Rare Plant Research is a local nursery based in Oregon City. Although they are wholesale only, once a year they have an Open House when almost all their wares are available for purchase. This was my first visit and I loved the unique nature of the plants and the grounds.
Waves of Lewisia greeted attendees. These are L. cotyledon, L. columbiana, and a third type I didn't identify.
The exterior grounds and gardens of the owners' amazing Tuscan villa are also part of the open house, and well worth the visit, even if (perish the thought) you aren't into buying plants.
Old olives lend an established feel to what I understand is a relatively newer garden.
Small seating areas were everywhere.
Some of the available plants have their larger counterparts in the gardens.
Now this is how roses should be done: winding gently over and through what looks like a centuries-old stone balustrade overlooking a pond.
When hot sun arrives this summer, I'd like to be sipping a glass of wine on this shady west-side portico.
Love the Italian cypress accents.
As you might imagine from their name, most of the plants grown and sold here are not your usual Pacific Northwest nursery offerings. Many of them push our local Zone 8, and at least half seemed to be Zone 9 and and 10. This makes them good summer and house plant candidates.
One greenhouse had lots of big inspirational-but-not-for-sale plants, including bougainvilla!
For more on what was for sale, check out danger garden where Loree has posted wonderful photos of the greenhouse interiors and their resident plants.
Since I'm willing to bring some plants in for winter, but I don't have a green house, I confined myself to more modestly-sized purchases. Below, Sansevieria cylindrica, a houseplant I've wanted for some years now.
I picked up Dasylirion texanum. It's hardier than the rest of my selections, so now to find a nice hot spot in the garden for it.
Two little Senecio mandraliscae for the summer garden. I'll take cuttings of these Blue Chalk Sticks later in the season and winter them over for next summer.
Senecio rowleyanus, known as String-of-Pearls, for an indoor hanging planter.
And my splurge: a gallon-sized Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks on Fire'.
This Euphorbia is another tender plant for us, hardy only to Zone 11, but I look forward to it warming up my indoors beautifully this winter.
Waves of Lewisia greeted attendees. These are L. cotyledon, L. columbiana, and a third type I didn't identify.
Old olives lend an established feel to what I understand is a relatively newer garden.
When hot sun arrives this summer, I'd like to be sipping a glass of wine on this shady west-side portico.
Love the Italian cypress accents.
As you might imagine from their name, most of the plants grown and sold here are not your usual Pacific Northwest nursery offerings. Many of them push our local Zone 8, and at least half seemed to be Zone 9 and and 10. This makes them good summer and house plant candidates.
One greenhouse had lots of big inspirational-but-not-for-sale plants, including bougainvilla!
Since I'm willing to bring some plants in for winter, but I don't have a green house, I confined myself to more modestly-sized purchases. Below, Sansevieria cylindrica, a houseplant I've wanted for some years now.
I picked up Dasylirion texanum. It's hardier than the rest of my selections, so now to find a nice hot spot in the garden for it.
Two little Senecio mandraliscae for the summer garden. I'll take cuttings of these Blue Chalk Sticks later in the season and winter them over for next summer.
And my splurge: a gallon-sized Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks on Fire'.
This Euphorbia is another tender plant for us, hardy only to Zone 11, but I look forward to it warming up my indoors beautifully this winter.
I love that Sticks on Fire! It is one of the few drought tolerant plants that is really thriving in the many succulent pots I put together. It is putting out lots of new little sticks. The Blue Chalk Sticks that I bought at the same time is also doing really well.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear, Alison! It took me awhile, but I am falling hard for succulents lately, though I realize I will need to be very careful with them come autumn. Will you try to winter any of yours over?
DeleteI bought that same Dasylirion! That euphorbia is incredible.
ReplyDeleteYup, I saw the Euphorb on danger garden (of course) awhile ago, and it fits my latest need for orange plants perfectly! What else did you buy?
DeleteThat is really cool!! I got such joy out of yours and Loree's posts from this open house! Those olive trees are stunning! It gives me hope that one day I will have a gnarly looking olive tree!!!! It looks like they are all about the dry/tropical/mediterranean look. The only thing missing is a big Canary Island Date Palm and Bougainvillea. I love your choices! The dasylirion texanum sure is a great find!! I definitely have plant lust after that one!
ReplyDeleteI'd love a gnarly old olive, Louis. Unfortunately, I only have a slender young one...it's the third try on this species for me!
DeleteWonderful choices Jane! And I enjoyed seeing your pictures of the house from the reverse of my journey.
ReplyDeleteBTW I think I spotted an Agave bracteousa 'monterrey frost' in the background at your home....if you've blogged about that purchase (Cistus?) then I've forgotten about it, nice choice!
Good eye! That A. bracteosa was a buy from Cistus after you alerted us to their 40% off sale: After the other plants I bought, I figured out I got it free!
DeleteLovely photos, I didn't even take my camera out of my bag, shame ! Even with my sunroom for overwintering , I didn't get anything out of zone 8 , ah , except a $3 Euphorbia "flame' . I have a Dasylirion planted in my most exposed area , it's survived now for a few years.
ReplyDeleteYou're too kind about the photo quality, Linda : I took them with my phone as I actually forgot my camera. I'm looking forward to growing the Dasylirion.
DeleteWow! Great pictures and great plants. I gotta go there...someday.
ReplyDeleteOh, Chris, you've gotta go to a lot of nurseries out here!
DeleteI decided it was kind of a long drive for just looking (my indoor overwintering space is already overtaxed). Knowing I could depend upon you and a few others for a full report sealed the deal. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI somehow felt this was my year to finally make the trip. But I know: it WAS a long drive, and you would have had to go even further.
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