Christianson's Nursery & Greenhouse: A Must Stop in the Skagit Valley

It is always a good day when I can visit Christianson's Greenhouse and Nursery. It's a little wonderland of plants and possibilities in the Skagit Valley.

So on this particular day last year, my friend Amy and I had driven up to the area  with no set agenda. Our goal was to see tulips and have a chance to talk; the best kind of Spring afternoon. We drove to Christianson's to get in the mood for spring. Everything looked beautiful. And this is where Amy found some wonderful chocolate tile "paint" sets. I'll write about them soon.

At Christianson's, they have a lovely gift shop full of unique housewares, beautiful books and special antiques. Guess what I found? I actually made squeaking sounds when I noticed it on the shelf...

                                          
A covered casserole in my beloved formal china pattern Lavinia by Spode (covered with black raspberries)! Cab you believe it? I did not have this piece and I was over the moon. What a thrill. To my knowledge, my pattern was never sold in the United States, so we had to order pieces from Canada for our wedding registry. I've only seen the full collection on display in Bermuda; that's how rare these dishes have been for me, so finding this piece in my pattern was shocking and wonderful.

This casserole is oven-safe and I will bake my heart out with side dishes galore. 

My china pattern AND tulips, this was a delightful day.

#skagitvalley #gardencenter #lavinia #antiquefind

Golden Arch of Flowers on Mother Daughter Trip

I must show you this spectacular Golden Chain arch that I saw at Bayview Farm & Garden on Whidbey Island on May 24, 2018 (for your reference when you are trying to visit it in years to come). It resembles a wisteria and smells heavenly.

What I really love is that they announce that it is blooming on the nursery's sign board out by the road. It tells all the people whizzing by, "Hey! You're going to want to stop and see this." And boy are they right. It is an incredible example of a healthy plant having just the right conditions to flourish.
It was a beautiful day and I was on a day trip with my mom and her friends (and their daughters!) from their apartment building. We had taken the ferry to Whidbey Island to visit one of their friends and had cleared the whole day to have lunch and go gallivanting. 

Our group loves gardening and our exclamations caused a stir when we saw this Golden Chain in full bloom. We naturally started posing for pictures. It was all I could do not to strike a dramatic "America's Next Top Model" pose, the lighting and conditions were right! Think of the close up framed in yellow blossoms! But alas, I posed normally with my mom and then corralled the rest of the ladies into appropriate combinations.

Sometimes a case of being in the right place at the right time is up to Mother Nature. Remember to look for the beauty of every day moments and if you see a sign by the road that says something is happening, Go Look!

#daytrip #motherdaughter #goldenchain #bayviewfarmandgarden #bayviewfarmgarden #whidbeyisland #gardeners #amomentintime

Holly Wreaths: Incredible Old World Christmas Touches

I can't believe I have access to these beautiful handmade, fresh holly wreaths for sale at Squak Mountain Nursery and Greenhouse in Issaquah, Washington. They are a Christmas dream come true. 

I have always loved holly and how a touch of it can suddenly convey Christmas. Holly can transform a tiny Dickensian lamppost in a train set. It can appear in the corner of fine stationary. It is favorite cookie shape with red cinnamon candies conveying a cluster of holly berries.

Holly just might be my favorite Christmas touch. This year I am having fun with our new house and experimenting with how I want to decorate. This week I bought bundles of cut holly from Squak Mt Nursery for just $3 each. That should give me the raw materials I need to enhance a wreath and tuck some Christmas touches here and there.

The time and talent it takes to make a full wreath of holly is incredible. The $50 price tag makes these exquisite holiday touches a bargain. Go to Squak Mountain Nursery right now! 

#christmascheer #decoratingforchristmas #hollyjolly #realholly #wreath