Meanwhile, you can catch us at any of the following spring plant sales in the area. These are all very worthwhile and we hope to see you.

2013 SPRING PLANT SALE SCHEDULE

Northwest Horticultural Society          Saturday March 9, 9:00 – 3:00 , University of  Washington Center for Urban Horticulture

Seattle Audubon          Saturday April 6, 10:00- 4:00 , 8050 35th Ave. NE, Seattle

Northwest Perennial Alliance         Sunday April 14,  9:00 – 3:00, North Seattle Community College,  9600 College Way N.

Rhododendron Species Foundation      Friday April 19,  3:00- 6:00 and Saturday, April 20, 9:00 – 3:00, Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, 2525 S. 336th St, Federal Way, WA

Arboretum Foundation (Florabundance)      Friday April 29, 5:00 – 7:00 PM (preview party), Saturday and Sunday April 30 and May 1 (hours to be announced, usually open at 10:00) Washington Park Visitor Center.

Spring begins way earlier around here than most people think. We who look at plants, however, find all kinds of color and activity by February. Dozens of plants are flowering or sprouting new growth in the gray coolness. The native osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis) becomes a haze of chartreuse this month, just before it opens its clusters of white flowers. The flowering currants (Ribes sanguineum)  are blooming in warm spots, in shades of pink and red. Few people seem to notice this early beauty, but the hummingbirds visit every flower.

Among non-natives, there are dozens of early risers. The handsome and deservedly common Viburnum tinus,  flowering since fall, is building to a fragrant spring climax with abundant clusters of pink-budded white flowers. Hellebores are reaching full bloom as well, in elegantly muted shades of pink, purple and greenish white. In dappled shade, Crocus tomasinianus, only a few inches high, spreads carpets of lavender with the vivid magenta of early cyclamen. Various Sarcococca waft a rich fragrance from the barely-seen white flowers under their handsome leaves. More perfume, this like lemon candy, comes from the bushy honeysuckle Lonicera standishii.

Out in the sun (whenever it shows) various manzanitas (Arctostaphylos) dangle clusters of pink or white lanterns. They are joined by orange and red grevilleas and the early blue flowers of rosemary.

With these seasonal charms displayed against a backdrop of of varied evergreen foliage, there is no ‘dead of winter’ in the garden. If you are short on either seasonal color or evergreens, don’t miss our sale.

-Everything will be 30% off.

-The sale is one day only.

-Yes, we will have cookies!

Saturday, October 27th, from 9:30 to 5:00, all our plants will be 40% off, except for 4 inch pots, which will be HALF PRICE. Warm up with hot cider and cookies (there may be a Halloween theme!). We will have the place as full as ever. And we will try to schedule sunshine.

Date: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 28-30, 2012

Time: 9:30 to 5:00

Place: Colvos Creek Nursery (at Country Store), 20211 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon Island. Phone 206.749.9508 / colvoscreeknursery.com.

Among the must-haves:

Alpine bush mint (Prostranthera cuneata), an Australian evergreen making a low, wide mound of tiny, deep green leaves redolent of mint and eucalyptus. White flowers tinted lilac decorate it in June. The severe cold of 2010 left it untouched.

Penstemon heterophyllus from California is a neat evergreen shrublet with narrow leaves and spikes of electric blue flowers in late spring. Add a bunch of these to a dry border or rockery and turn some heads.

Mantilija poppy (Romneya coulteri), one of California’s well know treasures, yet hard to find. We have lots, so now you can plant one (or more) and enjoy the spectacle of its huge, crinkly white poppies.

Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) has possibly the best smelling flowers anywhere, and they open in mid-winter. Small ivory bells waft a clear perfume of fruit and spice into the chilly air from the bare branches of a 6-8 ft. shrub.

Corokia cotoneaster is the best of several New Zealand shrubs noted for their tangled wiry branches. The silvered black filagree is scantily clad in tiny, round leaves. Little yellow stars and orange berries are seasonal accessories.

Hydrangea heteromala makes a tree to 15 ft. tall, its arching branches crowned with broad, lacy flower clusters that age from cream to salmon rose as the leaves color purple.

Lewisias are choice and scarce rock-garden gems, native to dry mountains and plains of the far west. Our ‘Sunset’ hybrids are easy to grow in well drained part-shade. Each rosette of succulent leaves it topped for many weeks by clusters of inch-wide flowers in shades of pink, rose, salmon, orange, red and white.

Our alpine strawberries are loaded with flowers and ripe fruit-they often carry them until Thanksgiving. These will look fetching as soon as you plant them. They are OK in sun but best in part shade.

Grasses are still hot (and well worth planting whether fashionable or not). We have a good assortment of sizes and colors. Blue love grass (Eragrostis elliottii) from the Southwest if a current favorite, unbeatable for it flowing airiness. A whole slope covered in it is stunning.

We can’t stop loving the silverleaf oak (Quercus hypoleucoides). This southwestern evergreen tree is gorgeous when the wind lifts its skirts to show the white felted undersides of its narrow leaves. Drought-tolerant and hardy to zero, this beauty deserves a wider audience.

Come see these and their hundreds of companions at the sale, and enjoy refreshments while you check them out.

9:30 – 5:00

We’ve been bringing over truckloads of new plants, so come by and take advantage of our annual Birthday Sale. Everything will be 25% off regular prices, and you can enjoy some cake, too.

To add to the excitement, there will be three $64.00 gift certificates handed out who-knows-when during the sale. That could make your shopping a lot more fun.

We have lots of natives, perennials, rare trees in small sizes. Plant a palm ( or several) now before they go up in size and price. They love to be planted in summer.

There are many lavenders, rosemaries, penstemons, cistus, hebes, grasses and more for sun and drought. Screen plants like arbutus, Italian buckthorn, several thujas and escallonias are ready to go, as are striking and rare trees such as silverleaf oak, Himalayan catalpa, Hupeh and Pratt’s mountain ashes and several eucryphias.

Among the natives, our deer oaks  (Quercus sadleriana) are gorgeous, and we have hard-to-find natives such as yerba buena (Satureja douglasii), twinflower (Linnaea borealis), mountain strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) and the native Rhododendron macrophyllum.

We hope to see you there!

See you there!

The flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) is always a favorite for its drooping clusters of flowers in red, pink or white early in the year. Hummingbirds love these; other wildlife enjoy the pale blue fruits in late summer. Growing 6-8 ft. tall, this deciduous shrub likes part shade. Ours are in 1 gallon size for $14.00.

Evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) is a favorite, too, for its glossy foliage and tasty blue or purple berries. Bronzy-red new growth and pink flowers make a show for many weeks. Our plants are from Vashon Island selections with extra large, bright blue berries that are especially sweet. They’re in 4 in. pots, $5.00.

Another native edible, the western hazel (Corylus cornuta), makes a fine small shade tree, with gracefully arching branches carrying rounded leaves. Gold fall color and late winter flower tassels are seasonal bonuses; sweet filberts are the main attraction, if you can get them before the squirrels. We have nice gallon plants for $14.00

Hummingbirds are also crazy about the western columbine (Aquilegia formosa). The red and gold flowers, nodding from tall stems from late spring well into summer, add color and charm to any shady spot. We have them in 4 in. pots ($5.00) and 1 gallons ($10.00) and if you hurry, they will still be in bloom.

Vine maple (Acer circinatum) is a long-time favorite for landscaping. The wild yet refined beauty of its wandering branches and the flaming fall color make it indispensable. Our 2-gallon plants are lovely at $20.00.