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A Visit to Cistus Nursery

I rarely go to nurseries anymore since I work part-time at one and another reason being that I don't have much room for additional plants. When a garden fanatic runs out of room, the brain goes into overdrive, dreaming up ingenious ways to incorporate more plants. And another thing happens - a burning desire to obtain rare and unique plants. I've been moving plants around, a tricky process that has a domino effect. A plant is unhappy - it is getting too much shade or perhaps too much sun. There is a plant that did not get as large as you thought it would or it is just a slow grower and now it is hopelessly hidden behind a taller plant. Sometimes a plant is just a dud for reasons unknown (Rhododendron 'Golden Gate' anyone?). I find the plant in question a better home, but it means that another plant will have to be moved. And the merry-go-round continues to turn... However, for those plants that are to be discarded, a space opens up for a new one! I decided to move a Mou...
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Deck and pergola update


Two full days of work and we are about 99% finished with staining the new deck/pergola. We took the supposedly "rain free" opportunity to get the job done and of course we got sprinkles yesterday afternoon and evening (the weather people here are the WORST!). No worries, however, as it did not seem to spoil anything.

When we had it built in January, Michael said that it would be nice if we could have stained the wood beforehand, especially the 2 x 2 slats that go across the top. Of course he was right as usual. It was a nightmarish job trying to get all the slats stained and I realized that in order to get the top of the slats covered, I would have to climb up on it and do the job sitting on top. Not much fun and very hard to move around. We can hardly move tonight.

I am smiling but I would rather be planting the plants I got at Hortlandia.

This is Michael on day #1. He used a car wash brush with an extension handle to apply the stain to the floor. This made the job go fast at first but of course those pesky slats on top would slow us down to a snail's pace.


Exhaustion and running out of stain ended the day with only a small portion of the slats remaining. Michael is planning on finishing the job tomorrow.


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Lisa at GreenbowApril 24, 2019 at 4:44 AM

    It looks like it will withstand any weather and any plants climbing upon it. I can't wait to see all the plantings around it. All of those slats make it a beast to stain no doubt. Won't it be fun to sit out there and watch the garden grow!

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  2. http://whatsitgarden.blogspot.comApril 24, 2019 at 4:32 PM

    You'll be finished just in time for the nice weather this weekend ...we hope ? It looks just right in that position , can't wait to see it all furnished .

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  3. KatrinaChicagoApril 25, 2019 at 11:29 AM

    wow this is stunning!! 2 Pergolas ?? Love it


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