Today I'm sharing some of my favorite vendor booths from last week's Northwest Flower and Garden Show. There are so few nurseries that bother to exhibit any more, I try to show my love for those who do, by buying from them. Christianson's has a big space right at the entrance of the north hall...
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This beauty, Leptospermum scoparium 'Ruby Glow', was a little pricey for me ($149, 10-gallon), and of course not hardy in my Zone 8 garden. But wow!
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There is always a lot to appreciate in this booth...
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Camellia x williamsii 'Freedom Bell'
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Euphorbia stygiana, I had this one in my hand for quite awhile — then talked myself out of it — hardiness. Of course once back home I spotted one living on (barely) at Kennedy School and heard from a friend who had one that overwintered in his garden. Damn.
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Want.
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This! Arbutus arizonica, so beautiful. I assumed it wasn't hardy here (but it is) so didn't give it serious consideration. Plus it was $70.
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The Great Plant Picks program is extremely useful for us PNW gardeners. This year they had botanical samples in their booth, similar to what the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon did at the Yard, Garden & Patio Show.
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Maybe they've always done it, but this year I finally took note. Hebe 'Hinerua' is going on my lust list.
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And I took time to admire the Crypotmeria japonica 'Sekkan-sugi', just because...
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Every time I passed this sign I had to roll my eyes.
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Swansons Nursery was there again, in their usual spot.
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Of course I lust after those tall metal containers.
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And seeing this fern and moss display sparks some ideas (it's kind of like the ones I previously appreciated at Joy Creek Nursery).
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Dinosaurs!
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The Ravenna Gardens booth is a must-see destination, every year.
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I wonder if the googly-eye owls and spotted pottery is by the same artist as the octo-containers?
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I believe that multi-level display piece is made out of light fixtures. Kind of like these from a previous show.
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More goodness from Ravenna...
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DIG made what is probably their last appearance at the show, and they did it with high-style.
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Luscious bromeliad...
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And tons of good stuff to covet.
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The "Vintage Market" seemed to really up their game this year, or maybe I'm just getting used to the fact they eat up space that used to be devoted to plant vendors and I'm not as bitter as I once was? Whatever the case, many vendors had worked plants into their offerings.
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This vendor, Mazidori, had a ton of planted up containers.
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This was my favorite, and a bargain too!
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Loved this booth
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And this planter, one of a pair.
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So...enough of what I could have bought, here's what I did buy...
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DIG had brought in huge hanks of Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish moss) and being slightly jealous of how wonderful Peter's collection is looking, well I bought one.
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Christianson's had Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' at a great price, so I bought one of those too.
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This guy, Hebe 'Karo Golden Esk', didn't come from the show, but rather a stop at Portland Ave Nursery, in Tacoma. It was on the 50% off table (last year's stock), so for $5 it became mine.
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From a visit to Sky Nursery, north of Seattle, came these four Saxifraga longifolia.
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And also from the half-off table at Portland Ave Nursery, this pair of Lewisia 'Little Raspberry' for just $2ea.
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This! I was surprised to see it at the Christianson's booth, and wasted no time in grabbing it, Dracaena draco, the dragon tree. Of course the poor thing is doomed to a containerized life here in Zone 8. So it won't reach the towering proportions that it could.
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Oh and I bought bulbs, how unlike me. It's a huge leap of faith to buy a bag of sawdust and hope it turns into a plant. At the bottom Cautleya spicata, from Keeping it Green Nursery. At the top a couple of lilies, well see how I do with these...
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One bag of 'Conca 'Or'— because I think that's what Heather gave me last summer.
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And these guys, because, well....orange!
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Due to the fact it's nearly impossible to find my size of Atlas gloves (small), in my preferred color (green) I finally took the plunge and stocked up at the show (4 for $20). The Cornona pruners came in a swag bag from attending the early morning "tweet-up." The tweet-up is a chance for those active on social media to get in before the lights go down, and the dramatic lighting of the display gardens makes photo taking nearly impossible.
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These pruners are adjustable depending on your hand size, clever eh?
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Finally, from the Vintage Market, comes this treasure. The Agave (aka Century Plant) was the only one of these glasses that I did not have. I was thrilled this vendor was selling them separately and now I have all eight!
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Weather Diary, February 27: Hi 45, Low 36/ Precip .04
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
This beauty, Leptospermum scoparium 'Ruby Glow', was a little pricey for me ($149, 10-gallon), and of course not hardy in my Zone 8 garden. But wow!
There is always a lot to appreciate in this booth...
Camellia x williamsii 'Freedom Bell'
Euphorbia stygiana, I had this one in my hand for quite awhile — then talked myself out of it — hardiness. Of course once back home I spotted one living on (barely) at Kennedy School and heard from a friend who had one that overwintered in his garden. Damn.
Want.
This! Arbutus arizonica, so beautiful. I assumed it wasn't hardy here (but it is) so didn't give it serious consideration. Plus it was $70.
The Great Plant Picks program is extremely useful for us PNW gardeners. This year they had botanical samples in their booth, similar to what the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon did at the Yard, Garden & Patio Show.
Maybe they've always done it, but this year I finally took note. Hebe 'Hinerua' is going on my lust list.
And I took time to admire the Crypotmeria japonica 'Sekkan-sugi', just because...
Every time I passed this sign I had to roll my eyes.
Swansons Nursery was there again, in their usual spot.
Of course I lust after those tall metal containers.
And seeing this fern and moss display sparks some ideas (it's kind of like the ones I previously appreciated at Joy Creek Nursery).
Dinosaurs!
The Ravenna Gardens booth is a must-see destination, every year.
I wonder if the googly-eye owls and spotted pottery is by the same artist as the octo-containers?
I believe that multi-level display piece is made out of light fixtures. Kind of like these from a previous show.
More goodness from Ravenna...
DIG made what is probably their last appearance at the show, and they did it with high-style.
Luscious bromeliad...
And tons of good stuff to covet.
The "Vintage Market" seemed to really up their game this year, or maybe I'm just getting used to the fact they eat up space that used to be devoted to plant vendors and I'm not as bitter as I once was? Whatever the case, many vendors had worked plants into their offerings.
This vendor, Mazidori, had a ton of planted up containers.
This was my favorite, and a bargain too!
Loved this booth
And this planter, one of a pair.
So...enough of what I could have bought, here's what I did buy...
DIG had brought in huge hanks of Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish moss) and being slightly jealous of how wonderful Peter's collection is looking, well I bought one.
Christianson's had Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' at a great price, so I bought one of those too.
This guy, Hebe 'Karo Golden Esk', didn't come from the show, but rather a stop at Portland Ave Nursery, in Tacoma. It was on the 50% off table (last year's stock), so for $5 it became mine.
From a visit to Sky Nursery, north of Seattle, came these four Saxifraga longifolia.
And also from the half-off table at Portland Ave Nursery, this pair of Lewisia 'Little Raspberry' for just $2ea.
This! I was surprised to see it at the Christianson's booth, and wasted no time in grabbing it, Dracaena draco, the dragon tree. Of course the poor thing is doomed to a containerized life here in Zone 8. So it won't reach the towering proportions that it could.
Oh and I bought bulbs, how unlike me. It's a huge leap of faith to buy a bag of sawdust and hope it turns into a plant. At the bottom Cautleya spicata, from Keeping it Green Nursery. At the top a couple of lilies, well see how I do with these...
One bag of 'Conca 'Or'— because I think that's what Heather gave me last summer.
And these guys, because, well....orange!
Due to the fact it's nearly impossible to find my size of Atlas gloves (small), in my preferred color (green) I finally took the plunge and stocked up at the show (4 for $20). The Cornona pruners came in a swag bag from attending the early morning "tweet-up." The tweet-up is a chance for those active on social media to get in before the lights go down, and the dramatic lighting of the display gardens makes photo taking nearly impossible.
These pruners are adjustable depending on your hand size, clever eh?
Finally, from the Vintage Market, comes this treasure. The Agave (aka Century Plant) was the only one of these glasses that I did not have. I was thrilled this vendor was selling them separately and now I have all eight!
Weather Diary, February 27: Hi 45, Low 36/ Precip .04
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.