Following up on a banana tip...

I can't remember which post the comment appeared on, but a local reader asked something about this garden and referenced its location. I'd never been by, so I couldn't answer. I did however make note of the location, so I could drive by the next time I was near...

This is the front of the garden, the house is just to the right, out of frame. I'm standing on the public sidewalk.

Sun loving Yucca rostrata, with a shade loving fern at its base. Only in Portland.

Walking towards the driveway...

I'm not sharing any images of the house, because you couldn't really see much of it. This sumac blocked most of it, it's huge and gonna be gorgeous when the leaves start to color up with autumn.

Moving back towards the corner now...

That's a lot of fruit!

I'm guessing the white pipe has something to do with watering? Cause there were lots of happy bananas, no drought-stress here.

And that Tetrapanax! It's so short for the size of the trunk and the branching.

Then again all that mulch is piled up (volcano style), there were bricks stacked behind it keeping it in place, so the trunk is probably about 3 feet taller than it looks.

Did you notice the flower buds? These are crazy! None of my plants are pushing out buds yet. These have got such an early start, I'm going to have to keep an eye on them to see if they manage to bloom before a frost cuts them down this winter.

Right about here is when a nice, but concerned, lady came out to ask "can I help you?"... in other words "why are you taking pictures of my property?"... I think I managed to assure her I was only excited about the plants. Which weren't her doing, her partner is the gardener.

I kind of hoped my interest and excitement would earn me a look behind the fence but no go. She was still a little worried about what I was up to.

Just as well, I wasn't completely sure I wanted to go back there myself. They had gone to extreme lengths to make the area very private.

So I just wandered along the fence line snapping a few more photos. Hoping the cops wouldn't show up.

Look a secret door!

And just what kind of creature bites off a corner of a sign?

Lush...

And spiky!

And for sale (more garden photos if you click on the link), the lady I talked with said they just couldn't take living on a street that was getting busier and busier with each passing day.

Weather Diary, Sept 5: Hi 88, Low 62/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

If you've wanted to own a nursery and have adequate funds...

The last time I was up in Spokane I stopped in at Tower Perennials on my way out of town...

It's a nursery I have a love/hate relationship with. I love the plants, the display gardens, and have always had great interactions with the staff. The lone negative for me was the day I witnessed the owner berate his staff for not hounding the shoppers, in front of those very shoppers. Never mind they'd just touched base with us all multiple times and were nearby if we needed anything. I was so disgusted I emailed him to voice my objection. Of course he wasn't having it. He knew better, what this customer thought wasn't important.

Since that visit I hadn't returned, I'm not sure why I finally did, other than I needed to stretch my legs and collect my thoughts before starting on the long solo-drive home. I didn't intend to take photos, but habits are hard to break and the camera came out.

I was surprised to see a large selection of mangaves (manfreda/agave hybrids), especially since friends in California have had such a hard time finding these plants. Mangave 'Pineapple Express'

Mangave 'Inkblot'

Mangave 'Man of Steel'

Mangave 'Mission to Mars'

Agave stricta f. nana, with great color!

I guess why I finally decided to share these images is that the nursery is for sale. On their website it says: "The nursery is in full color now, the plants are in their prime. The nursery is also for sale if you have wanted to own a nursery and have adequate funds." Hmm, "adequate funds"...what does that even mean? Sounds like code for "we're asking more than we should"... doesn't it? Or maybe "don't waste my time if you don't have enough zeros"...I do hope someone buys it though. It's a beautiful location and really serves a need in the Spokane area.

Verbascum and opuntia, that's a nice paring.

Echinocereus coccineus about to burst into bloom, I guess I should mention this visit was in May.

Looks like there were about to be lots of opuntia flowers as well.

The verbascum must be taking a year off.

Hmmm, what are these I wonder?

Anyone able to identify?

Cylindropuntia whipplei ‘Snow Leopard’ I believe, on the right,

So beautiful!

Looking back towards the greenhouses.

Yucca nana?

Dasylirion something? Xanthorrhoea?

There's a home on the nursery grounds. I assume it could also be yours, with adequate funds.

Hopefully you'd get these charming agaves too...(yes, I believe the bottom one is a mangave)

Agave victoriae-reginae

The large pot of flowering plants looks out of place. Put an agave in there!

There's even a nice cylindropuntia...

I've always thought this sign overstated what it was showing off.

Maybe there was more back in the day?

And could be again?

Weather Diary, Sept 4: Hi 81, Low 65/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Wednesday Vignette; Cereus hildmannianus spiralis

Can you imagine what it must be like to be that big strapping Dracaena draco (dragon tree) and yet consistently be upstaged by that short curly guy in front? Must be difficult...

Cereus hildmannianus spiralis, I don't remember seeing one prior to my trip to Santa Barbara last April.

I kinda want to let go of a marble at the top and see if it spirals all the way around to the bottom.

Weather Diary, Sept 3: Hi 85, Low 61/ Precip 0

Wednesday Vignettes are hosted by Anna at Flutter & Hum. All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.