Today we are visiting one of my “secret squirrel” commercial nurseries in Woodinville to find specialty, niche items that aren’t usually available at standard retail spots. The goal is to find plants with robust crowns that we can bring indoors and put under grow lights to force them into bloom just in time for the show.
We uncover some lovely finds today, including the moody geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’ , the unruly kerria japonica , and a total wild card: rosa glauca. I also share why I think the gardening world is shifting toward niche varieties this year. Finally, join me for a little personal shopping as I hunt for the perfect Mugo Pine for my own modern meadow project.
Featured Plants: 🌿 The Show Plants: Geranium ‘Samobor’ , Kerria japonica , Rosa glauca , Prunus mume. 🌲 Trees: Stewartia monadelpha and Dwarf Katsuras. 🏡 Home Project: The hunt for the perfect Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo).
Let’s do some shopping!
Kate
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00:00 Intro: The Secret Nursery
01:23 Finding Geranium ‘Samobor’
02:46 The Art of Forcing Plants
05:35 Finding Kerria Japonica
07:37 Garden Trends: The Unique & Niche
08:42 The Search for White Ribes
09:38 Rosa Glauca
11:18 Stewartia Monadelpha
12:52 Prunus Mume (Flowering Apricot)
14:20 Dwarf Katsura Trees
16:26 Mugo Pines
19:28 The End
23 Comments
I TRY to find ANY tree, flower or shrub that has a fragrance to it for my garden.🤗🎄💚🙃
You’re REALLY making me give Professor Google a work out today !😂 🎄💚🙃
I REALLY can’t wait to see your display at the flower and garden show 🤗🎄💚🙃
Thank you Kate. Thank you for taking us shopping with you ! I’ve added a few new contenders for my garden! 🤗🎄💚🙃
Kate, I SO wish I could attend the show to see you. Especially this year–it promises to be amazing! I sincerely hope that visiting our dear neighbour becomes less fraught soon. xo from Canada
Hi Kate, just watching (not finished) and excited for/with you! Just wanted to add a rose I just heard about yesterday which has red stems in winter: jam-a licious !
What about winter sweet? Incredible fragrance with small pale translucent blooms.
We had a Kerria japonica growing up, and now I have a start from my parents in my own garden 💛 Those golden puff-ball blooms are pure sunshine. This video makes me so excited for February!
Preparations for the Show have begun.🎉🎉🎉.I'm ready for all your divine plant hunts👏🏻🤩🤩🤩❤
This feels like the start of a really exciting journey 🌿✨ Love the curiosity and preparation behind hunting for unusual plants—it’s these moments that make gardening so inspiring. Watching closely and learning along the way.
The green branches and yellow flowers on the Kerria will be striking, but you should mention it is an aggressive spreader if you plant it in the ground. I love the unusual plants too, it's always exciting to find something really cool!
Okay, really, really dumb question. Don't laugh at me. If something needs to go dormant before you try to force its blooms, could you put it in the freezer for a couple of days to simulate frost? Light would be an issue, but could a couple of days without light damage a plant? Roots being frozen is another concern. Just wondering. I'm not a horticulturist. Just a gal trying to think this thru.
Stay dry. Prayers for those in the way of the flooding. We had the same happen in the Western part of my state last year. It's just awful!
Cheers from North Carolina
Gosh Kate! I’m so happy for you that you can find such excellent plants at this time of year! Go Kate! Love it!
So exciting!!❤
I mentioned that I think we are going to see a huge shift toward 'unique and niche' plants this year rather than just the classics. 🌿 Do you agree? Let me know what 'weird' or unusual plant is on your wishlist for 2025/2026! 👇
I’m a fan of the unusual! If you’ve never been to McAuliffe’s Valley Nursery in Snohomish, I think you’d like the gardens they’ve planted. The conifer garden is very inspirational. They do some artistic pruning that romances the ordinary too. They have some wonderful plant and tree selections.
I had “Icicle” Ribes ( White), but it didn’t last many years and you’re right it’s hard to find.
Have you tried winter honeysuckle (lonicera fragantissima)? It blooms in February or sometimes earlier. The flowers smell like orange blossoms and the hummingbirds love it. It’s actually a shrub and not a vine. The flowers are small and white, but wonderful and last through March. It’s not a showy plant but helps the bees and hummingbirds and is totally worth it. ❤❤❤
How fun Kate! I love Isley‘s. I could spend all day walking and looking it’s just gorgeous.. thank you for taking us to a place. We could never go unless we’re a grower. ❤
Not weird or unusual but I have started adding black and pink plants to my garden. I am calling it Whimsy Goth! Geranium Samabor is one of the plants.
25 years ago I had a Kerria Japonica and LOVED it as it got bigger and wilder. After about 15 years it just died. I don't know what happened.
I replaced it with a varigated Kerria with an small open yellow flower. Not as vigorous but still a good grower with foilage interest. I'm glad to see renewed interest in the old Kerria Japonica. A show stopper for sure. I hope it works for the show!!!
Unusual Podophyllum spotty dotty is new in my woodland garden. A friend was kind enough to give me a division of hers. Yes! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I always know an adventurous gardner when they are drawn to spotty dotty asking What is This lovely plant?. 😃
Hi Kate, just wondering how things are going for you and family with all the rain. I have family on Vancouver Island in Vancouver BC and the Frazer Valley…it’s not great there! 😢 Zone 3 Manitoba 🇨🇦🎄🥶
I, too, am looking for mugo pine to add to my front garden.
It sounds like we have similar needs/situations.
Good luck on your search.