31 Spring Sprang!
March 27, 2021
33 Putting the “B” in Euphoria
April 23, 2021
W hat a gem of a nursery! We visit Cottage Gardens once a year at least. It’s small and well laid out, sits on top of a hill in a perfect growing climate, and it stocks a great selection of plant varieties—but not so many that it overwhelms—most of them grown by Cottage Gardens itself.
Last time Aunt Patti and I went was in 2020 when we just needed to get away for a day. Of course by the time we arrived that morning, I needed to pee. Unfortunately the restrooms were closed to the public. (Yes, I am writing about peeing again!) And to make matters worse, a line of people were waiting to get in! So I couldn't follow a plan I had used before which is to quickly do the shopping and be gone so I can pee elsewhere.
When we finally got in we played dumb and asked to use the restroom. Got denied. So I turned around and started towards the plants thinking what in the hell am I going to do?! But then the salesperson (a woman, thank gawd) came up and quietly told me to go ahead and use the restroom. She must have seen the tears welling up in my eyes as I tried not to pee my pants. Hallelujah for nursery angels and small acts of kindness!!!!
Here's another angel I found at Cottage Gardens...
Senecio candicans ‘Angel Wings’
‘Angel Wings’ is perfect for adding texture and soft gray foliage to a garden. It is considered a tender perennial where I'm located so I treat mine as an annual.
It is DEER RESISTANT as well and is lovely in a cobalt blue container with a mix of yellow, white and lavender flowers. You will only see this plant in nurseries Spring to early Summer. So get a move on!
Cottage Gardens carries a wonderful and eclectic selection of metal sculptures...
One year when my husband, Mike, asked what I wanted for Christmas—as if he doesn’t know (MEN!!!)—I sent him a picture of a metal ram I saw at Cottage Gardens. (I take pictures of things I want so that when I get asked this sort of question, I am ready!) Mike, bless him, traveled in a winter storm during the holidays and got him for me. He is now perched on a cliff overlooking our ponds.
Mike also gave me a tray of succulents. He’s the man!!! And Cottage Gardens is a favorite place to shop for succulents.
I love love love this display of ‘Donkey Tails’...
Sedum 'Donkey's Tail’
Mine isn’t quite that large (or even close, lol) but I just got it last year.
I had another Lewisia in this container but it died for whatever reason (plants!) and my grandson put the Donkey in its place. I kinda like it like that.
By now—if you've been following this blog for a while—you know that Aunt Patti buys and buys (and buys) succulents. Here's one she got at Cottage Gardens.
Do you think she would keep her plant labels in the containers so I would be able to tell you which succulent this is?! Nope. Maybe I don’t blame her...it's not attractive to see labels sticking up everywhere. She could creatively hide them somehow but then she would have to over-exert herself. (Must take after me.)
Now, did you know Cottage Gardens has a great selection of Clematis? One the largest I've seen—44 varieties and counting!
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:
Clematis x ‘Madam Julia Correvan’
Clematis x ‘Diamontina’
Clematis x ‘Alionuksa’
I have a Clematis ‘Alionuksa’ that is similar to the one above. I like to call it ‘Purple Bell’ because I can’t remember it's name and Purple Bell makes more sense than a lot of other wrong-headed plant names. But it has very VERY small blossoms—think magnifying glass—which shocked me the first time it bloomed. I thought, "Really? Is that it?" Apparently I didn't read the plant label carefully enough. But now I have grown to appreciate it.
Have you heard of Tuffits? Let me tell you about them. They are concrete stepping stones made to look like velvet pillow cushions. My obsession with them is what led us to discover Cottage Gardens in the first place.
(BTW, my BFF is in love with the little dog here...)
As you can see in photos from my garden, I use Tuffits in rows for walkways, or singly in front of containers I visit daily for a chit chat. This way I don't compact my beautiful soil!
The first time I saw them was about 15 years ago at Annies Annuals & Perennials. (Aunt Patti and I sure go to AA&P a lot!!} I bought a few, but...well, a few Tuffits is NOT enough! I went back to Annies for more (I needed some plants too...lol) but they were gone! I asked where I could find them and was told, "We don't carry them here anymore. You have to get them at Cottage Gardens."
"Cottage Gardens? Where is that?!"
And the rest is history as Cottage Gardens quickly became one of our "have-to-visit-often" nurseries. The first time we went, lo and behold, my Tuffits! (I learned they are actually made by Cottage Gardens.)
I now have every Tuffit style they come in! At $40 a piece they're a little steep, but sometimes we must pay extra for a little uniqueness in our gardens and our lives.
Take a moment to go outside and see if you need some uniqueness in your garden.
I bet you do!
Photos courtesy Sheri Lynn Burke. All rights reserved.
