What are your plant lusts?

What do you do when it rains without ceasing?  I dream of plant purchases. I was asking myself this question today - Self, what plants are you lusting after this year?  It's all about focus.  You have to get that instinctive plant radar up and running.  I tried to think of a top ten.  If I could buy ten plants this summer that would revolutionize everything what would they be!? Here's my top ten in descending order.

10. Agave bracteosa - I have finally found a good source ... now the problem is and remains the sticker shock.  But I have the perfect home, sitting empty in wait for my beloved agave.... maybe this weekend. (this plant would be much higher on my list if not only for the fact it is well within my reach)

9. Brahea Armata - This one is a completely new addition to the list.  This palm was completely off of my plant lust radar until I saw one in the flesh a couple of weeks ago... one word, stunning!

8. Chamaerops humilis cerifera - do I need to say anything more?!

7. Sabal Minor - Oh how I dream about conquering the ivy jungle in the northwest corner of the yard and creating a whole new garden space.  These could go in as the new "palm shrubs"

6. Fascicularia bicolor - I was given the idea of "planting" these in the crux of my trachycarpus fortunei ... and then I thought about the boots of butia capitata.  Not to mention having some bromeliads around always makes things happy.

5. Agave havardiana.

4. Trunking yucca rostrata - I already have two of these bad boys in the yard but it appears I simply must have one with a trunk.

3. Jubaea Chilensis - This one I have seen repeatedly over the years but sticker shock always wins out.  Actually, with this plant its not sticker shock.  It's more or less the fact that I would get a giant - declined - If I ever tried to purchase it.  I suppose that's a good thing.  It keeps me in check - for now I will admire them from a distance.

2. Nolina La Siberica - Can some nursery finally order this plant in!?! It's actually a conspiracy I think.  I have scoured the Fraser Valley looking for this treasure.  It is nowhere to be found.  That being said, I was told next spring I could get one if I'm patient... this could be a long wait.

1. Cordyline Indivisa - the real deal indivisa not the thousands of mislabelled nursery pots "cordyline indivsa."  Again after seeing this plant in the flesh at the West Vancouver garden mecca I am on the hunt. This one will be a little next to impossible to find.

What about y'all? What plants are on your plant lust radar this year?!  Happy plant hunting...

From Spain with Love!

A few days ago I posted some pictures from a trip to London ... but, I saved the best for last ... SPAIN! I only spent a week in Spain split between Barcelona and Alicante.  I never imagined how much I would fall in love with the mediterranean.  Ever since I have been dreaming of olive trees, canary island date palms, aloes, terraces, and the works.  I know it has certainly fuelled my gardening passion and hopefully it will inspire yours as well!  (it also makes such a cold drizzly day on the West Coast feel a little bit warmer!)

Orange trees in Barcelona

Agaves and aloes look even better with bright blue water in the background!!!!

Simple and beautiful!

I love how mediterranean gardens incorporate so many artistic touches like these great tiles!

Scene from Park Guell

nothing screams mediterranean quite like a beautiful bougainvillea!

garden oasis on the hillside in Park Guell

I LOVED this! the columns make the agave look even sharper!!!

I wish we could grow date palms in the PNW!

The Explanada in Alicante ... a date palm lovers dream :)

maybe my mediterranean fan palm will look like that one day?!? (I think it would require some serious global warming!)

Even the churches have gardens!!!

My other passion.... Great food!

lavender seems so much nicer when you're in the mediterranean... it suits the rugged and arid look of its surroundings. (don't get me wrong... I still like lavenders in the PNW)

A view I could get used to!

Who new I loved lantana so much!?!?! Spain did!

All of this is to show and is to say that its great to get out and be inspired!  There is such a joy and such a rush of visiting a place for the first time and falling in love with its surroundings.  The mediterranean opened my eyes to a world of beauty and spectacular plants (many of which can be grown in the PNW!!!!) It's so fun to come back and incorporate bits of that inspiration in the garden!