These large boxes arrived on my doorstep back on July 10th, just a couple weeks after Janet Sluis — of the Sunset Western Garden Collection — emailed to ask if I'd be interested in trialing their new Mahonia X media 'Marvel'...
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I don't know why this make me laugh but it does. Good advice though!
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Oh ya, look at that foliage...
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There were two boxes because they were concerned something like this might happen and wanted me to be sure to get at least one happy plant. These guys traveled though some seriously hot weather en-route and spent some quality time inside a steamy delivery truck.
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They look pretty darn good all things considered (and see, I gave them a big drink)...
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Love those bright yellow Mahonia flowers...
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Since they were large plants I wasn't quite sure where I'd find room for them in my cram-scaped garden. Then in August the neighbors behind us trimmed up the Laurel along the fence-line (behind the bamboo stocktanks by the patio), suddenly there was light where there used to be dark. And empty space!
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They're perfect for there, I'm thrilled.
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I'm sure my neighbors to the north would have preferred this "softer and kinder" Mahonia had been planted next to their driveway, rather than the pokey Mahonia x media 'Charity' that's there. Oh well!
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Since we have such great nurseries here in Oregon it's rare I do mail order, however I scored a gift certificate from High Country Gardens during the Bloggers Fling in June. So of course I went shopping...
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I find the fact HCG doesn't ship when you order, but rather when they feel the right time is, rather irritating. Now granted my order included bulbs, but seriously. I can't plant an Agave in October, but I could have planted it in July, when I placed this order. Now I have to hang onto this until next spring, when I know it's the right time to plant.
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Why did I order an Agave?
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Because "In the outdoor landscape, the leaves of this selection turn reddish-pink in color..." cool huh?
My order also included a pair of Marrubium rotundifolium.
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A surprisingly hard to find — in these parts — groundcover. This is another plant I'll have to hang on to until spring. It's great for the xeric garden...hence planting it in October in Western Oregon (rain!) probably isn't the greatest idea.
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That said I have a plant I purchased at Hortlandia (the HPSO spring plant sale) in 2015 that's doing just fine. So I know it can be happy here. I just want to give it the best possible chances and not plant it at the beginning of our wet season.
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The final part of my order was Crocus bulbs, yep...I'm taking the bulb plunge!
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I blame Alan of the Mardi Gras Gardener, last spring he posted drool-worthy photos of his orange Crocus, I vowed to get a few of my own.
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I think the grass-like foliage will keep me from being too annoyed by it once the blooms fade.
So, plants via mail, it's a fun thing!
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Weather Diary, Oct 23: Hi 64, Low 48/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I don't know why this make me laugh but it does. Good advice though!
Oh ya, look at that foliage...
There were two boxes because they were concerned something like this might happen and wanted me to be sure to get at least one happy plant. These guys traveled though some seriously hot weather en-route and spent some quality time inside a steamy delivery truck.
They look pretty darn good all things considered (and see, I gave them a big drink)...
Love those bright yellow Mahonia flowers...
Since they were large plants I wasn't quite sure where I'd find room for them in my cram-scaped garden. Then in August the neighbors behind us trimmed up the Laurel along the fence-line (behind the bamboo stocktanks by the patio), suddenly there was light where there used to be dark. And empty space!
They're perfect for there, I'm thrilled.
I'm sure my neighbors to the north would have preferred this "softer and kinder" Mahonia had been planted next to their driveway, rather than the pokey Mahonia x media 'Charity' that's there. Oh well!
Since we have such great nurseries here in Oregon it's rare I do mail order, however I scored a gift certificate from High Country Gardens during the Bloggers Fling in June. So of course I went shopping...
I find the fact HCG doesn't ship when you order, but rather when they feel the right time is, rather irritating. Now granted my order included bulbs, but seriously. I can't plant an Agave in October, but I could have planted it in July, when I placed this order. Now I have to hang onto this until next spring, when I know it's the right time to plant.
Why did I order an Agave?
Because "In the outdoor landscape, the leaves of this selection turn reddish-pink in color..." cool huh?
 |
| photo borrowed from High Country Gardens |
My order also included a pair of Marrubium rotundifolium.
A surprisingly hard to find — in these parts — groundcover. This is another plant I'll have to hang on to until spring. It's great for the xeric garden...hence planting it in October in Western Oregon (rain!) probably isn't the greatest idea.
That said I have a plant I purchased at Hortlandia (the HPSO spring plant sale) in 2015 that's doing just fine. So I know it can be happy here. I just want to give it the best possible chances and not plant it at the beginning of our wet season.
The final part of my order was Crocus bulbs, yep...I'm taking the bulb plunge!
I blame Alan of the Mardi Gras Gardener, last spring he posted drool-worthy photos of his orange Crocus, I vowed to get a few of my own.
I think the grass-like foliage will keep me from being too annoyed by it once the blooms fade.
 |
| photo borrowed from High Country Gardens |
So, plants via mail, it's a fun thing!
Weather Diary, Oct 23: Hi 64, Low 48/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.