It was a summer extravaganza!

Party invite, image borrowed from @cistusnursery

Last Saturday there was a big party at Cistus Nursery. I didn't make it out to the island until early afternoon and the crowds had thinned a bit by then, but there were still a lot of people shopping and touring and having a grand time.

This was a great opportunity for people to see the garden around Sean and Preston's home, at the back of the nursery property—normally off limits.
Speaking of! There's Sean. He was looking quite festive and I didn't think to take his photo, so I'm using this one that @sauvieshrubs posted (they were a vendor at the event) and Cistus reposted.
The desert island bed was a big hit with the crowd, and for good reason, it was looking HOT! (and not just because the temps were in the mid-90's)
There were lots of food and plant vendors...
There's Nanthawat, manning both his @theothersidenursery table and that of @pdxplantpanions.
Matt and his spiky plant offerings, as well as a (mostly sold!) selection of his metal containers as seen on @aridalter.
Time to take a quick spin around the garden, I love the proportions of this Yucca rostrata and it's trunk/skirt.
Speaking of Yucca rostrata, the gang here looks like they're all trying to squeeze into the shade at the front of the house.
Agave x ocahuata 'Sun Glow', maybe?
Stipa barbata blooms, I think? (there was no grass nearby, just these glowing filaments)
I love these containers!

Pseudopanax crassifolius
And another fab container mix...
A tempting spot to spend the afternoon.
Tetrapanax at this height are so cute.
Agave x 'Ciela Linda'
Ditto
Looking back over my shoulder.
I won't lie, part of me still misses gatherings at Sean's old house/garden. But I can't imagine he and Preston's plant passion contained on that small urban lot ever again.
The crevice garden! No close-ups though as it was roped off to keep plant treasures safe on this very busy day.
On to the nursery proper!

Agave ferdinandi-regis 'Saltillo Splendor' (NFS, trust me, I've tried)
Training the opuntia?
Romneya coulteri
There was a plant purchases holding area in front of the retail nursery and I wandered up there just to see what was what. That's where I caught this kniphofia taking a nap.
So my haul! It was just four small plants, but a fabulous collection that I'm quite happy with.
From Cistus, Agave pelona, one I fell in love with thanks to Gerhard's coverage. This tiny plant is a long way from the massive beauties he's shared photos of but hopefully I can grow it on to a decent size.
Also from Cistus, Pseudopanax crassifolius
I was casually perusing the selection of these cool, but bizarre, plants when I pulled out this one already branching. Freaky! These are usually just a single stem until after flowering or some other drastic event (like last winter's cold on my Pseudopanax ferox), sold!
From Dan Hinkley/Windcliff Plants (I asked Dan to being these down for me); Cheilanthes argentea "A handsome dwarf species from a wide range throughout Eurasia, with clever three-lobed triangular fronds backed in silvery white, excellent for crevices or ancient rock walls should you find one in your garden, or in any humusy rich soils in full sun or partial shade with adequate drainage. Spore raised at Windcliff, ours cultivated in a hollowed log."
That silvery white back...
And, because I'm a sucker for a blechnum, Blechnum sp. #3; "From the spore bank of the British Pterological Society, with no collection data, I will confess to knowing virtually nothing about this fern other than, yes, it does appear to be a Blechnum, a genus from which I have never met a species I dislike. And, of course, it is Numero Trio. You might easily enough bet on shade and evenly moist soils." Fun!