Tuesday, September 24, 2013

There's a new man in my life

His name is Louie. I looooove him.

Pinus strobus 'Louie'

I went with Scott to the Salem Hardy Plant Society sale two weekends ago, which was GREAT. It was smaller, very well curated, and not super crowded. We were able to go to each and every booth, really look at what they had, then circle back and buy stuff. You paid the vendors directly so there were no mega lines to deal with, either.

Scott and I were making the rounds and he said, "Oh, Heather, look over there . . ." and I RAN to Louie and started running my hands all over the needles. I looked like an idiot and I promptly got a rash all over my arms. I'm the coolest!

I'd just gotten paid the day before so I was feeling like I needed to make up for the fact that I missed the Fall HPSO sale because I was broke. I've been in love with Louie ever since I saw him in Carolyn Kolb's garden.

Photo by Loree Bohl. Source

I always see Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph' at spring plant sales and I die a little when I see that it costs more than my mortgage to buy a tiny six inch seedling.

Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph'. Image source: WSU

Chief Joseph has a superior color in winter but it fades to green come spring. Louie remains a golden beacon all year long. I swear the photos are leaving him so much less golden than he appears in real life!


I've taken to storing my newest acquisitions on the back deck so I can make googoo eyes at them from bed. It's gotten a little tight out there. The other adoption that I'm so excited about?


Helwingia chinensis. This is a plant I heard about in Dan Hinkley's "Foliage First" talk at the Yard Garden & Patio show. Those flowers are fused to the leaf and eventually they'll form a fruit:


It's evergreen and it's got that pretty purple veining. It's hardy down to 0 and it's available at Dancing Oaks.


Except, wait. I bought the male form. Does that mean no fruit? Do I need to buy a lady version now? Shit, the Internet says yes. Who wants to take a road trip to Dancing Oaks?

21 comments:

  1. oooh...Louie ! and that helwingia . I want them both. The Fatshedera libel I bought from Viscaya

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  2. Ooh, I just picked up the Fatshedera from Garden Fever . . . I bet you paid less!

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  3. Great selections! That Helwingia is fascinating.

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  4. What a cool plant that Helwingia is! I'm not a big fan of conifers, but I can see how those golden-needled ones are hard to resist.

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  5. Nice score! And your Fatshedera looks like a beauty too.

    You know Cistus might have a lady Helwingia...and if you wait until next week to go out there (after the 1st) then you can shop the tough love sale too!

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  6. Louie is a keeper, and I can't wait to see how he fits in your garden. Isn't it great to get exactly what you have wanted and see it become part of your plan?


    Louie, Louie, me gotta go. . . the Kingsmen will forever waft through your garden now.

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  7. I'm so excited you finally got your 'Louie'...he's such a handsome chap..and I think a proper trip to Dancing Oaks is definitely due :-)

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  8. I still think about that bladder senna plant there. So beautiful!

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  9. What is this plan you speak of? ;) I still haven't figured out *quite* where he's going to go but I think he'll look good! wherever he lands.

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  10. Plant pusher! That is an excellent idea.

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  11. It's past time that there was a lady in this garden!

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  12. I'm excited to see how it matures. Now to find a lady for this fella . . .

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  13. Isn't it bizarre? Nature is the coolest.

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  14. Don't let Greg catch you caressing Louie...well, maybe a touch of jealousy isn't such a bad thing. The oddball way the flowers and then the berries are attached to the leaves of the Helwingia have me salivating.

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  15. I think it's best to keep them on their toes a little. ;)

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  16. Louie is so very handsome. Great purchases. I NEED to explore Dancing Oaks.

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  17. Geeze, Greg leaves on business and already you're painting the town with this Louie fellow and have a line of suitors waiting outside your bedroom. You go girl! What kind of vitamins do you take?

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  18. Ha! They're not so much vitamins as they are crazy pills. ;)

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  19. So ... what does he do for a living? Does he come from a good family? Are his intentions honorable? You can't go for looks alone.

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  20. He says he loves me! You're not my dad!

    Thank you for that--I laughed really loudly at your comment. :)

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