at Joy Creek Nursery on a rainy Friday morning...

Rodgersia all around Oregon reveled in the cool, rainy days we'd been experiencing.

The Hosta are pretty happy too.

And I suppose the Syneilesis are enjoying it as well.

Rheum (Ornamental Rhubarb)

I do love discovering the odd decorative bits tucked in among the plants in the display garden.

I have no idea what this is, but marveled at the shiny orange bark and how it contrasted with the bright green foliage.

Ah, I remember this scene from our "Blogger's" visit in January.

Looks like the Rodgersia across the path don't care for their increased sun exposure.

The decorative piece on this old gate caught my eye.

As did the exuberant growth of the blood grass...

And then there was this! Embothrium coccineum...

The blooms on my own plant are so high up in the sky I don't get to enjoy them up close like I could this one.

OMG! Clematis recta 'Purpurea'...seeing this huge clump corralled like it is gave me pause scared the crap out of me.

I don't have room for this in my garden! (and yet I do have the plant...)

Calycanthus floridus

Strolling the display garden all by yourself is a magical thing...

Great structure for a Clematis to climb?

Seeing this nice patch of orange blooming Euphorbia makes me wonder if I should release my E. griffithii ‘Fireglow’ — since it's slowly fading in the shady stock tank its confined to.

For the longest time whenever Andrew saw a plant he didn't know the name of he called it "Bee Balm" — I have no idea why. I do, however, find myself thinking "Joe Pye Weed" whenever I see a tall plant that I don't know the name of — like when I saw this one. Am I right? Wait, maybe that's Lilium foliage?

Why do these remind me of my childhood? I don't think my mom grew them. Would they have grown wild around Eastern Washington? A quick Google search tells me they're native to Europe, although they have escaped into the wild in the U.S.

Sad Dasylirion, sadder Yucca (I think) to its right.

At least there's still green on the Dasylirion.

Of course I had to check on the Agaves.

They're looking fine.

And now....to the retail area! It looks so different from when we were there in January. Thank god.

Lot's of little vignettes to explore...

The shady area...

Blechnum spicant, fertile fronds.

So...what did I come home with? Well one of those beautiful Blechnum spicant...

Of course...

And a tiny, blooming, Embothrium coccineum. I have room for another, right?

And a pair of Saxifraga ‘Primuloides’ — which is what sent me out there in the first place, at least partially. More on that tomorrow!

Weather Diary, May 24: Hi 66, Low 49/ Precip 0"

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

27 comments:

  1. What are these "free days" you mention? Really though, is there a better way to spend one (whatever it is) than at this great and inspiring nursery?

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    1. The answer is no, no there is not. And I pray you get one of those free days soon. All work and no play makes Alan a very dull boy.

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  2. There's always room for another Embothrium coccineum. Centaurea montana grows in gardens in Alaska so it's most likely very happy in Eastern Washington. It's always fun to wander around the gardens at Joy Creek to say nothing of the fun of the sales areas.

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    1. Fun and very very dangerous to the pocket-book.

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  3. Did the Dasylirion and Yucca always looked that poorly or was that the result of last winter?

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    1. The Dasylirion and yucca took a horrid hit from this winter. There is a bit of green on the Dasilyrion but we'll have to wait and see if it will pull through. They used to look spectacular but **sigh** no more.

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    2. Yep, as Tamara said, it was last winter's evil that caused the demise of these plants. They were always the first thing I visited at Joy Creek after parking. They were spectacular.

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  4. I think you may be working on/collecting plants for your fern table. Am I right? I didn't know there were Agaves in the display garden at Joy Creek.

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    1. Bingo (fern table)! The Agaves are at the back of the house. I wouldn't have known about them either but I met with Mike and Maurice in their offices a few years back and discovered them.

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  5. Sweet! Sorry I missed you! The "bee balm" is a lily, Lilium regale, a spectacular bloom. I"m so glad you got an Emothrium, I am toying with getting one too. The Clematis recta - yes, that's as big as it gets if it's any comfort to you...And the deer fern - I bought three of those this week too. Did you see that Saxifrage spilling out of the pot in the display? We've sold more of that plant lately because of that vignette. Thanks for the great post, Loree!! :)

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    1. I was hopeful that I'd see at least one of you three there, It was nice to chat with Anna but I would have loved to see you and Ricki too. Re: the Saxifrage, spilling out one of the fern tables?

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  6. That's a remarkably pretty display garden - the closest equivalent we have to it is Seaside Gardens in Carpinteria, 2-3 hours away. I've fallen in love with Centaurea (which aren't so easy to find here).

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    1. Hmm...hard for my mind to compare Seaside Gardens (which is AMAZING) with Joy Creek, but not for lack fabulousness at Joy Creek. Just my jealousy over the plant palette.

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  7. Fun to be on tour of Joy creek with you. Great gardens and great plants!

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    1. Come on out to Oregon and tour for real sometime!

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  8. That Saxifrage is the cutest little thing.

    Good grief, are you still getting rain?!? Not fair!

    My Joy Creek Clems are growing like crazy. A great nursery!

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    1. Nope to the rain. This visit was Friday May 12th. I think that might have been the end of it.

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  9. One should never visit Portland without a visit to Joy Creek, Cistus and Portland Nursery.

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    1. Right you are! So when are you coming up?

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  10. You and Peter are killing me with these nursery visits. I actually have a bunch of mail order plants that it's been too cold and wet to get into the ground. I have the first three plants you pictured and they love this weather. The gardener not so much.

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    1. I can imagine what you're going through...and I am sorry! I didn't think it would ever get sunny and warm here, thankfully it has. I hope it comes to your part of the world soon!

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  11. Nice. The Embothrium really is more on the orange side, isn't it? Well, what am I saying? I don't have room for it. I love that Saxifraga. I don't think I've ever met a Saxi I didn't love.

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    1. It is definitely on the orange end of the spectrum (which makes me very happy)...So do you like the Saxifraga blooms?

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  12. :: wonder if I should release my E. griffithii ‘Fireglow’ ::

    As in, "Release the hounds!" It's worth doing to save the plant for that dose of color, but it will mean a bunch of weeding out seedlings. Just so you know.

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  13. Much improved from the "downer" visit in January. I also love all the odd decorative bits.
    E. griffithii ‘Fireglow’ is divine. I killed mine with neglect and should try again.

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  14. What a glorious place. You're lucky to live so close.

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  15. I think you should always have an Embothrium small enough to see the flowers at eye level, so good work getting another one. Nice writeup. I get to wander that garden several days a week and it never gets old. Sorry one of those days did not coincide with your visit.

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