Monday, March 30, 2020

Shopping while social distancing at Joy Creek Nursery...

Like many other states, Oregon is currently under a "stay-at-home" order issued by our governor at the request of the mayors of our most populous cities. That was not the case back on March 18th when I took a road trip out Highway 30 to visit Joy Creek and Cistus Nurseries, back then we were simply being asked to maintain a 6-ft distance from others...

Having visited previously on late winter/early spring weekdays I knew I would likely be the only person there, and I was right. The gorgeous weather was part of why I'd allowed myself the distraction, how nice to get out and wander a display garden while temporarily putting the world's worries behind me.

I never tire of photographing this small metal pot.

Or the tall arching bamboo...

I've attended and been involved in a few wonderful classes here. I was looking forward to this year's schedule, hopefully several will still be able to happen.

Check out those beefy stems on their Podophyllum pleianthum!

You may have noticed an "empty" hoop in the air above a clump of cut-back grass in the shot with the outdoor classroom. Here's one still corralling some dead stems. What a simple solution to floppy plants.

Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire', I believe.

While the stump itself is interesting...

The shelf fungus is crazy cool.

I bet this has been a popular spot with the local bird population.

There was a label sort of hung on one of this tree's branches, Manglietia insignis (aka Magnolia insignis), but that has a pink blush to the blooms.

These were definitely white.

But if it's a pink magnolia you're after, that's here too...

I love the moss and the spiral plant corral.

Of course I took a moss close up.

My friend the Dasylirion wheeleri, I have to visit it every time I come to Joy Creek.

That goes for the Agave neomexicana too, of course.

They're perfect!

Crazy sprinkler face, you see it too, yes?

Time to shop! Looks like it's also time to bring out the Ensete ventricosum 'maurelii' that have been overwintered elsewhere.

Indeed I had the whole place to myself! Well except my friends the owners/employees. It was wonderful to visit with them from across the tables. I should have taken a photo...

Here's your chance to own a good size Dasylirion wheeleri, I usually only see these available as tiny plants.

I wonder how many years this well-weathered sign has directed traffic?

Epimedium 'Frohnleiten'

Erythronium revolutum

The Saxifraga! I almost forgot they're part of why I was here.

This one is Saxifraga 'Cockscomb', I did not get one of them....although I should have.

But I did go a little crazy and got several others. Clockwise beginning in the upper left hand corner: Saxifraga x longifolia hybrid (2 of them), S. paniculata f. rosea, S. x geum 'Dentata' (2 of them), S. cotyledon 'Caterhamensis' and S. x macnabiana. Unfortunately those great colors won't last once the weather starts to warm (they'll turn to green), but that's okay.

I hope you enjoyed this virtual nursery stroll. If you've got a hankering to do some of your own shopping Joy Creek does mail order, and if you're local you can order online and do a will-call pick-up. See their Facebook page for details. Tomorrow I'll share my visit to Cistus Nursery!

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Weather Diary, Mar 29: Hi 59, Low 48/ Precip .18"

All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

25 comments:

  1. What a great nursery to browse through and on your own no less. I do see the crazy hose face. Ha Ha! As well could see a hovering baby T. rex in the giant stump. Fun.

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    1. It is a fun place, sprinkler face or no sprinkler face.

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  2. What a great looking nursery. Love the plant rings etc. I planted that Podophyllum last fall. Hope it made it through the winter. Too early to know in my zone.

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    1. Hopefully you'll file a report on your blog when the time comes!

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  3. I got excellent Clematis from them a couple of years ago. All healthy and shooting skyward as I type. Love the mossy pilaster and the rusty pot.

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    1. They grow healthy plants at JC, that's for sure!

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  4. I'm suffering from severe nursery/garden center withdrawal so thanks for the tour. While I think Roger's an hour away is still open to walk-in customers, my nearby Armstrong is now open for pick-up orders only. I'll probably resort to that and mail orders soon...

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    1. I managed an email/phone order for a couple of things from my neighborhood nursery, Garden Fever. After paying for them on the phone I was able to pick up curbside. It's not as fun as shopping for the plants yourself but at least it's something.

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  5. Oh, wow. That dasylirion is incredible. I missed my opportunity to buy a nice one two summers ago and have regretted it ever since. Beautiful plants! It also looks like a primo spot for that agave neomexicana. Someone once said, "there's always an agave ... if you look hard enough" or something like that. :)

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    1. Those Agave neomexicana are AMAZING, and yes, I believe you're right about those wise words...

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  6. What a fun, relaxing day it must have been. Those saxis are sexy.

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    1. It was a wonderful day, I want to do it all over again...

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  7. Nurseries and garden centers should be 'essential' businesses, don't you think? ;)
    Love the close-up of Agave neomexicana, a great photo!

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    1. Actually they are here in Oregon. Most are open in some capacity, curb-side pick up or the like.

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  8. Aw, thank you Loree! It was a thrill to see you (and hard not to give you a hug!). You're the best, Joy Creek and everyone here says howdy and thank you for the lovely post. Cheers.

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement to come out, I am so glad I did.

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  9. Thanks for the tour, Loree. The succulents tucked here and there are so special. Our garden centers here are starting to promote shopping online or calling ahead, and they'll do drive-up/pickup options. Starting my lists now. Hang in there!

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    1. Yay! Glad to know you've got some plant relief on the horizon.

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  10. Oh, the old days, when visiting a nursery didn't mean risking your life or breaking the social order. Shelf fungus. I'd love to know how one goes about introducing it to one's garden logs and stumps. I have a number of saxifraga but not'Cockscomb'. This one is a riot!

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    1. Ya wouldn't be nice if you could "plant" shelf fungus?

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  11. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. I really like those succulents that look like someone took pinking shears to the edges of the petals.

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    1. The Saxifraga? I used to have so many of them...I don't know what happened but I am going to hang on to these!

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  12. Ambientazione meravigliosa e piante perfette, le immagini parlano da sole :)

    Ti auguro una buona giornata.

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    1. Grazie per la visita, spero che tu stia andando bene!

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  13. I did not know about this place! Am definitely going to have to head out there soon (and stop by Cistus as well)!

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