Bricks and basalt remind me of home

Heading into Spokane from the west—and either of my adopted cities of Seattle or Portland—you arrive via Interstate 90. As you descend Sunset Hill, downtown Spokane and the city beyond comes into view (I don't have a photo but there's a nice one here). This has always been scene that greets me and tells me I'm home. It wasn't until a friend of one of my brother's compared Spokane's downtown to something from the Great Depression, that I realized just how many of the downtown buildings are made of brick. What's familiar doesn't stand out until someone else draws your attention to it. 

Brick is a common building material for both commercial buildings and homes in Spokane. Back in the day there was a perfect storm of population and infrastructure growth, and a desire to avoid flammable materials after the fire of 1889 destroyed much of Spokane's downtown core. Plus clay is was readily available to make those bricks. 

Basalt rock is another feature of Spokane's landscape. You see columns of it along the roadside, homes on Spokane's South Hill have basalt mounds that just pop out of the landscape at random. My house there had a natural rock wall along the south side of the property, a basalt mound that stood taller than my home.

All of this reminiscing about bricks and rocks was brought about by turning right when I was meant to turn left and driving by these rock planters in the South Perry District of Spokane...

I'd forgotten all about them until suddenly there they were, right in front of me. Back in the day (the very early aughts) I drove by them regularly on the way to a friend's house. Maybe that muscle memory is why I automatically turned right, instead of the left my GPS was indicating?

The same design continues down the street a bit. It would seem this was all once part of a larger, historic estate.

I'd love the chance to get in there and plant them up with something dramatic, rather than the fake (plastic) plants and flowers in front of the brick home, and the filmy soft business in front of the second.

More rockwork in front of the next property down the street.

Back at the original pair and the view beyond in the other direction.

Across the street was this old brick home and what looks to be a fine greenhouse.

Enlarging the photo I couldn't see any signs of plants in the greenhouse. Ah well, not everyone wants to have a greenhouse full of plants, isn't that odd?

The Bit at the End

I have to share a favorite Spokane comparison quote of my husband's: "Spokane looks like it was painted by Edward Hopper, but it's populated by Dennis Hopper." Speaking of Dennis Hopper, David Lynch is quoted as saying this about his film Blue Velvet: "Blue Velvet is a very American movie. The look of it was inspired by my childhood in Spokane, Washington." Ah Spokane... you do tug at my heart.

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