My afternoon with brugcrazy

Jeanne was on her way home from Ontario and the new grandbaby yesterday and had a few hours to kill between flights. So I drove out to the airport to get her and catch up on all the baby and family news. We only had a short time so we drove up to the Bloedel Conservatory on Little Mountain then to Van Dusen Botanical Gardens then a short stop at Thomas Hobbs place. I actually lucked out there, I got a multi branched Iochroma that is about 6 ft tall in a 5 gallon pot. For $29.99, what a steal.
This pic is looking down on a part of the garden at Little Mountain.

This one is for you gunnera people. It is almost in the pond at VanDusen.

Looking up toward the dome of the Conservatory on Little Mountain.

Some fish in the conservatory pool.

Orchids. Jeanne seemed to know what they are but just one of many varieties that they had. I really became enamoured with an anthurium magnificum there. If any of you know where I can get my hands on one, aside from absconding one from the Conservatory, I'd appreciate knowing where to get one.

Oh, I wish I was there with you two. What a gorgeous place. Sounds like you lucked out alright with a Iochroma at that size. What kind of a place does Thomas Hobbs have? The orchid is fabulous. Nice photography, Liz. Thanks for sharing. :)

How lovely!

A couple of years ago Thomas Hobbs was the featured speaker at the Calgary Hort Society spring show and I was his chauffeur for the weekend! Neat guy!

carol

Liz, great photos, thanks for sharing. Good to hear that Jeanne and grandbaby are both home.

I am drooling here Liz. I ask at every nursery that I go into here on the island and so far not a single one has even heard of an iochroma. I keep looking though. I guess there are some benefits to living in Vancouver.

Linda

Liz....is this Jeanne's first grandbaby??? Elaine

I thik i saw something similar to that orchid in the greenhouse last winter, i wil keep an eye (s) out for one.

Southlands, the Hobbs nursery, is a neat place. The plant staging is excellent which is not surprising. Every now and again you come across something that you can't find elsewhere. The way he has it set up though is why I keep going back. Right now he has a lot of succulents and seems to be into hybridizing daylillies as evidenced by the hangtags with crosses marked.
Elaine, yes it's Jeanne's first and she is smitten.

I visited Southlands for the first time this summer and I agree there is something about the nursery that sets it apart from the others. It is almost like visiting a garden rather than a nursery ! Not to be missed if you are in the Vancouver area (neither should the Conservatory).
Heather
(PS I was wondering about Jeanne's grandbaby - thanks for the info !)

The orchid is a Zygopetalum....lovely and quite fragrant. Van Deusen remids me of Butchart...quite spectacular....and that Gunnera! Drool!

Todd, that was the one that you ID'd for me about 5 months ago and Jeanne would have recognised it as I picked up one for her as well. I haven't killed it yet and it has three new shoots coming up! I don't know if they are flower stalks or just leaves.
Heather

Todd, the first pic is at Little Mountain where the Conservatory is. It's maintained by the city Parks Department. They do a booming business with summer weddings so they are really good at the summer colour. Van Dusen is more of a horticultural teaching garden with more plants along the line of perennials. Both have different styles so if you see one you should see the other as a complement.

I bet the two of you had a wonderful time. Pictures are beautiful.

The pictures remind me of Butchart also. They are gorgeous Liz.

What a lovely get-together.

Joan

Thanks Liz for meeting me. It was wonderful to go to the conservatory and Van Dusen Gardens. You're a great friend.