A view looking out across mom's garden. Most of the plants we bought went into containers on the back deck, where I'm standing when I took this photo...
Spokane is a little behind Portland as far as spring plant development, so I got to see my mom's shredded umbrella plants (Syneilesis aconitifolia) in their fuzzy state, whereas mine are all grown up and green now.
This ginormous, beautiful green monster is a climbing hydrangea (no clue of its name), there is a trellis under there, somewhere. Mom says it blooms white, I don't remember seeing the flowers but I must have.
I'm sure I take multiple photos of this Rheum palmatum every time I visit, it's just so good!
We bought our plants at the same time (way back in 2011), mine is long gone—I wanted the space for sun loving plants that need less water—but mom's just keeps on keeping on.
So here's our haul photo from the day's shopping. We were both a little bummed at the selection on offer at our favorite stops (here for example) as we didn't find many of he unusual offerings we had in the past. Were we shopping too early in the season? Are there less plants to be had this year? Dunno, thankfully we managed to buy a few things.
Lots of Phormium 'Mat's Merlot', which went into multiple containers around the garden. Funny thing, she paid $16.95, $5.95 and $9.49 for these at different nurseries, plant prices do vary!
Dahlias (dark foliage at the back), lemon grass, Uncinia rubra 'Belinda's Find', red begonia and a striped cordyline.
I practically twisted her arm to get this orange blooming abutilon which will be an annual in Spokane. I pray it continues to pump out blooms all summer long.
Potato vine, wire vine, lobelia, asst. succulents, and a coleus round out our container-filling haul.
I was so tired and dirty after I got everything planted I took a shower and forgot to take "after" photos! (there may have been a glass of wine and a delicious bbq dinner to distract me)
Here are the two (only two!) plants I came home with...
Hosta 'Rainbow's End', cause I loved that variegation...
And a coleus (!), I haven't grown coleus for many, many years—but look at how dark it is with that thin green outline, I had to have it (mom got one too). It's part of something called the "Main Street Coleus" series that is bred to work in sun and shade, this one is Lombard Street. Other famous street names in the series include Ashbury, Bourbon Street, Rodeo Drive, and Alligator Alley. Can you imagine the meetings where these names were thought up?
Four days away from the garden in early May is hard—there's so much to do and things are changing fast—plus my time away coincided with a mini-heat wave here at home (two days over 90 bracketed by days in the 80's) so I was a little concerned what I'd find on my return. Thankfully the heat came after a very wet week (1.78" of rain!), so my plants did fine, even the ones in containers that I took steps to protect.
A few new blooms greeted me, like this Lewisia rediviva, aka bitterroot. Its succulent leaves are already going dormant, I think the flower looks a lot like a cactus bloom.
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That coleus, oof I've gotta get my hands on one, or three. The orange abutilon is gorgeous, I don't think I've seen one bloom that color before? Your mom's garden is gorgeous, even better after adding the new guys. What a fun weekend!
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find the coleus locally, and maybe the abutilon too?
DeleteThat sounds like an excellent way to spend your Mother's Day weekend! The large price differences for the Phormium were interesting but maybe smaller garden centers don't price check their competitors very often. I'm glad to see that your Salvia africana-lutea is doing well. The next time you're down this way, you should remind me to give you some cuttings.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great way to spend the weekend. Oh and I should have written that price issue better. Actually the two cheaper prices were at the same nursery just a few hours apart. I think the $5.95 was a misquote and when we went back for more they were then $9.95. (thanks for the cuttings offer!)
DeleteI didn't realize your mom was a plant enthusiast too. Excellent. Love her garden seating area. And come on, now you've got me wanting Coleus. Coleus for godsake.Too cool. Sounds like a lovely long weekend. Cheers to you and Mom.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, my mom and dad were my first gardening inspirations! And I have to give credit to my brother (who has lived with my mom since my dad died) for the excellent seating area.
DeleteHow lovely you can spend a weekend long with mom, doing something you both are passionate about. Pretty darn perfect, and that's before the BBQ and wine...
ReplyDeleteI really could have used that dark Phormium your mom got. Winter did a number on my potted one by the front door. I'm not spending $60 on a replacement from a Seattle nursery. Those 3 would have look better than the original for half that price. Almost worth a trip to Spokane :-D
Chavli
My brother manned the bbq like an old pro, it was a great weekend. Seriously? $60? I'm pretty sure that phormium came from T&L which is in the Woodinville area, they were quart sized, surely you can find them locally?
DeleteJudy sold her nursery to a new owner at the end of last year. I haven't been there yet this spring, but the change in ownership probably had something to do with the plant selection. Best place for annuals in Spokane? Hasse's.
ReplyDeleteWell that explains it! Darn it. Judy had such a great eye for cool plants. We basically drove right by Hasse on our way up to Barn & Blossom, which I also found rather disappointing (although that's where we bought the first phormium).
DeleteLove the Lewisia rediviva! It certainly does look like a cactus flower! And the "Main Street" coleus is to die for! So interesting on the prices for the same plant even in the same size!
ReplyDeleteI know that lewisia can be tricky to get established, I really hope I found a spot it will like. And I'm glad you agree that it looks like a cactus flower, I'm not crazy!
DeleteGotta say, I agree with you on the poor plant selection this year. I've been to several nurseries this spring and most have chosen to focus on humdrum, water-thirsty common bedding plants and shrubs. That Rheum palmatum is a stunner and your Lewisia is amazing. I love those plants that put out flowers bigger than the rest of their body - definitely cactus-like in that regard too.
ReplyDelete