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The 2024 Garden Year

January 19, 2024 January Our year started with snow, ice and frigid temperatures in mid-January. Our temperatures stayed below freezing for almost a week. I think it was the most consistent cold that we've experienced since moving here. Fortunately, it was a dry snow so there wasn't too much damage. Once again, we almost lost the azara and I'm afraid there would have been some breakage if I had not kept knocking the ice off. February 14, 2024 February In past years, it seems that inclement weather seems to hit around Michael's birthday in mid-February. After the January snow and ice, this month was actually quite tame. Nothing exciting to report - mostly birdwatching . Early flowers like hellebores, cyclamen and crocus begin to bloom in mid month. March 3, 2024 March I got into a walking routine which I'm happy to report I am continuing this year. You get to the point where you feel guilty if you miss a day. I do miss days occasionally but I'm learning that ...
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Little Prince Of Oregon Nursery visit

Plants ready to be shipped out
On Sunday, I had a chance to visit the Little Prince of Oregon greenhouses for a behind-the-scenes look at their operations as well as a delicious lunch and a chance to buy plants. Mark Leichty, Director of Business Development organizes an annual event for garden writers, bloggers, photographers, etc. I wanted to go last year but could not but I finally made it this year. 

 The Little Prince of Oregon headquarters are located in Aurora, Oregon in the beautiful Wilamette Valley. After getting off the hectic freeway (it drives me nuts even on an un-busy Sunday morning), the drive is pleasant. There are numerous farms in the area and the greenhouses are surrounded by a horse farm.


For the past twenty years, Little Prince has supplied plants to Oregon and Washington nurseries. Gardeners are well familiar with their labels which feature the crown-wearing frog logo. There are 70 greenhouses which are full of plants.
Some plants are labeled and ready to go...
But many are not.

 From Abutilon to Yucca, Little Prince grows a wide variety of plants but they are particularly known for their large selection of agave, ferns, heuchera, sedum and sempervivum. My haul? My very first Grevellea (Grevellea rosmarinifolia), Uruguayan Firecracker Plant (Dicliptera suberecta), Epimedium 'Amber Queen', Cotoneaster 'Mooncreeper', Cotoneaster 'Lowfast', Arching Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium fortunei var. Clivicola), Tradescantia 'Blushing Bride' and 4 varieties of Chinese Ground Orchid (Bletilla) including a yellow-colored one. I think I actually got more than this but I can't remember them all.
A mix of succulents
Acorus
Some very tiny Japanese maples
Mahonias
A fun day, great shopping opportunity and I also got to meet some blogger friends in person for the first time. Thank you Mark and Little Prince of Oregon!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. GRACE PETERSONMarch 23, 2018 at 7:38 PM

    I remember you taking a photo of these fern and Carex pots at the same time I was. Weren't they fun? It was really nice to get to meet you Phillip. I know what you mean about that freeway. I hate it. But the back roads are so nice. I'm glad we didn't have today's shivering weather last Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverMarch 23, 2018 at 7:41 PM

      It was great to meet you Grace! Today was miserably cold and windy. I was working in the greenhouse all day and it was even cold in there.

      Delete
  2. LesMarch 24, 2018 at 4:08 AM

    Sounds like you came away with quite a haul.

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  3. Lisa at GreenbowMarch 24, 2018 at 5:55 AM

    It reads like you hit the jack pot there Phillip. Can't wait to see what and where you plant everything.

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  4. outlawgardenerMarch 24, 2018 at 9:13 AM

    That fern/carex combo is really cool. Sorry I couldn't make the open as it would have been nice to finally meet you in person. It's just as well, though as my pot ghetto is already full. Glad you had a good time!

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  5. Hoover BooMarch 27, 2018 at 11:24 AM

    What a beautiful setting for growing plants. That must have been a fun day. Enjoy your Grevillea! I hope it does well for you.

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  6. RobinLMarch 27, 2018 at 5:56 PM

    Oh my, that is exactly my idea of a fun day! And to come away with plants too, heaven!

    ReplyDelete

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