"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Friday, March 13, 2009

Nursery shopping with Yiayia and Papou.

We had a fun day yesterday with my in-laws, who here are visiting.  They are from the Central Valley in California.  My husband's family is Greek so when they are here we get to eat great homemade Greek food.  The girls call them Yiayia and Papou, which is Greek for Grandma and Grandpa.
Both my mother-in-law and father-in-law enjoy gardens.  My father-in-law has been telling me about the work he's been doing in their yard.  He loves to grow tomatoes and seems to be eating theirs months before ours are ready.  I shared quite a few seeds with them to bring home.  He is going to try starting more from seed this year.
When they are here we usually go visit Molbak's nursery which is not too far, and a very popular tourist stop.  It has a nice little cafe with delicious food, a gift area, outdoor furniture and acres of indoor and outdoor plants.  
First we walked through the seed racks where I found a couple of new ones to try.  My father-in-law picked out a whole stack of herb and vegetable seeds.  Since the weather ended up being sunny and pretty mild we headed out to the very large greenhouse areas where all of the roses are.  There were tables and tables of them.  
The roses were separated by type, and then alphabetically.  I love some of the names that are given to the roses, very creative!  
My mother-in-law noticed the humor in the way these two ended up side by side.  Can you see that 'Playboy' and 'Pope John Paul II' ended up together?   Pretty ironic!
How about these two, 'Iceberg' and 'In the Mood'?  A bit of a contradiction there!
I found this really pretty clematis armandii 'Apple Blossom'.  I love the light pink color, I wonder if I could find a place in my yard for it?  I might have to go back for that one.
They had lots of really nice fountains set up, almost every type you can imagine.  I really liked these small copper fountains.  One would look great in my little whiskey barrel water garden.  Maybe I'll save up for one, they were a little pricey.
Here are more tables, these ones are full of shade perennials.  So many tempting ones, but I think still a little cold to try planting them outside.  I like how they've used upside down terra cotta pots as light fixtures.  
Aren't these interesting?  They are from Frame it All, if you click on the link you can see their website.  I'd never seen anything like them before.  These are raised beds that you put together and can move them around if you want.  I also found it creative the way they turned this bright red tomato cage upside down and put a birdbath on top like a finial (although you can't see that in the picture). 
We had a very nice day.   Plants, lunch and a nice visit with the in-laws, and Papou even bought the girls each a primlet.  They look very similar to a primrose, but the flowers are a bit ruffled on the edges.  
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24 comments:

  1. Good morning! I would love to hear how you pronounce those Greek words for Grandma and Grandpa. Can't even imagine the tongue twisting. Yes, I too find it ironic how those roses ended up side by side. Wonder if the nursery workers intended it that way? I think I'd pass on the copper fountains and instead try to create one yourself. I have been doing research on metals for a project I'm working on and copper is notorious for corrosion. No thanks. What a lovely day you guys had. And your daughter looks like she is enjoying her grandparent's visit and the extra attention.

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  2. What a wonderful afternoon with love ones. I can't wait till spring hits out neck of the woods and I can take my kiddos with me to the nurseries!
    Thank you for sharing. I love that water unit with the butterflies... simply wonderful!!!

    Happy Friday

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  3. Thoroughly enjoyed the pic tour of the nursery. Those terra cotta flower pot light fixtures were the first things that caught me eye. How absolutely appropriate!

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  4. Catherine- your day trip to the nursery looks like it was time well spent. We don't have many good nurseries without driving a couple hours to Boise. Glad you are enjoying your family.
    -Heather

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  5. Catherine, it looks like a wonderful nursery. That is the first time I have seen the rounded raised beds.I like them. Your mother-in-law has a good eye :)

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  6. I wish we had a cafe at the nursery where I work. That would be so nice for our customers. This definitely looks like a great place for plant shopping. I like those raised beds. I think I will check out that website.

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  7. Hi, What a fun looking place to go with the in-laws. I love seeing your photos and all the pretty plants, fountains etc. Looks like a great place to spend hours making a wish list!

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  8. What a spectacular place. We have a few places around here...but they are pretty pricey! Looks like you all had a wonderful day. Have a wonderful weekend

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  9. Hi Catherine, I see you had a gala time with your in-laws. I'd have gone crazy and I'm sure so did you. That rose names were funny.
    Have a great weekend!

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  10. Hi Catherine.

    I loved this. I'm always curious to see garden centres/nurseries in other countries.

    Greek food eh, lovely, bring on the BBQ (always the optimist)

    Rob

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  11. What a cool nursery. That is hillarious how those roses ended up side by side. I just love visiting nurserys I wish I were closer and could visit that one too. Maybe someday
    Debbie

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  12. That was such a fun post, thank you so much for taking us all along!

    But I must say I am now convinced of a plant I must purchase, for your post and one other, read this very morning, have mentioned it and now I am convinced it was no mere coincidence and I must have two, one for each side of my kitchen door way to replace the fall blooming one that is not living up to its professed attributes. So I am going to go find a Clematis armandii, just not sure of the variety. !!

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  13. Tina - They are pronounced Ya Ya and Pa poo. I was wondering about how well those fountains would hold up. I wonder if I could do something like that on my own. I do have a little pump laying around.

    Bren - It was a great time. Hopefully soon you'll be out enjoying it too.

    Kris - Aren't they a great idea. I think it would be fun on a porch or a small greenhouse too.

    Heather - We are lucky to live so close to this one. There are quite a few nice ones in Seattle too. The only downside is I end up spending too much :)

    Lona - Aren't those beds neat? Yes my mother-in-law does have a good idea, I don't think I would've noticed.

    Susie - The cafe there is always busy, and it's in a little conservatory type area with a stream and lots of plants.

    Mildred - Yes, my wish list always grows while I'm there. I was good though yesterday and just bought a couple of seeds.

    Dirt Princess - It is a bit on the pricey side, but their plants are really good quality and a great variety.

    Chandramouli - Yes, it was a lot of fun! I'm glad they enjoy going to those types of places.

    Rob - When I got back today I got to enjoy fresh spanakopita!! It's actually almost nice enought to BBQ.

    Debbie - A lot of people visiting do go out of their way to visit this one. If you are ever up this way I would say it's worth your time.

    Lanny - I think it's a sign too. This 'Apple Blossom' Variety was really pretty. It would look very nice I think in your garden.

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  14. Catherine,

    On my the clematis armandii 'Apple Blossom' is so cool, having just purchased an all white variety, I like that one better. You better go back soon or they will be gone..

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  15. Family, plants and food.
    What a perfect way to spend your day.

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  16. Keewee said it best. What a fun time.

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  17. Well, it looks like you had a wonderful day! It's nice that you and your father-in-law share a passion for gardening! And I noticed the sun was out- just perfect :). I love that Clematis- please do go back and get it! My first lesson with my clematis was 'the feet like it cool, flowers like it warm'!

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  18. Two of my favorite words "nursery" and "shopping." And to have family along and have sunny weather...a perfect day.

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  19. Nice post. Enjoyed the pics and the prose. Liked the widgets and the links.

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  20. Best way to spend the day! This nursery looks amazing, too! I'm lucky there are many to visit in NJ but my eyes are always bigger than my yard space..lol!
    Lynn

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  21. Randy - I like the one that you got. I'm trying to think of where I could plant it...

    keewee - I agree.

    Suburban Gardener - Very fun, glad they enjoy doing going as much as I do.

    Tessa - It is nice to have that in common. I have to find somewhere to put the clematis, I've been thinking really hard about it :)

    Grace - The weather was great here the last couple of days, although today it's raining.

    Abe - Thanks, those widgets are pretty neat aren't they?

    Lynn - It's tempting to buy a lot at the nurseries, more than once I've come home with a plant trying to figure out where I could put it :)

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  22. Good morning Catherine! What a fun post, so many cool things at that nursery. I'd be in serious trouble if it were near me! I love those moveable raised beds ~ I'm going to click on the link and check them out. I've never seen them before. I second that you should go back and get that clematis ~ it's a knockout. I'd love one myself! Enjoy the visit with your in-laws. Homemade greek food sounds excellent to me!!!

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  23. Kathleen - I hope if anyone decides to try those beds they'll share how they look. The prices weren't too bad. I think I'll be heading back for the clematis this week. I've been thinking about it ever since!

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  24. I would certainly love to visit that nursery, it looks full of interesting plants! It's still too early here for the nurseries to be open, but I can't wait till then. I'd better hold onto my pennies, I predict many a spending spree at that time. My bloomin' branches only have a tiny scent up close, and it's not a good one! My crabapple branches are about to pop, maybe they'll smell a bit better.

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