primula denticulata
A belated Happy New Years to all of my favorite plant friends. Here we are in 2015, a year full of promise and good things to come. This winter has been unseasonably pleasant, our little city on the southern point of Vancouver Island has nary seen a drop of snow all season. I’ve been in a t-shirt since early February, what a beautiful time to be alive.
What have I been doing you ask and why haven’t I been updating my plant musings? Let’s just say between family, the greenhouse and a large succulent collection. Most moments are quickly used up.
Life is a pleasure and a delight; I’m thoroughly enjoying fatherhood. My son shows interest in his first spring conscious as a walking and talking sponge for sensation. He runs about the garden, running his hand through the leaves and different textures. He squeals and squeaks with fresh observations. Stumbles and trolls throughout my backyard jungle. I now have a co-pilot in my exploration of local gardens.
Here as we enter spring, the temperatures rise and the days lengthen. Life is emerging all around, my garden slowly begins to wake up and unravel. As the plants awaken I’m also uplifted by the bright days of spring. It’s an inspiring time of year and one can’t help but get lost in the garden as the sun sets yet another day. Much tidying, propagating and organizing. If my garden was Broadway it’d be saying. Showtime!
So having been on a creative hiatus for a bit it’s hard to nail down just what I want to say here. Perhaps just to say hello and I’m alive and well. For the moment I will start off with a mishmash of photos from my latest botanical endeavors. Yes, Here we go. Let’s start off at my life at the greenhouses.
Since the start of 2015 we’ve has some awesome weeks of sunshine. Above a morning snapshot of greenhouses at sunrise.
Hellebore ‘Camelot’ flowering in unison.
From late December right through to February it was Primula polyanthus from morning until night.
It’s a funny thing working outside everyday. Cold and bitter, hot and humid. From January through December we work in all forms of weather and end up changing clothing every 15 minutes as a cloud passes by or the sun shines high.
To produce plants at an industrial level takes more than just good planning it takes the bronze to get the job done. You like fuchsia baskets? Now do it thousand times. I’ve always prefered this type of exertion to the gym.
I love the stretching infinity. Baskets upon baskets, in all directions.
A house full of hanging Cool Wave pansies at their perfect stage of bloom. When the house is shut tight the subtle scent is multiplied and enchanting. I have a poor sense of smell but it’s permiates none the less. It smell fresh & aromatic. Incredible.
My associate watering some spring baskets in.
At this time of year we start to make use of every last inch of space. Successions of spring bedding crops are planted and laid out. Marigolds, lobelia, snap dragons, petunias and so much more. Each day brings us closer to true spring.We will work from dawn until dusk to move large volumes of plants across the island and beyond. Maybe some of these will be planted outside your window one day.
With all the grandeur and excitement of life it often feels like there isn’t enough hours in a day. A time traveler in a modest sense, time flies when you’re having fun.
The harbinger of spring, Daffodil ‘Tete a Tete’ in full bloom.
Primula denticulata
Arabis ‘Spring Charm’.
Armeria juniperifolia.
Pulsatilla vulgaris.
I’ve been sorting our plant laboratory for the last few months trying to make sense of what to do with all these crazy plants. An army of aeoniums for an upcoming project lay on the right side, a table of on oddities on the left. I’m in the midst of downsizing some of my personal collection. For those who live locally and are looking for some true botanical gems, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Speaking of aeoniums. This Aeonium atropurpureum has begun to flower.
An small gathering of echiums. I wonder what gardens these will find their way into.
A beautiful mangave specimen.
A few flats of Aeonium tabuliforme I grew from seed last year. They’re just starting to look right and show off their fibonacci sprial.
Dicksonia fibrosa with spanish moss.
Walking through Finnarty Gardens at the UVIC Campus we came across this amazing Garrya elliptica tree in bloom.
Cherry blossoms, daffodils and young life.
We’ve been frequenting the great gardens of Victoria. If you haven’t made it to Government House yet this season, it’s time to pour a warm drink and take off for a jaunt.
Ethereal hellebores.
Primula Wanda Hybrid.
Back at home things are coming up nicely.
Anemone nemorosa is awesome.
Fritillaria.
Dodecatheon and Salix boydii.
Miniature primula.
My latest acquisition from Fraser Thimble Gardens Corydalis ‘George Baker’. A fleeting ephemeral moment of spring.
Dinosuars run amok.
Frosted cyclamen
A garden nymph getting into my sedum pot.
Beautiful Vancouver Island. I love you.
Until next time plant people. Wishing you great success with your springtime and garden. Ciao
Ah weekends, they always disappear so fast! Life has been good as of late, 2012 has a lot of promise. I don’t exactly know when it happened but spring is upon us. Sure we still might get one more snowfall before it’s all said and done, but the bulbs are on their way and so is everything else. Green buds cling loosely to bare branches, a quick walk about the garden shows a world of activity. I’ve really been enjoying my job as of late, the houses are filling up fast and the green visuals are incredible. It’s a beautiful place to work and there is no finer place to be then a greenhouse full of flowers. I work with a good group people with a twisted sense of humor. The ridiculous jokes and fake animosity helps the day move smoothly. Having our “private” greenhouse in the back is a real luxury and it’s great to overwinter the collection with ease. Every Thursday I do a walk about the nursery and update our plant availability list. At the end of the walk I do a quick buzz about with my camera and get photos to update the website. While their first destination is the nursery’s website, it seems a shame not to share them with you guys as well. Things are certainly looking nice this time of year.
We’re finally on the last couple greenhouses of primulas, the last two Fridays I have spent 8 hours straight cleaning these pesky things. Somebodies got to do it right?
A premium variety we sell, Primula belarina ‘Buttercup’ is something a bit different. Reliably hardy and surprisingly prolific when overwintered outdoors. The one I have at home looks equally as luscious.
A semi hardy noid variety we sell, similar to the florist variety of cyclamen are right on schedule.
Recently planted seed geraniums. Oh just 1500 some flats or something, no big deal.
Lavenders on their way.
Saxifraga ‘Peter Pan’ has always been a favorite from the start. A cushion forming hardy perennial, in it’s prime it is incredible. I love the lush rosettes.
Saxifraga ‘Triumph’ is my favorite of the two, it migrates a bit in the garden but is mostly well behaved. The flowers are less abundant then S. ‘Peter Pan’ but are taller and more interesting.
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ emerging for the season. I actually prefer the look of this plant earlier in the season then later. In full bloom the flowers are absolutely covered in bees.
95% of the hardy primulas are still asleep, the two of these poked their heads up early to brighten the day. Primula denticulata
The tulips are looking good this year.
The true harbingers of spring: Iris reticulata are out in full force.
What a show!
So photogenic. “Amazing, incredible, more, more, you’re a god!”
Narcissus ‘Dutch Master’.
As per usual my weekend was spent satiating my plant obsession. I met a new plant friend, an orchid grower/collector here in town. We drank coffee, ate pastries and traded some seeds. The next day was spent doing a little nursery hopping and accidentally adding another 8 new plants to my collection. It’s a tough life we plant collectors(HOARDERS) live, a tough life indeed.
