Xera Plants Opening Weekend!

First off, a big THANK YOU to everyone who posted encouraging words on my last post about our presentation at Joy Creek. I'm glad to announce that it went really well, my fellow speakers did a fantabulous job (as I knew they would) and I was able to make it through the whole thing without crying...basicially, we were awesome, and it rocked ;-)

While I was pretty wiped out for the rest of Saturday, I really wanted to visit Xera Plants on their opening weekend, so the next day, Sunday, I found myself in the car heading to their new (and first ever) retail location.


The store is located at SE 11th and Clay...which is super close to my house. As I walked around the corner, these signs greeted me...so excited!


The space isn't huge, but it's crammed with all manner of fun plants.


More plants!


Xera partnered with Bob Hyland's Potted to provide some very cool planters (including some he's already planted up, mainly with succulents).

There were all manner of plants I was unfamiliar with...I thought the ones on the left were pretty...but forgot to check out the tag, drat! I'm not the biggest fan of Knifophia, but I know most everyone else is...so here's one for you on the right!


One of those classic Portland plants, Cistus, a.k.a., the Rock Rose. I love this white for with the deep red blotches. The flowers really do resemble single roses...very classy, don't you think?


I fell in love with this Oxalis...it's hard to tell, but it has the tiniest leaves of any Oxalis I've ever seen!

In my dream garden, I'd have a shady area filled with hundreds of Tiarella, all erupting into gorgeous, frothy bloom.


Another cool plant, Rubus lineatus, the pleated foliage is so nice, right?


I ran into Linda (of Whatsitsgarden) while I was there, and we walked along, happily chatting and pointing out cool plants.


She even brought her sweet little Boston Terriers with her...they are the sweetest and always give me puppy kisses (plants and puppies, does it get any better?)

Xera has lots and lots of succulents...and yes, I'm not great at telling most of them apart...so forgive me if I just say "succulent".


Another Knofophia...this time with yellow blooms.


I was happy to see a few Geraniums in the nursery...this is my fave "Rozanne" and a hot pink variety...love the two together...an electric combo!

Here are some of Bob Hyland's pre-planted containers.


I loved this one, planted with a few varieties of Hens & Chicks...the light caught them just perfectly.


Someday I'm going to find room for this Epimedium...I swear it!

More succulent planters.


Another Cistus, pink this time...don't you love those tissue-like blooms!


This is actually the water feature I've wanted in my back yard. I love how simple it is...sort of evocative of an agrarian background...and the mix of metal and concrete really appeals to me, for some reason.

Begonia luxurians and Aeonium


I love the little pom-pom flowers of this plant, I tink it's a form of Cotula.

I love this low, black pot...so very nice...and the Society Garlic...must find room for that!


More low pots...I really dig these...and just wish I could find a place for one.


Lobelia laxiflora, I remember this from having seen it in Ryan Miller's garden last summer.

I really liked this simple, single rose...and the deep Mulberry purple of the Penstemon on the right.


Did I mention succulent planters?


Here are two of the business partners, Bob Hyland (left) and Greg Shepherd (right).

Ceonothus and Cactus.


I'm one of those gardeners who touches EVERYTHING, so I always have to mentally remind myself NOT to do that with cactus.

I've been wanting one of the plants on the left, Asclepias speciosa...as it represents the form and style of Milkweed I grew up with...and not only does it produce those odd, chalky blooms, but also enourmous, horned seedpods that burst open with silk seeds. I can't think of a single place in my garden that it would be happy, though...so I ended up getting a consolation Eryngium bourgatii...because Carol Klein loves them...so they MUST be amazing, right?

I have to say, I'm enormously excited that Xera has opened a store...and that it's SO close to my house. If you are in the Portland area, you owe it to yourself to pay them a visit...you won't leave empty-handed!