My fellow Portland garden blogger, and friend, Anna Kullgren recently accepted a position as assistant manager at Drake’s 7 Dees. When she was interviewing and told me it I had to admit I’d never heard of them, let alone been there.
Turns out the nursery is in transition, there had been another, much larger location in Gresham, east of Portland, which was closed last summer. The company has a thriving landscape business which they’ve kept active and this newer location (purchased a few years ago) will now be it’s only retail outlet.
In addition to the talented and creative Anna they’ve also managed to bring on board William McClenathan, a local TV celebrity and all around plant knowledgeable (and terribly fun) guy. Together with a new nursery manager, and lots of site upgrades, Anna and William are redefining what the nursery is and how it serves the surrounding community. One of the things Anna has done is to start an in-house lecture series; it kicked off last Saturday with another friend, and local blogger, Ann Amato-Zorich talking about seeds. Of course I had to go! See a new nursery, support a friend, it’s all good…
While Ann did a fabulous job of getting us excited about seeds she also knows the #1 trait that keeps people like me from getting too into the idea, patience.
And she further cautioned me with this image, some dudleya and cactus she’s grown from seed. Evidently some of my favorite plants are also rather slow to get going.
If you’re a local you’ll want to know there are other great lectures coming up. Next weekend (February 22nd) Sarah Miller talks Mason Bees. On her blog, Attack of the Killer Pickles, Sarah has published a wonderful series of articles on the Bee Crisis here in America, worthwhile reading. No doubt her lecture is going to be fabulous.
Other upcoming lectures:
March 1 Rose and hydrangea pruning with William McClenathan
March 8 Blogger/author Ricki Grady reading from her book BeBop Garden
March 15 TBD
March 22 Edible flowers with Pablo Feliz
March 29 Victory gardening with Laura Heldreth
April 5 subject TBD - either Gardening with grasses or Garden photography with Scott Weber
April 12 Gardening with color with Anna Kullgren
The nursery was still in winter mode so there weren’t a lot of plants to see outside, but let’s have a look anyway. Vaccinium A. ‘Brunswick’, so cute now…but even better later with tasty blueberries.
Love the unusual shape of the tall containers in back.
That’s a lot of roses!
My friends!
And proving not all Agave parryi ‘JC Raulston’ are visions of agave perfection.
Beautiful color combo!
There are also a couple of wonderful old glass houses on the premises. I believe someone said the location was once a florists.
No doubt because of our recent cold weather and snow there were a lot of plants hiding out inside.
Houseplants too!
Once on the road headed home we encountered a most amazing downpour. The sky opened and there was an intense driving rain followed by a rare sight, a double rainbow of which we could see both the beginning and the end. Of course it was much better in person.
Did I buy anything? Oh yes! A Sophora prostrata ‘Little Baby’, yes I already have one (two actually) but I am afraid they’re toast after this winter and I wanted a replacement. This one had fine form.
And you’ve got a support a “new” nursery right?
All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.