Monday, March 27, 2023

A visit to Gossler Farms Nursery

My Eugene adventure earlier in the month started here, at Gossler Farms Nursery. I've visited several times before—like the time I took home a variegated daphniphyllum—but every visit is special because you never know what you might find. This trip Andrew planned to fish the streams around the farm (rather than waiting in the car), here he and Roger Gossler are walking back from checking out the access.

In a fluke of timing two other speakers at the Eugene Home & Garden show (which is why I was there, speaking over the weekend) pulled up right behind us, so I toured through the greenhouses with Mary-Kate Mackey, Ciscoe Morris, and Roger. It was interesting to view the plants with people of such differing taste and gardening experiences.

Osmanthus armatus 'Jim Porter', tempting, very tempting—just look at those spikes!

Hellebore seedlings in the background, protected with netting held down by the terracotta tubes.

Baby trachycarpus. They look so bright and cheerful.

Conifer collection, not for sale.

Yes, there were more than just conifers in the NFS area, like this lovely mahonia. M. oiwakenses aka M. lomariifolia I believe.

Another mahonia (M. eurybracteata 'Cistus Silvers'?) with Fatsia polycarpa 'Needham's Lace'. 

Daphniphyllum macropodum

Variegated daphniphyllum, I can't remember if Roger confirmed this as Daphniphyllum teysmannii 'Mountain Dove' or not.

And of course the original large green on green variegated plant I first saw on that 2014 visit.

Speaking of variegation, check out this variegated Poncirus trifoliata branch. 

Daphne bholua (Szechuan 2006), the label was from Windcliff Plants (Dan Hinkley), the fragrance was heavenly. Isn't it fun to see what a nurseryman has collected from other nurserymen?

A ginormous cement apple tucked in among the plants. Isn't the moss pattern fabulous?

This little cutie (I cannot remember her name) kept chewing on the end of that board. Every time I almost got a photo of her in the act she stopped and gave me an innocent face.

Dryopteris wallichiana 'Jurassic Gold'

Leucothoe fontanesiana Scarletta

That color!

Cement apples weren't the only thing mixed in with the plants. This is Bennie, he did not take his eyes of Roger the whole time we were there.

Rhododendron 'Strawberry Sorbet', instant plant lust! Then I remembered that I already have one.

Hamamelis japonica 'Tsukabana Kuranami', divine fragrance!

Agaves! Agave victoriae-reginae 'Porcupine' 

Out in the garden now (in between massive downpours)...

Something about this mugo pine (I think) captured my attention. It glowed against the grey sky.

Lonicera fragrantissima. Roger broke off a branch so we could give it a whiff, I took it back to the hotel where it perfumed our room.

The shrub itself is a little awkward.

One of the Garrya elliptica...

The pollarded trees that border the drive into the nursery captured my attention the first time we visited, they're still just as enchanting.

Hamamelis blooms look even better on mossy stems.

Hey there's my #1 fisherman finding a dry spot in the #1 greenhouse... 

Off to the office to pay for my treasures, but not before appreciating the spikes under the eaves.

I remember hearing these once described as pets.

Not for sale, of course.


So what did I come home with? Here's the haul...

Rhododendron 'Everred', because I swoon over the one planted at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden every time I visit. The backside of the foliage...

This was a gift from Roger, we all went home with one. Shortia soldanelloides, look at that winter color!

And I grabbed a pot packed with Blechnum penna-marina. Thanks for spending your time with us Roger!

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10 comments:

  1. Looks like you got some beautiful plants. The fact that I planted three 'Jurassic Gold' ferns last year helped to keep my plant envy down. But those NFS conifers were to die for.

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    1. I have to admit that when massed like that, the conifers do hold a certain appeal. But I am NOT going to turn into a conifer collector. Nope. (growing up in conifer country of Eastern Wa I have already had my lifetime fill of conifers)

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  2. Such interesting plants! I love that silvery Mahonia, not that any Mahonia seems happy in my garden. That burgundy Leucothoe captivated me too but my Sunset guide makes it clear that's not a genus that would be happy in my garden either. All nurseries should have a pup or two (or a cat).

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    1. Oh Kris... you can grow so many things in your climate! It's only right that a couple of things aren't happy there.

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  3. I spend about an hour and a half going back to 2011, following one link after another of your previous posts, chasing the origin of your variegated daphniphyllum. That was a fun ride :-D
    I just purchased a scarlet Leucothe. I hope the color stays year round, though I suspect it's a cold weather 'affliction'.
    Congrats on your 'Everred'. It's satisfying to find a plant you lusted after for so long. The one I bought last year is less than half the size of yours. I read it's not a profuse bloomer, but with such unusual foliage, one or two flowers will make me happy.
    Chavli

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    1. I would have definitely bought a scarlet Leucothe if not for the fact I have a pair of Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow' that are in danger of being removed as I rework the area they're in. I mention 'Rainbow' because it holds its color year-round, maybe scarlet will too?

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  4. A cool collection of plants. Love 'Everred', swoon worthy foliage. Their collection of conifers and succulents/cacti look interesting too. I don't imagine Andrew had much fun fishing in the rain but he looks happy all the same.

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    1. No it was a little too wet for standing in a cold stream to be pleasurable.

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  5. Roger Gossler always has great colors at his nursery. I'm being told that Daphniphyllums are perfect for wet clay winter and baked concrete summer conditions.

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    1. See and I started buying them before the word got out! (that describes my garden exactly)

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