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.