I wouldn't mind getting a plant of Rosa chinensis spontanea to try on a wall here. According to The Plant Locator - Western Region your fuchsia has been listed by Colvos Creek nursery .

I haven't started my 2007 plant wish lists yet.....

Roses- Topaz Jewel, Agnes, Moore's Striped rugosas since I heard deer don't eat rugosas.

Shrubs- various fragrant ones- Phladelphus, Illicium, Fothergilla
also non-fragrant but hopefully a drought-tolerant Hypericum shrub that has the stamens that make a Mimosa-like ball.

Mulberries

I've been on the hunt for Carpenteria californica for a number of years. So far local sources have been nonexistant, so I might have to go farther afield.

And I am such a sucker for winter interest plants, so toying with the idea of including an Edgeworthia, but haven't quite figured out a good location in my crowded garden. I really like the naked but very structural winter stems and amazingly fragrant yellow flower clusters and a reputation for less fussy conditions than its daphne relatives I seem to have endless problems with.

Silly me, asking what plant you just have to have, we all know it's never just one. Give your head a shake A...... you're talking to gardeners. I've got a list so long you'd get bored reading it.
Gardengal48 If you can't find Carpenteria californica down there, Fraser's Thimble Farms up here on Salt Spring Island B.C. carry it. Fall shipping for that one I believe. They will ship to the States. I get over their at least once a year, Last year I bought some really nice Epimediums.
Another thought, you could try "Heronswood" at least it's States side. Thanks bboy for the info on Excorticata but I'm looking for a source closer to home.

A......

Molbak's had 5 gallon carpenteria late last year, so apparently they found a wholesale source that suited them. I have also seen it at Wells-Medina.

According to The Plant Locator - Western Region it has been listed by

forestfarm, Williams, OR
Steamboat Island, Olympia, WA
Cistus, Sauvie Island, OR
Greer Gardens, Eugene, OR
River Bend, Clackamas, OR
Gossler Farms, Springfield, OR
Nursery at Emerisa Gardens (in California)
Hayes, Issaquah, WA
Dancing Oaks, Monmouth, OR
Siskiyou Rare Plants, Medford, OR

I'm so excited, the Sun is poking through the Fog, my fingers are shaking so much I'm hitting all the wrong keys and words are getting all jumbled up, and I'm not saying what I really want to say. I'm so excited. Hemnancy before I self-destruct have you got Philadelphus "Belle Etoile" good choice for fragrance I have one planted outside, under my kitchen window and when the windows are open the perfume drifts inside, mmmmm.

Catch you later, I need a Garden break.

A......

I have been after Anarthrophyllum desideratum for a while. I got some seeds once; they sprouted and promptly died. I planted them too thickly and should have used pumice rather than perlite.

Eucalyptus recurva and Lomatia tasmanica are high on my list but I don't think I will get those anytime soon either. I would probably kill the Lomatia.

I think it's Whitman Farms in Oregon that has been wholesaling Carpenteria.

Wow Ian, Anarthrophyllum desideratum is very cool! Good luck!

Must be why it's called "desideratum". Of course it probably was named before Ian desired it.

There is a plant I've been lusting for. I don't know the name of it, & I've never seen it for sale, but I see it other people's gardens all the time. It can be trained as a climber, a low ground cover or a shrub easily kept to the size you desire. It has lovely, hauntingly scented, flowers in a shade of pink that never clashes with other colors. The bloom period lasts from April through November. It has no thorns & no susceptibility to disease or pests. It provides food & habitat to butterflies, & birds. It has blazingly gorgeous fall color, beautiful architectural grace in the winter, & quickly fills out in the spring with bright green leaves. It take sun, part sun or deep shade. Not fussy about soil. I've been told that not only are all parts of the plant edible, but incredibly delicious. The stems can be fashioned into toothbrushes, tote-bags, & rustic furniture & the bark can be brewed into a tea that cures seasonal affective disorder.

If anyone has this plant let me know.
I'd love to have a cutting.

You've really got me going there, misslemonverbena.

Aftermidnight, I had a wild Philadelphus in my woods that was like a tree but haven't seen the blooms for several years. Last fall I did get P. Belle Etoile, in a 4" pot. Thanks for the good report, I hope it doesn't take too long to bloom. I'm considering getting one or two more from Forest Farm. Have you seen 'Innocence' or the dwarf ones? I love the fragrance.

Hi hemnancy,

Haven't seen 'Innocence yet, I used to have one dwarf mounding one called 'microphyllus' lovely fragrance but the dog ate it. There's a story behind that one. Have not been able to find another yet to replace it. Belle Etoile does put out flowers when quite small on second year wood , it won't take long.
misslemonverbena don't these people know what a gold mine they have? They should be propagating it like mad, They would be millionaires in a week.
Now don't you get me going again.

Later...... A......

misslemonverbena, you are not alone looking for this plant!! Folks come into the nursery all the time looking for the exact same one. For future reference, it's called Plantius perfectius and tends to be really expensive if you can find it, as availability is very, very scarce and it won't grow well from cuttings and you have to rely on the birds to drop any seeds :-)

Thank you Gardengal for knowing the name of this elusive plant. I knew we could count on you. I believe the bird droppings of this plant seed must also fall on soil inhabited by the rare, unicorn-horned nematode as well, making it very difficult to establish.***Sigh***

Actually I have a shrub that I would call plantius almostperfectius though. It's a Sadler's Oak. Not flashy at all, rather unassuming really. But it looks so perky and fresh all year round. It's very slow growing, has a nice shape, the slugs never touch it, and it never shows any frost damage. It pleases me immensely. It's like being in the presence of a polite, well behaved child, a rare & wonderful thing. The google photos don't do it justice. I'll try to post a picture of mine. I was lucky enough to have this given to me, but I'd love to have another.

I saw Sadler's oak in the wild last fall, it was pretty cool.

As long as we're entering the realm of fantasy, I wouldn't mind a few nice mallorn trees. Better get Hinkley on that one!

Ian if you ever open that specialty nursery of yours, the Mallorn trees would really put you on the map. Personally, I'm still mourning the loss of the Party Tree. Everyone should have a Party Tree.

MissLemon

Hi all,

I'm just loving these posts, they really lift the spirits on these very dull days. We're still dealing with the fog up here, I've never known it to hang around for so long. Seriously now, I have another plant that I just had to have and I need some help on how to grow it. A few years ago I bought a rooted cutting of a shrub named Dichroa febrifuga at the U.B.C. plant sale. It 's evergreen, has lovely blue flowers,then berries, it growth, in opinion is like a hydrangea. I believe it comes from Asia. It doesn't winter well for me outside so I've dug it up, planted it a container and it's wintering in the greenhouse. I'm guessing it's marginal here in Z7/8. Any ideas out there?

A......

Post pictures! I could use a well-behaved child...

mkirkwag, loads of pictures of D.r. on google images, just been there myself, and I think I've found the answer. When I first bought this plant a few years back I could find no information on it and have never thought about looking for information again until today.

A......

Wait, I'm confused, What's D.r.?

Sorry about that, hit the wrong key, I meant to say D.f. Just being through some old posts and discovered Heronswood has been sold. Up here Heronswood is talked about in hushed reverence. I'm really shocked.

I've been wanting a climbing hydrangea or two or three ever since I started my tiny little landscape reconstruction project 4 years ago. Finally, at the start of year 5, I'm beginning the last section on the north side where I can finally place one. I have about 35-40 feet of height and am willing to build whatever structure I need to accomodate them if keeping them out of the cedar siding is best.

Now all I need are some recomendations..........:-)

Well, I have been wanting Xeronema callistemon, phormium like leaves with red red bottlebrush flowers. I know its not hardy but I'd just bring it in winter.
Also a mexican oak, Quercus tarahumara, huge foot long or more leaves. Probably need to collect acorns in Sonora or Chihuahua myself. Oh well.

>Ian if you ever open that specialty nursery of yours

Here is a link that might be useful: Welcome to THE DESERT NORTHWEST!

Wow, Ian you need to update your page.