Oregon Native Plant Nursery, Part One

A week ago today, my friend and I drove south of Portland to our friend's nursery in Woodburn, Oregon to pick some of his delicious blackberries. Located in the middle of the Willamette Valley, Douglas's 10-acre spread had more than enough un-sprayed berries to suit both of our needs, so of course, as can be expected after an hour of two of hard work, I started to wander around with my camera. 

His is a small nursery, and as he states in his catalogs he is a: "Propagator and purveryor of wild seed source-crafted perennial and bulbous native plant materials of Oregon, and, of the West and Far West."

A view of my spoils.

The plant below is the native Meadow Checker-mallow Sidalcea campestris. Once mature, they are about 6 feet tall with single orchid pink blooms. I can assure you that next year I will have a few of these added to my garden. Douglas will bring back into production, starting next year, eight superb Oregon native Sidalcea species (False Mallows), including Sidalcea campestris. 

(Note the link below posted on OregonLive. I read it the day after our trip to Woodburn. Talk about good timing!)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/homesandgardens/2010/08/false_mallows_are_true_charmer.html

Here are a few of the things that we saw that day:

Sidalcea campestris, Meadow Checker-mallow.

Navarretia squarrosa, Skunkweed and Gnaphalium stramineum, Chilean Everlasting or Cotton-batting plant. 

Erigeron speciosus, Showy Erigeron. 

Artemisia suksdorfii, Coastal sagebrush, an herbaceous perennial.

Inflorescences of Artemisia suksdorfii.

Solidago gigantea, Golden rod and native grass.

Current production in the shade house. 

Aquilegia eximia

Aquilegia eximia, before the bloom opens.

Sisyrinchium californicum, Yellow-eyed grass (and my foot).

Prosartes smithii, Smith's Fairy Lanterns.

Anaphalis margaritacea, Pearly everlasting. 

Phacelia bolanderi.

Many of the Sedum offered at the nursery.

Lewisia columbiana var. wallowensis (Wallowa Bitter-Root)

If you are interested in any of these plants, or if you are interested in more information, please send Douglas Chadwick of Oregon Native Plant Nursery an email. The nursery does not currently have a Web site, but there is an electronic catalog available that he can send to you online. He has many, many more rare and unusual native plants available. (oregonnativeplant@yahoo.com)

The Block Party & The Garden

This is not the most important of garden blogging posts, but I had to add these pictures since they involve our garden. I promised myself on that day I would not be giving garden tours, and I didn't! Instead, we spent hours and hours directly across the street, and in the street, spending quality time with one another. It was a great party and we will certainly do it again next year!

So who knew that you could invite the fire station around the corner and they'd ride a truck on over for the kids? I had no idea, but a neighbor knew, and she invited them. We were not disappointed, especially when it parked in front of our house! (Red really does go with green doesn't it?)

Also, later on in the evening, the two most daring cats crawled out to stake their claim to our feline friendly pad. This was quite shocking seeing as there were several large dogs off leash roaming around directly across from them. Out in front is my old lady, Macavity, and Meng, the neighbor cat with two homes, is in the back. They made me so proud.