OK, technically, it's not mid-winter, it's early winter, but it feels like spring is right around the corner, and besides, Molbak's in Early Winter lacks alliteration.
On a recent cold, gray, damp day Nigel and I ventured out to Molbak's, about an hour north of us in Woodinville. I had recently received an email notice form them that they were having a 30% off sale on all houseplants and pottery. Our conversation in the car went like this:
Nigel: So what's happening at Molbak's?
Alison: They're having a 30% off sale on houseplants.
N: But you don't like houseplants.
A: What? Yes, I do. All those tropical plants out in the greenhouse? Those are houseplants, it's just that they're out there.
N: Oh. Ok....Are we there yet?
Last time I was at Molbak's, before Christmas, I saw a couple of plants that I wanted, but sadly left behind, kind of the inverse of Buyer's Remorse. Call it Why Didn't I Buy That Remorse. So after getting Nigel safely ensconced in the little coffee shoppe there, I grabbed a cart and made the rounds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl4DCoOpmbepJ3lZFezfs8oZe_-2xmOpZsuRMAogaUZMGD-lWpioIXB7v_i-eLHGAfVMG1fJ_Dx-YhHBD9QPIX5waPFNi3bh-lMb4xkoepyskrD6MLTVY7y7lZIRGdhQCRv5gii6sVnI/s1600/IMG_0187.jpg) |
Talavera gnomes! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirx_FHTVmGjwKyxmHdNKeCJ2A2neVx7VcUpPZTwrA-DPXM36GVEpraqfVrt7P9WQuOk9AF4hPoorIRFrYLvLosK9fup-cowF2dZVzWbam2WIru70CST2lVylAGV1oGoicDUYL3_qf7PrA/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG) |
Last time I was there, there was a lot more Talavera pottery, including plenty of those adorable geckos hanging on the wall. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9EcWZhWuVSN5W6gXvk3ukOsNfK9F6aaRG4pdi9EHtQl4B_DWkqzkXwmCvX_VywJy5o3Du-7EYUJ0ZVdc6QH3AdDygph1jL0DuBpirbht_iGS47ecZ0GlxaKg7UwyVaHypEYxGbrwNNM/s1600/IMG_0427.jpg) |
I put that square pot on the right into my cart. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCAJ5SuW8cUj4OqEyGbJArtGMKQNRvmrdObxmUO7I5nwk2K-9ucFHKTfXoyHyl-w0-RV3w_pEFzPRBqYtQZ_08mUxp7GKriiffDhlCm_2wAwspsgWX0Z18bPGQTbyVFR2Tq7bocHitJM/s1600/IMG_0428.JPG) |
They had lovely, large crested bird's nest ferns. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEglTlX552MNXSsLSp9biCitIxEaV1OcnpRNMD7kZnCsJMdBjs4vdKsKk8GOcctPP-d_uS5xfS_q8NZCgblEsAhtzN_RKjF7gcVDz-ogg9vQ4XF2iR_mbME9RNFfpGxwEhZweZbE-UBc/s1600/IMG_0432.jpg) |
I brought home one of the larger bird's nest ferns. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgYbnzHxxaMwcXbrGZyuVAEnechsLx70YfzYXJFOdxho1WxeHEV25BNrwYUAOLMPhusCF-Lu0aNRawr03JD-rQ6FlYRLKVTRnGPi8SSySa4W-Rl19v28baItC9BP6NR7VxQnUt8T36kA/s1600/IMG_0433.jpg) |
They had quite a few smaller ones too! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTKzMtibWnchIapZ3FO6D-LBssva4_mFDWd-WWgj_HZekhO6csDvbQ_ADTzAmvspJ-azrO0Q_NsWW41PAV1dl6sK8cGp9lCIYcTuTD4xZBDLMxiwiK9rNM7vM2YenCYvKm9PuRUfGiWQ/s1600/IMG_0440.jpg) |
Look at the veins on these Alocasia 'Polly.' So cool. And irresistible! I put one of these in my cart as well. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7zZel6wT6pzbyPCDi-FQ9Ne5O03whP1tUseLjgKapIvFGg_-v55j8VMjMWuws32q5jwxh1iegGqEc__scbC7tK3uIHV_bfojUaFKgVcpQJq6ZBfH6VuMUVdY8dkMlkdwEWO6YmwCprs/s1600/IMG_0441.JPG) |
I was so very tempted by these fabulous pitcher plants. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-bQjF_We3FfStTl8_MDJH4cSIVqACyRuYffpgJqTEXQCu_c97FbsffMMwRk_sadoI4sY_tu8n4Gp01SwWyr7gcTMPTto4k0MQX12nzTkx5yqC8F_JY7fRPg9Wv972YG8t_nSYSeMBbg/s1600/IMG_0442.jpg) |
I almost put one of these in my cart. But I was afraid I'd end up killing it. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_H4d6MbtZ8JALjDDwCwBcejNhxeyBvIOVvgidCEvxJxqZNdUNwASmudI7XAtTQmtL-xqH7L_I_ytrxx4WVMFf7hUw3h6Jz28bjjuN3JLb047BRzjF6nX0uzrFYFimrHmYLbUAOoxpE1Q/s1600/IMG_0446.jpg) |
Nope! I left them behind. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Hlcr6UZQ94QqeIbf5xFCz8EA_64RDSYEGlyJIVkSTx6oMPOTVkOpZNwfVgHCVvkcR1f84zqMmQegTDFZH-neqGl3kDKVIEhNNCh6cO3Rmht03pEDb-xSnPTAjhLMNLhXjNkeZCV9d9c/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG) |
They had lots of brightly colored Bromeliads, but I already have quite a few. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEOabMUXbAzifeILhdAKTFrEgj1h9yqV6AjRg394Wv0883BKoTFT8n9tZJzk7AIiU-D4FgCP8jNuSS6B-Cbsav4yJe7GjhemXgbJy-ctXJ9RABF4Ywb-Yia0g19rZJ0Ir1A4b-phlpsw/s1600/IMG_0447.jpg) |
So bright and colorful though! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-ZJijuJdJs6-900Hz8SOejDYY39gLSdAFnGd6qVshWir7mmYJ4M7Ct72mTiWSHujZEQzy2IvxRLvgcPFp1VbI6I3nP9DklsN26JItRwMm0OynzCTwqu-XMFmy5ViqlhycTLXmLE4txU/s1600/IMG_0449.JPG) |
This gold-leaved Schefflera was tempting. But it's the houseplant one, not hardy outside here. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMbBhXndkNddIojbaNO2JifvMcn5emysXXjZTmVsyPkDWB37sm309K_UEtyZse1i3wmpZoyEBEoD5VvkbVD_8F9YkJ_umd9ri413i920iSg3qgeFp2Ds-xTvqERlhnfi9gU_aTeQcDUY/s1600/IMG_0451.jpg) |
Monstera deliciosa is such a great name for a plant, isn't it? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFwfDhrM__Nn-q6bn0uijLRFhUsQDfpf1DL4fpRlyZKZbsmfv7IFVnh7DUzQPcVL4u7nC-IuT7OU6IosorW_ePPYZ_Xg81s2T0xJWJBkz_jMF9hF_3Oud9NGUabmmUclGKpGpeW-3TUA/s1600/IMG_0455.JPG) |
I had seen these rat-rail cactus last time too, so I bought one of them. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtRHu3hfCHaw6QhTpMx_SsHVVouZU59HghVVkbNl5PtAVAzkazPT_op804Sz2XDhNHnnstoULC_EvS0YuDCWEJX0gJHpqib4oVgVmxFcrVOC1bwEEnxgf4FKedxUILIHe2W-cSbQBcUM/s1600/IMG_0456.jpg) |
This one, in fact! |
There are apparently quite a few Latin names for rat tail cactus, and I'm not sure they're all synonyms. I think this might be
Cleistocactus winteri, which is also called tarantula cactus. They do look rather spidery. It really should be hung, because of the arms/legs, but I think for a while I may just put it in that square Talavera pot.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBoNloDsobMGmY4wnHmTNzEcgdHQZ1FO8F31Mpqm87KUXv20fcS_ScJ2l4woxkxK7C535bG9ylgm1Ld7HKYVE6gB1YlZiVjm1FEo-OiJ0GfHptPDfTLQOgFRn-BX1HDAh0h-wIxOlhMk/s1600/IMG_0457.JPG) |
They had lots of Echevarias, but none of them grabbed me, so I didn't grab back. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCkojUVN2wpLNRZwrpbvX_2CRMm4T5y0lb1BDT7qCAdVy-kfMLHI_6ovI33PxFKEx9H-dquoy_MC0beKivP6XZfUigzKGmKiLM8GUxzw-gUwAxrOk1rnq1SRL9U9g77uy_4Xk5ZRKH00/s1600/IMG_0458.jpg) |
Some day I really should buy a Sanseveiria, I hear they're unkillable. These were a variety called 'Bantel's Sensation.' |
All the signs had a common name of Snake Plant, but I've always known
them as Mother-in-Law's Tongue.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3wQohpbiutGCjFz7wywvwuZuCM0WqwhfSGP-PnyqZkyT9V1aXa0bhjJ190VcLrN27fvO6BhFock52FxQjZI00ek83lNCInXfC_RKikLAcCHLbTZl_KqMVl4vd8ztWhONhPVxwERosvs/s1600/IMG_0462.jpg) |
This little spiky succulent is called Faucaria tigrina 'Tiger Jaws.' |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHNvQbchPbq0_-ZvJMZAi-sFLfkKLWafljL42l8Ij9W9Ugl-tfgSL7fcvorFW5aPyyavB2bFSfZ-t58gjy25-aJdT9JkI-ndHWZZpqn8bnjQwVfy2v6m_7KQz_FKUE_rNC0nRL_yrbo8/s1600/IMG_0463.jpg) |
I bought one, but I'm not crazy about those dandelion-like flowers. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnfIB3YBBxbknZ3wRj_Fn6voP3W5lRJPUPZ8HGJsN-dNbxSkm3ES4zP5vw9vxjISfzf3WKP5k6bnG74edbeJS_rj3XVwFqkJm42eU_1zbvbklNGlFnDkwXU2sTbCusiQzdWAonK9rCGI/s1600/IMG_0495.jpg) |
Bird's nest ferns and flowering Kalanchoe |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugfbs3XR9k8IKBr_ZoAyCVRqSKUCdi3wWQHv8qtRYAsRuo7OdFsrzp5I_t7DlfQEj-Pk3scvmP5HsRyYATKkun2eudTCy99ktk4zJrr9tsiTpecVlp07-PEXW0MwuwrQ4LXscCr_pfG4/s1600/IMG_0497.JPG) |
I was rather taken by these Tillandsias in shells, but I worried it would be hard to water them. |
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately, it depends on how you look at it), the orchids weren't included in the 30% off sale. There were some beautiful specimens though.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYa8JIKAz_hhtXNygqYvPcV5NcxJj2-aXbUuOIpDTX4eJyyMlbr0lgJpdUlXnaYlzv9NwqHPgGbMKaSh6ApVbx-9jPbdAcpsznCjmYmbn73fQe4RvCjeGbRUAIBmofVLv2Q6ZE8FVi60/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG) |
Frost-proof AW Pottery is very popular, and was included in the sale |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpNWIMuPPPqTugQx_Vhp2Z-KqfL5FWGZAYUv5QPeaRh6WG351qLQsdZPH80cUnHxEbhLlB7-FMvlb4R-YYQTyxuHhuod-B_Sf25nCzJK5CkGnAZIfDCxH029vGsTDc9qzKqOF88WETq8/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG) |
They had lots of great cachepots too |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZLRrqwCU_F0zjnwMDvFX0zaUcx-oaYEZec71U9vdUTl3qd8x_MUd77haRUJIsj2_Bkt2W-41OP1p2jXNovsXYdCXrIa_HvTCR6DILFMFsW0d3PBoB7mhZDJLahGm_bUK0yDaCUGmg2I/s1600/IMG_0474.JPG) |
So colorful and retro-looking |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkfGHLHqLrQITBxJ6NxaJ8Ybcj4Qn_4yFtGsXf6PAJuP-WN7-japfL1LgqQepliy7-qX-QGOWUPwmMN5NlEmsnOGTqd2vUtLZKkwpcncPQLIjMOsGiD7KyFgTUCHhg4UoHToj8iWUleo/s1600/IMG_0478.JPG) |
I was tempted by these cool pots, shaped somewhat like Hershey's kisses. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWCQkYCrSzqDCjCblN6GY-dZStDXafz69BuPXalr7wKUPCS6T_ul2YA4IKua5HCNM_IBACr6UMxww5bZZqycL1zCzb7iK9o6WitbMKv3W9OO5fxbDvwuaKxwORgWedxZglNntfVlca0o/s1600/IMG_0501.jpg) |
Look what you can do with them! |
Anyway, Molbak's is having a sale on houseplants and pottery, from now
until the 19th of January, so if you're local, hie thee hence. I'm already suffering from Why Didn't I Buy That Remorse. Again.
The Hershey pots. The Monstera philodendron. The pitcher plant.