Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Monday, May 5, 2008

Friday Morning, Three Hours In A Wonderful Weekend

Did you ever have a weekend so full of delicious activities, so filled with loving friends, so jam packed with garden activities that you woke up Monday morning and realized you hadn't taken a single photo all weekend long. Nothing to upload to your garden blog? ...being in the moment was an absolute joy.

Friday started off with coffee and a trip around the garden with my good friend and best garden shopping buddy, JJ. I showed off my PPPP. Now come on, you didn't think I would let this mention go by without a photo did you? She was of course impressed and said so; she is after all a very good friend!We talked about what plants I needed for the garden. Being a very good consumer I did indeed have a list: Grey Owl (Juniperus virginiana), Christmas Fern and Heuchera. She had her list, too! Then we hoped into her Pathfinder and headed to GroWild for their open house and 10% off sale on everything in the nursery.

We left early and were totally surprised that a small crowd was there and already shopping. GroWild was ready for everyone. They are experienced open housers so they had plenty of help to haul plants up and down the hills and enough snacks to make everyone happy. They even had chocolate. Mike and Terry, the host and hostess, were as always knowledgeable and helpful.

Did I mention that GroWild is the premier Tennessee native garden nursery. Mike has been a huge help to me in understanding the growing conditions at Clay and Limestone and Terry has been an absolute doll in letting me make appointments throughout the year to get shrubs, trees and perennials. I may be their biggest fan, but I doubt it! Visit their website.

We were good and didn't stray too far from our list. But it was tempting. I managed to get the Grey Owl, and 3 Christmas Ferns, but nixed the Heuchera for Iris cristata "Tennessee White" and a Yellow Star Grass. The Iris is so beautiful that 3 of them came home with me!

JJ managed to get a Cotinus 'Grace' which is a cross between the C. obovatus and C. coggygria. A lovely tree that looked so much smaller in the field than it did in the back of the Pathfinder! She was also taken with the I Cristata and a new P divaricata 'Mary Helen'. What a charmer with a lovely blue color and fragrance.

GroWild's helpers managed to find room in the Pathfinder for a small Juniper viginiana 'Burkii' and a beautifully formed Hamamelis vernalis.

The H vernalis is a gift from my three dear friends, JJ, JG and MH to commemorate my mother! There aren't words to describe how much these women mean to me. Thank you for the beautiful tree and thank you for your loving support during this difficult times.


Tina, In The Garden, is making a plant marker for my mother's lovely tree. She asked me earlier if I wanted a marker and this seemed an appropriate plant to mark. It shall read For Bernice, xxoo. My mother never failed to sign her cards and letters to me with hugs and kisses.

Aren't these just the best people!

Gail


"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with."

- Mark Twain

17 comments:

  1. So glad you had such a great weekend Gail as you had it coming and I know your mother was looking down and smiling and saying, "That is one of my girls"!!

    Always great to have great friends.
    But then again I would not expect you to have anything less.

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  2. What a wonderful way to memorialize your mother. Your friends sound like special people, and having a big SUV to carry home all those plants doesn't hurt, either!

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  3. jean,

    Thank you. You always make me feel good and I know Tina is lucky to have you as a mom.

    Gail

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  4. Rose,

    It was a thoughtful gift and they are wonderful friends. I knew they were and their kindness magnified how kind.

    Gail

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  5. Now there's a story with a happy beginning, middle and ending. All your plants sound like wonderful finds, I am a fan of Grey Owl, although we don't have one, no room to do it justice. The witch hazel is a divine tree, perfect for a memorial. Tina is a good friend too, in addtion to your other sweet gals. You deserve them, being so sweet yourself.

    Frances

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  6. Now I am hoping the words all fit on it. Oh the pressure! I'll let you know this afternoon.

    I haven't been to Growild but my friend Geri has. She has not had luck as she was just showing me all her Growild purchases which weren't doing well. It could be Geri's location. Not sure. ttyl

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  7. France,

    It is really a beautiful specimen. A perfect vase shape, with character. Perfect as you say for my mother...she loved looking good!

    Well, I don't know if I am sweet but I do like my friends!


    gail

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  8. nancy,
    I feel like I am extracting compliments from visitors every time I mention PPPP but it is fun.

    Yes, being in the moment is good.

    Gail

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  9. Tina,

    Your mother is adarling and so are you!

    She ought to call GroWild...and ask what is going on with her plants. The one plant that didn't make it this past year was planted in the worst clay soil I have ever seen. It would have been better to make a pot out of it then try to grow a plant. I only get plants that will be happy in the clay soil I have. I never get azaleas or Rhodos there is no percentage in that for me!

    Gail


    gail

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  10. Weekends can be distracting that way, can't they? I managed to get a few pictures, but when you keep so busy that you don't even have time to think it's hard to keep up.

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  11. cinj,

    I imagine with two young children that you have a whole bunch of distraction! I just have a sweet husband and a cat and they keep me hopping.

    Gail

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  12. What a sweet way to memorialize your mother. I can't wait to see pictures of how the tree does.

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  13. Vertie,

    Me, too...I still am not sure exactly where to plant it! One problem with a Natural Garden (Ken Druse natural) is that it is quite green and when a tree is green most of the year it disappears!

    Gail

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  14. What a wonderful trip to the nursery. So nice to shop with friends and have them "encourage" you. I am sure you were only limited by what could be taken home in the Pathfinder.

    Carol, May Dreams Gardens

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  15. What a wonderful trip to the nursery. So nice to shop with friends and have them "encourage" you. I am sure you were only limited by what could be taken home in the Pathfinder.

    Carol, May Dreams Gardens

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  16. Carol,
    In the past I would have made a second trip but it rained so heavily the rest of the day I didn't want to get covered in mud. Yes I have 'encouraging' friends!

    Gail

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