Last Sunday my real life and online life collided in a beautiful mash-up that was a trip to Annie's Annuals in Richmond. This nursery is so much fun and was totally worth the trip, even though I was sort of hungover. Guess that means I'm perpetuating the stereotype! Haha.
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Tweeps! (L-R)
@gardenpunk (Me!), @betweenthelimes (Carri), @back40feet (Chuck), @anniesannuals (THE Annie herself), @bayareatendrils (Alice), and @TMTenterprises (Matt)
Because Annie's Annuals tweets, has a Facebook page, and is on Flickr, they knew we were coming and had some goodies ready for us, thanks to @patfitzgerald and Pacific Plug & Liner.
The coolest thing is that we got a behind the scenes tour of their propagation and new planting areas and got to meet Anni Jensen and Claire Woods. It was like being in the presence of royalty.
I'll be honest. I only bought one plant while we were there. A Ceanothus 'Tuxedo' - a black variety of Ceanothus! I planted it in the back corner of my lot that I have stuggled with for a couple years because it's barren. It's supposed to get 8' x 8' and is evergreen, so hopefully it blocks out the unwanted view of the neighbor's dining room window.
When we first moved in here 3 years ago, I had received a bunch of plants from a not-so-great mail order nursery which I proceeded to stick in the clay (you can't even call it soil) and every last plant died. That sort of shell-shocked me and I haven't really bought that many plants since then. Couple this with the outrageous sticker price of what I thought was the nearest nursery, I just didn't really buy any plants, just mainly started vegetables from seed.
Now we have a landscape plan being drawn up so I didn't want to go crazy and buy stuff that might not work. (At least, that's what I told myself). Annie's is a great resource for getting a lot of healthy plants for not a lot of money. Cheaper in person than mail order, or so I hear! The plants are very robust, albeit in mostly 4" pots. For those of you who can't make it to Richmond, or don't want to get off the freeway given Richmond's reputation (it's not THAT bad during the day) - I hear folks rave about the quality of their packaging when shipping items.
We made off with some pre-release Kniphofia (look, a Latin word on Gardenpunks!), which I potted up tonight as they were rootbound in their individual 6/9-packs.
(Don't be jealous.)
A huge thanks to Annie's for treating us like VIPs and making for a wonderful experience!
Oct 8, 2009
Field Trip to Annie's Annuals
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10 comments:
It was a fun trip for me too. Really enjoyed meeting everyone and the tour & the plants and.....now if I can just find the time to get them all potted up.
Just a really great day.
For the record, "kniphofia" is named after Johann Hieronymus Kniphof, a German professor of medicine. As you would say, "I'm just sayin'..." It's bastardized Latin, at best. Just like when Bishop Manning was struggling at my confirmation to come up with the Latin version of my Confirmation name (Ralph). He muttered under his breath, and then said, "In the name of Christ I name you Rulpino!"
Rulpino? Wasn't he the farmhand that lived in the shed behind the house in "The Real McCoys"?
Matt - Glad you were able to make it! I had to force myself to pot them up tonight. Do it before the rain next week!
Fred - Always the history lesson. Thanks!
You say "don't be jealous" and yet I am. I want to meet those bloggers too and grow Kniphofia. I planted a couple about two years ago and they didn't survive the winter.
I think I should take up drugs and give up the Zone denial, it would be cheaper.
Sounds like a good time. I'm impressed, Latin names, and all, and how you took that last picture. Good time!
mrbrownthumb - I was going to offer you some and then I read your whole comment. LOL
Carol - I know! A Latin name here! I could hardly believe it either. I keep forgetting what it is and how to pronounce it. I have to sound it out each time I read it too.
Oh, I'm jealous! Sorry, I am. I love Annie's and have only been there once. Usually I mail order. So far, all the plants survived.
Anyway, I'm glad you had such a great time! One day I'll start to twitter, too. Right now, 4 email addresses (two from two different places where I work) and a blog are enough. I think.
Town Mouse - It's no surprise to me that your Annie's plants survived. Their plants in the nursery are some of the most healthy I've seen. Twitter can be time consuming, but I have met some really great people I now call friends there. It's all in how you use it.
I love the idea of my real life and my online life colliding! Sparks would fly!
After reading your wonderful post, I'm really sad I couldn't make it that day! I'm so glad you all had fun, and thanks for the pictures! Isn't it great to see everyone in person?? Next time I'll be there for sure!
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