One last post from my October trip north to the Seattle area. I ended up with a few open minutes after the Bellevue Botanical Garden, so I hit nearby Wells Medina Nursery.
She found her special pumpkin.
I am so thankful most nurseries have been able to remain open through much of this COVID crazy year. I can't imagine what my world would be like had that not been the case.
Love this color/texture combo, that's Calluna Skyline series on the left, sadly I didn't make note of what the purple foliage on the right was
Funny, I forgot I'd been lusting after this Erica arborea 'Estrella Gold' here, I bought one shortly after this, back in Portland.
Dreamy coloration...
I think I've offically given up on Hebe pimeleoides 'Quicksilver', it just doesn't look good in my garden, not like it does here.
More than just a pretty flower, ha! The ones I have, I grow not caring if they ever bloom.
Rhododendron land...
That's some bright foliage, I do like the idea of it going black in winter.
Where as I'd grow Yummy Yak only if I got to say it's name a lot.
Still a very well-stocked nursery for October, with not many people milling about. Then again it was a weekday.
Rhododendron 'Elizabeth Red Foliage'
I love the shape of these hanging baskets, if not the materials. I need to find something similar that's metal. Not that I have any place for more hanging containers.
Geranium maculatum 'Crane Dance'... love this foliage, but the two other dark-leaved geraniums I've tried both disappeared after their first year. Have you had success?
Finally, Aruncus dioicus 'Kneiffii', aka cutleaf goat's beard. I've never grown goat's beard, but this foliage was tempting.
Weather Diary, Nov 23: Hi 52, Low 41/ Precip .15" All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I've taken out a shabby looking Hebe 'Quicksilver' only to see it coming back the following year... now I make sure regularly prune it for a fuller look. Time will tell if my new approach succeeds. Despite earlier failures with Rhodies, I had my eye on a fantastic new specimens (black'ish foliage!) called EverRed. I'll be trying it early next year.
ReplyDeleteI was going to say I have 'EverRed' but now I see it's actually Rhododendron 'Wine and Roses'. I do love EverRed though and hope it does well for you.
DeleteThat is one beautiful nursery! I wish we had a better selection of hardy Rhodies locally. I ordered two online and they've made it through the season. They are caged against critters and ready for winter. We'll see if they make it. Alas I tried heathers with no luck.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for your rhododendrons!
DeleteAll your nurseries look like heaven to me, especially as I've restricted my visits to my local garden center for months now. I really need to try Erica, although you don't see the plants often here. I also reluctantly gave up on Hebe 'Quicksilver' when it became very twiggy and didn't rejuvenate with pruning. I still have an empty space in its former spot. I tried growing Aruncus in my former garden and it didn't take but then my experience probably isn't representative of what yours would be.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I found with Hebe 'Quicksilver' too, nothing helped it regain it's beauty.
DeleteMy favorite rhodies are the ones with indumentum and tomentum flocking on their leaves - so wooly!
ReplyDeleteYa, they're pretty spectacular.
DeleteMy luck with Geraniums came from taking cuttings at the end of the season, sticking them in water where they develop roots then replanting them in the spring.
ReplyDeleterickii
Hmmm, good to know! Perhaps I'll let myself experiment with a coupld of new ones this coming spring.
DeleteKneiffii forms a loose 3' high and wide shrub in the shade. It's very cold/heat tolerant in my climate so should do well in yours. Looks awesome with coarse/large foliage. Would love to be able to grow that Midnight Ruby rhodie.
ReplyDeleteGood to know!
DeleteI have three goatsbeards, including cutleaf,because they all thrive in my northeastern zone four garden. They take a while to get going, but are wonderful for me. However, the cutleaf one seems to disappear visually and recently I decided it needs underplanting with light leaved plants to emphasize the attractive foliage.
ReplyDeleteI wondered about that. The cut leaf chestnut disappears in my garden and their foliage is similar.
DeleteMmmm, I wish I could stop over there right now. That ornamental kale is dreamy. I have some in some pots on the front porch. It's fascinating to witness how long they'll last into our cold winters. The Rhododendrons are lush and lovely, too.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could beam you in Beth!
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