Olive blooms... finally.

First off, happy 4th of July to all my American friends!!! But you see July is the special month and need be celebrated everyday.  It always starts with the Canada Day shibang, Birthday week - sometimes month - of course, the 4th, the sunshine month (therefore the happy month)... I think you get what I'm saying.  But boy oh boy, July came in with a bang this year.  I think the weather is officially bi-polar.  I spent my birthday inside commiserating over the torrential downpours, wind, and highs of 68F.  I think the coldest it has ever been.  But then, like a glimmer of hope, the clouds broke and shone down a garden surprise.  My Arbequina Olive tree that has been "about to bloom" since March finally bloomed!  So I frolicked through the overgrown wet grass to gaze upon its beauty.

I just love the dark almost blue green of the older growth!!

And the tender new growth coming along nicely.

humble beginnings ... leccino olive

As a gardener, I have to confess something.  I can be incredibly impatient.  I dream of Disney sized garden budgets and mature specimen plants.  When you're on a limited gardening budget, this remains a dream.  But there is something endearing about humble starts.  As some of you may know, I managed to get a wonderful little leccino olive tree last weekend at the Van Dusen Botanical Garden plant sale.  The idea of growing olives this far north is not a new one.  Check out a ten year old olive grove on North Pender Island BC.

(Taken from olivetrees.ca)

When researching how and where to site my young olive tree I was given one piece of advice that I have to admit almost stopped me right in my tracks.  "Don't plant anything within one meter of the tree."  Yikes.  My hopes and dreams for a mediterranean garden makeover would be on hold for a couple of years while the tree matures.  So started the hunt for the perfect terra cotta pot... until yesterday.  I was out planting some herbs in planter boxes and before I knew it, I had shovel in hand, and the tree was going in.

I just love the foliage on olive trees.  Now I have to hope for a hot summer and mild winter...

I strongly suggest anyone thinking of growing an olive in the PNW visiting the Oregon Olives website.  

Van Dusen Botanical Garden Plant Sale

As some of you may know, I have been eagerly anticipating the Van Dusen Botanical Garden Plant Sale. Around Vancouver, it is for sure one of THE sales of the year.  Truth be told I think I let my anticipation get the best of me.  But why not? Last year I scored on an amazing agave for just a few dollars and beautiful succulents amongst other treasures.  Apparently, there was plenty of anticipation to go around ... here is the line forming before the sale began.

I found this area very interesting... the plant check.  It's fun to guess at people's characters by their plant selections. hmm... what do your plant choices say about you?

I spent a majority of my time in one small area of the sale, the "tropical's" hut.  Yes, tropicals got a hut! Here you can see some camelia sinensis, kiwi vines, bamboo, citrus...

My friend Becca got this epic trachycarpus wagnerianus.  Until a few weeks ago, I was never able to find these for sale.  Now, I just keep running into them!  

But truth be told, I was devastated by the lack of agaves.  Only two... at least by the time I made it over to the table.

This kind of put me into a funk.  Everything else seemed somewhat tainted.  That coupled with the fact that the cactus and succulent booth had no cactus!! outrageous!

But their were still some great treasures around.  Like this Grevillea Victoriae....

And a lone Poncirus Trifoliata "flying dragon."  I really should have bought this but I was holding out for I don't know what.  Well I do know, I was debating whether of not to buy one of the nice trachycarpus wagnerianus...

While pondering what plant purchases were in order, I decided to take a stroll around some of the gardens.  It was a surprisingly purple kind of day.  I think the Van Dusen people have an affinity to purple. 

And for all those who seem to think trachycarpus "just don't belong here," I beg to differ.  It seems to fit right in perfectly.  I almost feel a rant coming on, but I will resist.  Rather I will highlight the fact that trachycarpus fortunei are classically used in english gardens!

This area of the garden really spoke to me!  The South American section!!!

Seeing this bottlebrush only confirmed my need for one... thanks Van Dusen!

Across the way I spotted some nice yucca showing the tell tale signs of a wet winter ... spots!

After making our way back to the checkout we had to carry our plants a couple blocks to where we parked... I think the real reason I didn't go plant overboard.... (next year I'm bringing a wagon!)

You can see Becca's palm, but what else?!  I bought a Leccino Olive Tree!!! Thats right.  It was somewhat of a mad dash for this plant in the beginning of the sale.

Some of the smaller treasures...

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!  I hope that everyone is enjoying a nice weekend!  I have always been one of those festive type people. To me, every holiday should be celebrated with lots of good food and of course presents to yourself!  And being that I saved so much money by making my own succulent wreath last week I had my eyes set on a brand new agave parryi.  I had an inclination about a nursery in Richmond  (close to Vancouver airport) that I needed to visit called Phoenix Perennials.  I didn't take any photos because they were still very much setting things up - probably due to our abysmal start to spring.  I was fortunate, however, to be given a tour of the production areas where I spotted some agave friends!  Struck with a moment of incredibly weakness, I bought two!!!!

So without further withdraw, meet my newest Agave Ovatifolia!! 

and my new AGAVE PARRYI!!!! I have been lusting after a nice agave parryi of comparable size for far too long!

Here they are nicely settled into their new homes.

The lounge chairs even came out to celebrate!!!

I also found this wonderful sedum palmeri that I have been hunting for!

It is finally feeling like real spring!  Even the bananas agree!!!

Just when I thought I had gone way overboard with new plant acquisitions.... I came across this wonderful little olive that I have named "Ollie"

Who could resist such a graceful plant with those gorgeous blues and greens! NOT ME!!

What could make all of this even better?! Tickets to a Jamie Durie presentation at Cedar Rim! It's official I'm completely out of control!