Well those of you who bet I’d come home with a few plants were correct. After all there were so many special plants to choose from! (incase you can’t read the print on the orange sign above it says “Special Plants for special people").I wasn’t being disingenuous last week when I said I might not buy anything at the Fall HPSO Sale. I’m in a mood. Where others see fall and all its beauty, I sometimes forget that and only see that which comes next (WINTER). I didn't feel like subjecting new plant friends to the evil grasp of the Winter Warlock.
But the joy of shopping on a warm fall day took over and I bought a few things, five things actually: a test subject, a duplicate, an addition to a collection, and a pair of sexy new acquaintances. But before I introduce you let’s take a very quick spin around the sale.The first interesting thing that caught my eye was this Shishi botan, Farfugium.
It looked like lettuce.
There were a few chuckles when we saw this Ratibida or Mexican Hat.
What beautiful color! 
My Mahonia infatuation continues. They have so many different looks.
And speaking of infatuation…my ability to resist the big leaved Rhododendrons is slipping away. Every time I see one I get closer to buying. The HPSO spring sale might be the final straw. For now I resisted.
And going to the other end of the spectrum this Rhododendron stenopetalum linearifolium is equally appealing.
Surprisingly a couple of conifers tempted me. I’ve always loved the coloration on this one (sorry to busy talking to remember to get the name).
And this Himalayan Pine! Not only is it a beauty with its subtle yellow/green variegation but it is so so soft! 
There were a few agaves in attendance. Not nearly as many as at the spring sale.
I meant to go back and pick up one of these. It’s obviously not a plant you want to carry around with you. I completely forgot about it until I saw these pictures!
Looks like I might be making a trip out to Hana Farms to pick it up. Which actually might work to my advantage (assuming he didn’t sell out at the sale) because he’s closing the nursery and as of the 23rd everything is 30% off. This is sad news, his booth was one I always enjoyed visiting at the shows.Okay, the new plants….
the test subject
A small $4 Acacia pravissima. I’ll kep my larger one in a container where I can protect it during any freak cold snaps and put this little guy in the ground. We’ll see how that goes.
the duplicate
I had regretted only buying on of this gorgeous Dyckia hybrid, Burgundy Ice at the YGP Show in the spring. Now I have two!
the addition to a collection
An Eryngium proteiflorum (that’s it above with the Dyckia too). This one turned out to be a major score! And I just bought it because I love Eryngiums and didn’t have this one. Little did I know that the blooms look like this!...
Bloom photos borrowed from: http://jehuite.blogspot.com/
According to Annie’s Annuals: A rare, STUNNING Eryngium from Mexico that bears very large, silvery white, Protea-like blooms on erect, multi-branching stems, 3’ to 5’ tall. Lustrous, jagged-edged, silvery foliage, too. Thrives in poor, dry, well-drained soil & fab in a container. Incredible cut flower fresh or dried.I may just put it in a container like they suggest. All the better to give it that “dry, well-drained soil” it wants.
the pair of sexy new acquaintances
Phlebodium pseudoaureum or Blue Fern. I first saw these in someone else’s hands at the sale. I was curious.And very excited when I found them and saw they weren’t too expensive and they should grow here in the ground (zone 8-10). Crazy foliage!
That’s my wrap up. So if you went, what did you buy?
If he had told me they were common little Lobeila the plant snob in me probably wouldn’t have bothered to have a look, I’m glad he didn’t know. They were worth seeing; little electric splashes in a dirt brown strip. The kind of unexpected surprise the makes me smile.
Just up the street a bit is this tree, I love its cool cartoon shape. 
This is what my photo assistant does while I snap the pictures, it’s a tough gig but the pay is good (free room and board).
I’ve blogged before about a 
My friend Erin bought one of these plants at the HPSO sale over the weekend (yes I bought a couple of things too...more on that tomorrow) and a helpful fellow shopper told her she could very easily propagate more plants by planting the seeds from the pod in the fall. Have any of you had success with them?
I love these luscious large Datura blossoms. CORRECTION....make that Brugmansia (thanks for catching that one ricki!)
I missed them in the garden this year. Next year I'll be investing in a good size plant early in the season.
I did start Amaranth seeds this spring. Mine never amounted to anything. 
Seeing these makes me want to give it a go again next year.
Somewhere under the Ivy is the rest of this house. Yikes.
Verbascum seedlings taking hold between the street and the curb. 
Free apples! Oh wait...no only 'apple,' does that mean you can only take one?
Okay fellow Portlanders this one’s for you… 
Containers…
