An April visit to Spokane, Washington

I've recently returned from an extended stay in Spokane with my mom, while my brother was off getting some well deserved R & R. Naturally there were plant capers, this photo was taken at Judy's Enchanted Garden, where mom stocked up on flowering plants to add color to her summer garden. The lady who was working that morning could not have been more helpful, including taking our photo.

After Judy's we visited Appleway Florist and Greenhouse, and a couple of big box stores. Here's mom's haul...

There were several picture-perfect Pulsatilla vulgaris already blooming in mom's garden, I couldn't resist snapping a few photos, but managed to edit down to just one.

While in Spokane I was able visit the gardens of a couple plant-people friends, one I've known for years, Cathi, and one I've followed online and just finally met in person, Michael. I'll have future posts on both of their gardens, but today I'm sharing photos of the nurseries/garden centers I visited. I stopped in at Barn & Blossom on my way to Cathi's. 

This location used to be Tower Perennials, but was sold a few years back. The new owners are definitely capitalizing on the beautiful location, it has more of an event space vibe now.

Although there are still hoop houses full of plants for sale.

I think there's a cafe in the mix too.

Next stop (after Cathi's) Haase's Greenhouse...

Here's the crazy thing, they're celebrating 75 years in business, and this is the first time I've been there! I grew up in Spokane, I moved back (from Seattle) in 1998 and in the early 2000's owned a house just 3.5 miles away, and yet I'd not visited until last week.

A greenhouse named Petunia...

I'd hate to be standing under that in a rainstorm.

So as you look at these photos I want you to think about this fact. Haase's is only open for 3 months a year; April, May, and June. They are closed from July-February (yes I realize that leaves out March, I wonder what that's about? Maybe hedging their bets and open if they want to be?).

This is a lot of plants to sell in just 3 months.

Spokane gardeners must turn out in a very big way to buy from Haase's...

Yes that's moss growing on the liner under the sweet potato vine.

Begonias! ($4.75 ea)

There were many Fuchsia...

And oh so many Coleus ($4.50 ea).

This was a surprise, I think he was just taking a nap?

Senecio candidans 'Angel Wings' was available in every nursery or garden center I visited in Spokane. It must be a very popular annual there.

I suspect there have been issues.

In case you're wondering just how big this place is...

One of these things is not like the others. Before I left I meant to ask if they wanted to get rid of that lone aloe, but I forgot.

Out back. Yes I always make it a point to nose around the entire nursery area if I can.

Oh gosh no. Please don't sell the dreaded Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegata' (variegated bishop’s weed) without a warning! Sure, they say "aggressive" but really that word should be in bold caps and highlighted.

Another day, another nursery; the Plant Farm is where I spotted this Aglaonema pictum tricolor, or yes, the camouflage plant. A tropical houseplant, I managed to leave it behind.

One last nursery, which I visited simply to see the greenhouse structure again, Liberty Park Greenhouse. I occasionally drove by this nursery when I lived in Spokane, as it was just a mile and a half from my house.

So many bedding annuals!

This hybrid Delphinium 'Red Lark' caught my eye, but I left it behind.

So what did I bring home? A bunch of dark sempervivum from my mom's garden...

For years I've considered her a "hens and chicks" pusher, generously giving a handful of plants if you asked about them. This time though, she told me to dig them up and take them all, she was done with them. There may have been mention of the flowers and the fact they "look like a penis" (so said my aunt, and my mom couldn't stop seeing it there after). 

Okay... they'll be doing their penis thing in my garden now.

From my mom's garden I also clipped this little piece of fasciated or crested growth on Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'. I'm hoping it will transplant well and keep growing in my garden.

Mom bought herself a Crassula 'Garnet Lotus' and picked up one for me too.

The rest of my haul are all gift plants from my visit to Michael's garden. First up, Impatiens morsei (Velvet Love)...

A leaf cutting from Begonia 'Taconite', Michael's plants were showing off an impressive blue iridescence. 

And a rhizome cutting of Begonia 'Steve's Leaves Deb's Fireflies' 

And finally (saved till the end) a group photo of all the good things from Michael, including an amazing fern!

Neolepisorus ovatus

Michael bought the mother plant on a trip to Hawaii and has since cut the rhizome and propagated additional plants. I feel so very lucky to have been given one and just hope I can keep it alive!

The Bit at the End

If you're in the area, Spokane has quite a selection of spring plant sales. The Master Gardener Foundation of Spokane County held their spring sale last weekend (info here), unfortunately even though I was in town I missed it. The big Spokane Garden Expo happens on May 9th, and on June 6th the Friends of Manito Park hold their plant sale. 

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The Oregon Orchid Society’s 81st Orchid Show and Sale

Last Saturday I attended the Oregon Orchid Society’s Show and Sale. This was the second year in a row that I visited (last year's report here). One side of the room was devoted to plants (and accessories) for sale, on the other, tables were set up with a judged display. In real life I looked at the plants for sale first (scanning for ferns), but I'm going switch it up for this post...

I don't remember this last year, but there were several magnifying glasses laying around the display for folks to use to get a close-up look at the plants, as this fellow was doing.

Tempting.

Brassia gireoudiana, native to Costa Rica and Panama (yes, those are huge googly eyes on the wall behind the display).

Bulbophyllum NoID

Galeopetalum Arlene Armour ‘Conching’, I love how the brown looks as though it was painted on green petals. 

I enjoyed seeing this random bowl of Pinguicula worked into the display, since I'm still trying to decide how to best grow the ones I was recently given (if they don't die first).

This was interesting, a tree fern trunk (I believe the fellow working the booth said it was a Cyathea) drilled and planted.

Such fabulous markings.

The fibrous bits...

Okay, let's shop! Although honestly, I don't know if boxes full of plants in plastic bags will ever seem like a good thing to me (several importers bring plants to the show's sale).

This tillandsia was flat as a pancake, will it ever fluff up into a full plant again?

Cyathea arborea

A very tall, very flat, bromeliad...

Love those dark leaves, Solanum uleanum, $50.

A show like this offers fantastic people watching, and eavesdropping. Some of my favorite overheard remarks: "When I was in the jungles of Peru I found one that had fallen from a tree and I smuggled it back"... "I’m really more of a Hoya person" (yes, there were Hoya on offer, as well as lots of Anthurium)... "I don't really like it but I suppose I need to add this to my collection" if you don't like it, don't buy it, geez! And from a small child in the bathroom "...but I don't want to wash my hands!" Ugh.

There were fewer ferns on offer this year than last, and I arrived at the show earlier. Platycerium...

Selliguea platyphylla. 

Last year this same size plant was going for $55, this year $30. Seems like a bargain right?

I came home with this one.

And once I pulled back the plastic I was thrilled to discover a tiny new frond at the base.

When I saw the company name on my emailed receipt (TropicalExotique Asiatic Flora LLC ) I realized I'd bought my ant fern (Lecanopteris lomaroides) from the same folks at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle.

It's doing well, I'm watching those two little nubbins as they're getting bigger. Could new fronds be in the making? I hope so!

The Bit at the End

Free online lecture alert! Life in the Shade: Exploring Lotusland’s Fern Garden on May 13th. Free! Ferns! Lotusland!...Register here.

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All material © 2009-2026 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.