garden98011's Blog

Plant Nerd Night 2012 - Seattle
Apr 20, 2012 | 10:08 AM PST
Tags: Plant Nerd Night , Far Reaches Farm , Dan Hinkley

OMGoodness, aptly named event for certain!  My non-gardening friends, (yes, I have a few) tease me to no end, obviously I did not ask them to attend with me.  The event was held at the Mountaineers Club in Seattle.  The name originated in Portland and seems to be spreading….  I took a sweet friend from my MG training, she turned out to be one of those persuasive types…. “Oh, you neeeeed that”, “go get one, ahhhhhh, , look at that, you should get one of those too.” I really like her, DH may not.

The vendors present all had solid reputations, many rare & unusual treats with limited stock on hand = frenzy.  There were oodles of new introductions, many yet unnamed, my head was spinning.  I finally set my purse down and just carried my wallet around.  Taping my cash to my sleeves would have saved more time.

So here is my list:

http://www.farreachesfarm.com
/SearchResults.asp?Search=Pyrr
osia+sheareri

http://www.farreachesfarm.com
/Aconitum-sp-vining-CGG14028-p
/p2545.htm

Boquilla trifoliolata HS 066 - "Extremely rare Chilean relative of Akebia, evergreen, long chains of lavender berries, excellent texture, used for basket making in S. America"
Pseudopanax laetivirens DJHCh 0345 - "Hardy araliad w/palmate schefflera like foliage from mountains of S. Chile, handsome evergreen foliage, Spring green.15' "
Schizophragma sp. DJHS 8071 - "A beautiful, little known Chinese species with reddish new growth and distinctive glossy green leaves, narrow white bracts surrounding large flower heads."
Viburnum sp. add. henryi DJHC 4266 - Hinkley collection from Sichuan forms uptight stems to 15' clad with narrow 6" evergreen foliage, cymes of honey scented flowers late Spring then red fruit.

Callistemon "Woodlander's Hardy Red' x 2
Disporum cantoniense 'Night Heron' -x 4 The large one in my garden but it was sooooooo slow to increase that I did not want to divide the thing!
Dryopteris lepidopoda '
Kniphofia 'Orange Crush' x 2
Lobelia tupa x 2  This will be my 2nd yr trying to get this to bloom for me!  I think my original 2 are toast.
Polystichum x dycei

Kelly Dodson from Far Reaches Farm is a hoot.  He also has a way of describing his plants that puts me in an almost drug induced state; I always buy more than I expect but am usually quite thrilled when I get home.  This morning I have regret (maybe too strong of word) over one slow growing fern that needs winter mulching.  Other than overwintering plants in my greenhouse, I rarely coddle plants in the ground,  I hope to remember to mulch this little beauty – I will be on guard the next time I visit his nursery.   Far Reaches is so cool that I am not quite certain I can keep that resolve.  Really, my only saving grace (plant wise) is that it’s located in Port Townsend – about 1.5hrs away. Whew. They do have mail-order though....

Dan Hinkley is always so generous with his knowledge, quite personable, very humble.  He had some new introductions that I nabbed.  One of which he doesn’t even know the color of flower – I bought it anyway…nuts I tell you.

I had a riding lesson in the morning, Plant Nerd Night in the evening, great Thursday!  It's pouring today so I am going to hunker down and clean this house reallllly well in record time.  My 21yo daughter & I have a date at 2pm.  We are going to the observation deck at the Smith Tower in Seattle, dress shopping downtown then sushi. I need to stay focused and the rain is helping otherwise I would be planting my new treasures, ignoring the dirt inside!  I hope the rain stops at 1:45pm.

Happy gardening all!

Andrea