Wrong plant, wrong place

Yes that’s right. This is the wrong plant for me…

And it is in the wrong place. Wouldn’t you agree?

For those of you keeping track it was just a month and a half ago that I wrote “So now the only plant that's left from when we bought the house* is the giant rhododendron under the living room window. Andrew would be happy to rip it out tomorrow. Me? I think it will be awhile before I'm willing...” I honestly felt that way when I wrote it. What changed? Well first of all it bloomed, and is pushing out a ton of new spring growth. The plants I’ve planted in the front garden have finally started to create a sense of place (however small it might be) and when this big guy blooms, well…it just doesn’t belong.

From any angle (or time of day, or weather condition)…

Then I read a post by my friend Peter, where he included this horrifying photo (among others, it’s really worth clicking through to read) of a house eating Rhody ...

One of the comments was from my blogging friend Heather who said “I'm not sure if this is better or worse than pruning them down so you can see out your windows...” I read her comment just moments before I went out to fill up the yard waste container with clippings trying to keep that thing from over taking the front window. I could barely reach the top of the Rhody and even after launching myself into the plant this is the best I could do.

Why am I fighting a plant I don’t even really like simply because it’s established? Yep right then and there I decided it was coming out. The only question is do I do it now our wait until fall (“they” say fall is the best time to plant…and it is mid May with a busy (not available for a lot of watering) summer ahead)? And what the heck do I plant in its place? It has to max out at about 5ft tall …

I’m dreaming maybe I can get a trunking Yucca rostrata, while that will eventually grow to taller than 5ft it will be slow and I can plant it at a corner. So what else? I would love to hear your suggestions!

(*not counting the ferns in this post!)

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

My visit to Tower Perennials…

Another nursery that I had the pleasure of visiting during my April trip to Spokane, WA, was Tower Perennial Gardens...

I'd only been to Tower once before and that was last June after the Friends of Manito Plant Sale. That day we were hungry, overloaded on cool plants already, and it was pouring rain. Not the best of times to visit a new nursery. We left fairly quickly, but what I saw told me it was a cool place and that I need to return. I'm glad I did!

Their tables were full...

And their prices very reasonable. Mom fell for Euphorbia polychroma the day before at a different nursery where it was going for $10.95. These were much nicer and only $6.95.

Plus they have a great selection of unusual rock garden plants...

I also really enjoyed reading their plant tags.

Yep a Cylindropuntia whipplei 'Snow Leopard' came home with me...

So fun to see Maihuenia poeppigii here!

Ephedra equisetina, I know it looks a little "rangy" but I fell hard for this one...it followed me home too.

Cytisus purgans 'Spanish Gold'

Denver Botanic Gardens! That reminds me I should also mention one of the reasons I knew Tower was a cool place was because Panayoti visited them last summer (same time he hit Desert Jewels)...

Yucca nana is pretty darn cute...

Acantholimon caesarum, I bought one of these too. Are you getting the idea there's a little rock-garden(ish) project in my future?

Genista carinalis

Spikes! (these look like they might be pets, in a protected spot undercover in a greenhouse)

Odd trimmings on a Yucca rostrata trunk...

Even though I shy away from most mixed plantings I really liked this one.

And here is my new tree-crush! How beautiful is this? Quercus dentata 'C.F. Miller'...

Salix yezoalpina

Blush of color on a rodgersia...

Artemisia ludoviciana 'Valerie Finnis' again! I fell for this plant in Linda's garden (during our garden bloggers plant exchange), and here it is again, looking gorgeous!

I think this is my favorite stage in the development of a rodgersia leaf...

And you know what a sucker I am for a gorgeous lupine leaf!

Don't you just love a nice full greenhouse?

Ligularia przewalskii

Let's all snicker like teenagers when we read this plant label...

Look it's ribbed!

Yikes!!! Bishops Weed!

Think before planting, think VERY HARD...

'Valerie Finnis' in the ground...

There is an extensive portion of the nursery grounds given over to plantings. This blooming cordyline was in a container right by the front gate...

And these potted agaves on a patio overlooking the nursery...

Sexy!

My camera was aimed at the agave, but looking at this photo later it's the trees beyond that really grab my attention.

Part of the lower display garden. Keep in mind this was late April in Spokane, a zone 5/6 climate...things were just waking up!

Those trees again!

And some spikes.

If my eyes aren't playing tricks on me that's an Archtostaphylos! (in Spokane...yay!)

Looks like the pile behind my garage! (I kid...but only because I recycle my containers weekly)...

In addition to the three plants I've already mentioned purchasing I also bought an Eryngium alpinum. Not that I ever need encouragement to buy an eryngium but since Linda Cochran had just blogged about this plant the day before it was fresh in my mind and I had to buy it...

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.