Late season plant projects

When I wrote about my desire for lava rock—on which to grow a Lemmaphyllum microphyllum (aka bean fern)—my friend Tamara came through with a few different size chunks. Since this one already had moss on it, well, it was the obvious place to start...

I had a 4" pot of Lemmaphyllum microphyllum kicking around (wholesaler Rancho Cacto has made this little cutie widely available to area nurseries) as well as moss and a terracotta saucer, so this project came together quickly.

Since the fern naturally grows as an epiphyte, I separated rooted pieces from the soil they were growing in and tucked them into areas of the rock with holes or crevices, gently enlarging a few spots with a flat-head screwdriver.

The rock then went into the saucer and I packed moss on either side, because I love moss! I keep the saucer full of water (or at least try to) and the moss and rock soak it up. I haven't tested to see if the fern is rooting in yet, I'll give it a while. Eventually, I hope it grows to cover a large portion of the rock. 

Lemmaphyllum microphyllum is *almost* hardy here in Portland, I left two small patches in the ground last winter to test it and it did fine, but last winter didn't get below about 26F (if memory serves) and that was brief. That's to say I plan to put the dish in the shade pavilion greenhouse for the winter, but will pull it into the house if real cold is in the forecast.

I had left over bean fern and rocks so the experimenting continued! You might remember the hanging terracotta container I tried planting up with moss and other epiphytes (post here). Well, over the summer it failed miserably (too dry, squirrels or birds picking at the moss and the plants) so I took it apart and found homes for the plants that were still alive and now it's another Lemmaphyllum microphyllum and rocks planter...

Instead of using potting mix I filled the voids with a rock/bark/clay orb substrate a friend uses to grow his tillandsia (I inherited some of it when he gave me a bunch of tillandsia). Since I'd already plugged the drain hole, it holds water, which slowly leaches out through the terracotta. I'm hoping long-term the surface will start to moss up. 

The last of the Lemmaphyllum microphyllum (with a little bit of soil, and more moss) went into this hollow split bamboo segment I found on the beach. 

I love this easy going fern so much!

The final project today involves tillandsia, one I already had and some that I got from that generous friend, and a piece of cryptanthus. Since all these plants are moving indoors for the next 6 or so months, I've been scheming on where to put them and decided to make a wall hanging to go above the bed. I love how it turned out, but Andrew declared it was creepy. Whatever.

I feel a little bad on the sunny days, that these plants are now indoor prisoners. But when the view out that window turns cold, wet, and windy they're happier inside.

If you're wondering about the low-light situation this group will move down to the brighter "basement garden" when I decorate for Christmas and the tinsel wreath goes up, so it's only temporary.

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All material © 2009-2025 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Visiting Thompson's Nursery in Waldport, Oregon

For years Thompson's Nursery was a vendor at the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon's spring plant sale, they were also one of the first plantlust.com nurseries. I remember my (then) plant lust partners making a business trip out to the nursery itself, in Waldport, Oregon (about 3 hours/150 miles), but I'd never been. During Andrew and my recent beach getaway I was just 26 minutes away, so I finally visited...

Back when they were at the HPSO sale, they were known for their rhododendrons, but that seams to have changed, as they had all types of plants, and a nice display garden as well.

Ginormous Schefflera delavayi.

Until the last year or so (when a friend gave me divisions of his Arisaema) I never paid mention attention to these plants, thinking they were fussy.

Now I can't get enough of them!

This was a new to me plant, Mitraria coccinea, Chilean mitre flower, a hardy vine in the gesneriacae family.There were no blooms, I was just drawn to the foliage.

I think this is a colorful Schefflera taiwaniana, but I didn't see a tag.

Oh! Let's look in the greenhouses...

This Arctostaphylos x 'Sunset' was good size and only $12, I tried so hard to rationalize the purchase but couldn't come up with a place for it and I already have A. silvicola 'Ghostly' in a container, so it stayed behind.

I love a good under the table planting...

This one was grand.

Under the table inventory is good too, Fatsia polycarpa 'Green Fingers' and Doodia media.

Love that bright new growth.

I didn't see the name of the eucalyptus, but swooned over it's powder blue color.

I've seen a lot of Echium pininana lately, I feel like I'm missing out! (these were growing right in the ground, not in pots for sale)

I don't normally look twice at Agastache, but these ‘Kudos™ Mandarin’ were lovely.

I guess the flowers were getting to me that day, because this one, Digitalis obscura, came home with me.

It's the complete package though, I love the foliage too.

You could buy a 4ft tall Melianthus major, if that was your desire.

I really wanted this tall Rhododendron macabeanum (I think the tag said alpine form), it was a very reasonable $65.

One of my fav groundcovers in my front garden, Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific'.

I think this was Rhododendron 'Wine and Roses'?

After I paid for my plant I did a bit more exploring.

Seeds pods on the Phormium in the photo above (isn't that small truck adorable?).

Later I learned I'd wandered into an off-limits area (I thought it was all part of the nursery/display garden) but was thrilled to come upon this old greenhouse.

I headed into the off-limits area (not knowing that) to photograph the small echium forest I couldn't get a good shot of from inside the greenhouse.

It was a great nursery visit!

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All material © 2009-2025 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Bonsai at Garland Nursery

I am not an bonsai aficionado. I've walked through the Pacific Bonsai Museum, at the Rhododendron Species Foundation Botanic Garden, all of once (here). Still, when I happened into this bonsai filled room at Garland Nursery in Corvallis, I was charmed.

How could I not be with all that moss! 

I took note of the plant names and price when they were available (typically on a handwritten, faded, wooden label). This (and above) is Kingsville Boxwood, $350.

Not for sale (NFS)

NFS

Dawn Redwood, $350

I saw a scene much like this out in "the real world" last weekend at Oxbow Regional Park, I loved how natural these were, planted on slabs and not overgroomed.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce, $1200.

NFS

I want a carpet of this green groundcover (baby's tears/Soleirolia soleirolii I think) in my bathroom. Wouldn't that be amazing?

Corokia, $140

Seiju Elm, $2500

NFS, I wonder if the terra cotta pots are meant to be filled with smaller annual plants? I like that idea.

Ginkgo, $1900

Chamaecyparis Curly Tops, $1400

I loved this one, for the texture...

NFS

I wonder if this was a personal collection? The plants were so varied, I appreciated the assortment (not just conifers).

We end with another NFS...

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All material © 2009-2025 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.