Tuesday 7 May 2013

Nursery Hopping - Phoenix Perennials

One of my favourite things to do is nursery hop - the act of nursery hopping. For a plant nerd, this is one of the most exciting things to do. And visits to Phoenix Perennials are always very exciting ... especially when you have plants from Cistus Nursery waiting to be picked up! I can't even say how grateful I am to the Phoenix Perennials crew for arranging a group import from Cistus!

Before picking up my plants, I decided to do a little perusing... One of the first things that caught my eye was this frantoio olive! I was struck with plant lust (no I didn't buy it ... and I'm already regretting it). But check out how beautiful it is!

 I can just see this in amongst all my yuccas and agave.

But my problem was that I could see almost all of these plants in my garden... How to choose?!


good things always come in these green pots!

When I stumbled upon this, I'm sure I gasped. With the knowledge that I've already killed one, I was able to put it down, but I might just have to go back and get it.

Citrus anyone? This is one of the best selections of citrus trees I have seen in and amongst Vancouver.

Lots of danger too!

Another plant I've been lusting after is this variegated agapanthus! It reminds me so much of my yucca 'bright star'

My plant radar was going on overload. Does this ever happen to anyone else? You get so excited that you feel overwhelmed. Where to even begin?!



So I'm sure you are all wondering, what did I actually get? There's no way I was going home empty handed. But this plant lust purchase came right out of left field. It actually happened when I pulled into the parking lot. The very first thing that caught my eye was the last thing I thought I couldn't live without .... russelia equisetiformis!

Here it is at home in my garden! I still haven't decided if I'm going to plant this not at all hardy plant or if I'm going to get a nice pot for it. But it certainly belongs!

And don't worry, I can't forget about my Cistus plants... meet my new yucca margaritaville.

And my two nolina 'la siberica!'

The best part of it all was the sun shining and temperatures soaring to 90F. All in all I'd give it the EPIC seal of approval.

12 comments:

  1. In Abq, they hide plants like agaves, nolinas, yuccas etc in the back...but the spruces and lilacs are out in front! Enjoy your epic plantings. 90F, warmer than here so far.

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    1. Thats so funny. I just so happen to visit all the places that proudly display their desert plants. But its an interesting discussion. I tend to think that a more drought tolerant garden is the way to go with our dry summers on the West Coast.

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  2. Looks like you've been shopping in South Texas! Those plants are similar to the ones I would bring home from a nursery trip around here. Of course, as David said, I'd have to go to the back at most of them.

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    1. Yes! I can only dream of plant shopping in South Texas!! its definitely worth a trip to the back of the nursery.

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  3. So many beautiful things! You know I've been dying to find out what you ordered from Cistus, good choices! And that Russelia equisetiformis...well I've been lusting after that one for awhile, but never have seen it in a nursery! Nice find.

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    1. Thanks danger! I knew when I pulled into the parking lot that I had to get the russelia. It caught my eye before I even got out of my car. All the other plants I loved, but that one just had to come home with me.

      I would have ordered more from cistus - there were sooooo many things I wanted - but the shipping quickly adds up.

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  4. Happy new plants to you! Jungle Fever had three nice big hanging baskets of Russelia equisetiformis last summer but I didn't want to try and winter them over so just enjoyed them at the nursery all season.

    Phoenix perennials looks like a wonderful nursery! Difficult as it is, resist the purple yucca, they only lead to heartbreak!

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    1. Thanks outlaw!! I love plant shopping. The russelia had to be mine. You don't see them very often up here. And yes, Phoenix perennials is beyond epic! certainly one of my favourite places.

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  5. I know what you mean about feeling overwhelmed by the choices at a nursery. I feel that way even when there's just a week or 2 between trips. I keep saying I should bring a list but, even on the few occasions I do that, I always deviate and come home with extras. I hope you enjoy your plant choices - I have a Russelia too, which has settled nicely into my back border.

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    1. I always come home with extras too! It's half the fun!

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  6. Oh man everything is looking incredible! I just bought a yellow firecracker fern, and I am in love also. Yours most definitely belongs you got that right! SWEET!

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    1. THANKS HEATHER!!!!!! I've never heard of a yellow firecracker fern until now! And I think I need one!! You have me on the plant hunt!

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