The day after our trip to Molbak's and Flower World, I had to drive Nigel to Clearwater Casino in Suquamish, WA for a work-related off-site meeting, which involved an overnight stay. We decided to make a mini adventure of it. I dropped Nigel off at the casino's inn, and then went on by myself to Valley Nursery, which is actually very close by.
Here's what I found.
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| Valley has a few of these fun potted topiaries sprinkled around the nursery. |
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| During the growing season, this is the annual house, but right now it's full of perennials that can take winter cold |
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| Like these Cyclamen coum |
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| There were a couple of stand-out specimens of Dicksonia antarctica |
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| A lovely hardy ginger |
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| More winter jasmine -- I finally succumbed and bought one |
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| Pretty Bellis perennis |
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| An Erysimum/Wallflower called 'Winter Sorbet' with flowers that start orange and fade to pinkish-blue |
In reality, the pinkish flowers are a little more lilac blue than the picture captured. And they smell divine. I wonder how likely it is that next year they'll be blooming in January in my garden. I'm not holding my breath. I'm sure they'll be alive, but flowering in January? I bought two of them.
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| Of course this time of year the nurseries are full of Hellebores |
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| And primroses! |
After a quick tour to see what was out in the cold, I ventured into Valley's smallish heated houseplant greenhouse, to see what I could see. It's not big, but it's packed with goodies behind this colorful door!
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| The left-hand side |
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| The right-hand side |
In keeping with the decoration on the outside, the inside is playfully hung with stuffed monkeys as well.
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| This fern growing in a hollowed-out lava rock was intriguing |
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| Furry feet, just like a hobbit! |
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| There's always a Tillandsia display too, but I can't remember seeing Spanish moss in other nurseries. I brought some home and hung it in the greenhouse |
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| And colorful orchids, of course! |
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| This three-headed Echeveria was the biggest I've seen |
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| I loved the orange tips on this Aloe's teeth so much I bought one. It's called 'Christmas Carol' and the orange coloration seems to be a feature, as opposed to a response to stress. |
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| Maybe next Christmas I'll just bring it into the house and decorate it! |
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| Mangave 'Bloodspot' for $19.99 -- no sale discount, but I bought it anyway, this was the first time I've seen one, and there's no telling when I'll see one again |
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| Huge Aloe plicatilis -- which isn't its proper Latin name anymore, but seriously, I'm not going to hunt the name down |
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| This cool plant captured my attention -- it's called Chlorophytum 'Orange Flash' -- related to the spider plant, according to Google |
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| I bought two! |
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| One corner in the greenhouse is dominated by this Monstera with its enormous leaves |
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| A Wardian case is tucked underneath |
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| Have you ever tried Kokedama? Japanese moss balls? I have to admit, I'm intrigued by them |
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| There are three or four of these pallet-style vertical planters lining the walls of the greenhouse |
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| Just outside the barn where you go to pay is this colorful area full of treasures! |
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| Digs Inside and Out is the only other place where I've seen these handmade octopus planters. Don't you love that turquoise one in front? I did too, so I bought it. Now if I can just figure out what to plant in it... |
And that's it for recent shopping sprees for me. My first plants of 2015.
