Visit to Molbacks~

What trip story would be complete without showing a few photos of Moblacks Garden & Home store.  Molbacks sold recently & no longer grows the acres of poinsettias' that they used to be famous for.  It was always such an amazing sight to walk in & see all the colorful plants under the roofs of so many greenhouses.

Entering~

Now the poinsettias' are gone, but the rooms full of decorated trees, vast variety of ornaments & gifts are there for holiday shopping.  There's a small café, surrounded by lush greenery, a waterfall & small pond.

Rose golds~

Butch, Dave, & Mason headed for the Woodinville Whiskey Company for lunch, while Courtney, Cassidy & I shopped till we dropped!  (Yes, I'm mailing a small box home.)

Galvanized is "in"!

It's so much fun to walk around & get fresh ideas for seasonal decorating!  

One of my favorites~

There weren't as many displays as we remembered & we really missed walking down the aisles of colorful blooming poinsettias...  After many years, no longer a family run business.

Grammy & Cassidy - who's taller now?  :-)

Looking up at these two Grand-kids is something I'll have to get used to!

So pretty~

The red poinsettia tree was in it's usual place for photos, but in years past there was a white tree too, that was spectacular.

Mason & Grammy!

I asked Mason to sit next to me - if he'd been standing - I'd look really small :-)

Spring like display ~

The guys came back looking for us - we could have stayed longer, but it was already dark & we wanted to get home.  Plenty of cooking, wrapping etc. to be done!

Grammy & Papa with Mason & Cassidy~

Mason had a great idea, a stop for ice cream!  Only Mason would want ice cream on a cold night!  We found C.C. Espresso open & they had my favorite - peppermint!

Downtown Duvall~

Perfect holiday day~  Tis the Season!

Blooming Barn~

After months of rumors, today was the grand opening of the Blooming Barn in Malvern!  It was a warm, sunny day - with big thunderheads floating overhead.  Just enough of them for most of us to believe that we'd have rain by afternoon. 

Inside one of the Greenhouses~

We'd driven by a couple times during the construction & the last time it looked like there was a lot left to be done.  It came as a surprise when the opening was advertised for today!

A busy place~

With an older barn, a new barn under construction & at least three greenhouses, there was a lot to see!  I think every plant lover within miles of Malvern planned a visit today!  We'd all been so starved for color & the smells of spring!

Cute metal roofed gazebo~ 

So many of the trees are in full bloom now!  Pinks, whites & one variety that didn't expect to see here - the Redbud!  I asked my friends in the Garden Club who told me that this is about the northern most extremity of their range.  Of the large trees - about half are budding out - beautiful shades of pale greens!

Inside the older barn building!

The décor of the barns was so unique!

Lots to see!

Painted & metal art seem to be popular - at least in the places we've seen.  Unique & colorful animals, birds etc.

A pony too!

I admit - I was tempted :-)  It this pony had been more gold - he might have come home with us!  Really a darling piece of art.

Flowers!

The variety of bedding plants was just incredible!  As good as anything I've seen in Molbacks or Wrights!  Linda & I had such fun meeting for lunch in at Skagit Valley Garden's in Mt. Vernon over the months before we moved.  Here there's no lunch venue, but nearby is the Classic Café!

Another greenhouse full of beauty!

Several other shoppers warned me that's it's Way too Early to put out bedding plants or vegetable starts yet!  We had a freeze one night last week.  I had to bring in my pots of germaniums.  Even so...

Our mailbox post~

We found a nice, heavy, bronze color planter & filled it with Calliope Large dark Red Geraniums & Sedum mexicanum.  Similar to what I'd planted at the Homestead.  It looks great with the rocks we bought, for around the bottom of the post :-)  Buying rock is something I've never done, it was a trip to the mountains.

Everything is turning green, the birds are singing from dawn to dusk & the cardinals come by a couple times a day.  I'm looking for a small weed trimmer to use along the creek.  I have plans :-)

First Visit to Lauritzen Gardens~

The day was brisk, cold, but so sunny & beautiful!  I enjoyed my first Garden Club Christmas Luncheon & Party!  Everyone was to bring a gift they'd made.  What wonderful gifts they were!   I'm excited about going to the monthly meetings this coming year & the many tours on the schedule!

Later in the afternoon, I was invited to go to Omaha with Clara, Debbie & Barb to visit Lauritzen Gardens!  I still can't get over driving without traffic.  Taking the time to enjoy the city, have dinner & return home, all minus traffic snarls.  It reminds me of the old days in Seattle...

Late afternoon sunshine & light ice on the pond~

After a short drive, we arrived just as the sun was setting.  The large greenhouses are tucked into a hillside, somewhat protected from the north winds.  Once inside, the colors of the season were on full display.

Poinsettia Tree~

This Poinsettia tree was easily four times the size of the one's I've enjoyed at Molbacks for many years.  So stunning to see the vibrant red color!  High ceilings contributed to the feeling of grandeur.

Lights & decorations~

Everywhere we looked - was a delight to the senses!  I was happy to have been included!  Around every turn, were more beautiful displays.  Many included the huge tropical plants.

A tropical paradise~

Once inside the Arboretum - the sound of running water greeted us. There seemed to be water everywhere!  Streams flowing, fountains & pools of water full of colorful carp.

Beautiful planter from the last century~

We seemed transported - to a warmer winter climate.  The volunteers & staff do such a beautiful job decorating.  Holiday lighting added cheerful brightness to the scene.

The arbor area~

Birds of Paradise were blooming!  So were the geraniums & even orchids.

The Palms~

My favorite though - was the Banana Trees!  My first time seeing them in person.  They were So large & had such presence!  Something I didn't expect - but walking through the grove made me imagine what it would be like in a jungle!  I thought of how my friend Petra, had enjoyed her tropical excursions.

huge leaves!

We all agreed that thatching a roof with these huge leaves would be a relatively easy project!

With lights!

Each display had a magical quality.  We visited the gift shop - full of items for holiday gift giving.

Bright reds!

It was amazing to me, that just on the other side of these walls, the temperature was dropping into the teens!  A tropical paradise on one side, cold mid-west Winter on the other!  I definitely want to bring Butch for a visit.  Season passes are very reasonable.

Perfect!

Simplicity sometimes rules - as this wreath perfectly demonstrates!  Finally - it was time to walk back out into the cold of the night.  We stopped for dinner before heading home & still arrived just after 7 p.m.  Butch had taken the lights we'd used on the Cottage & put them all the way across the front of the house!  A welcome holiday surprise.