Back home.

It sure would be wonderful if you could come visit us. Better plan on staying awhile. Here is a list for Oregon.
http://www.plantsomethingorego...

Jennifer and Arlene,

I live about an hour and a half north of San Francisco. These are nurseries I've been to and have enjoyed, admired, and/or purchased from:

Lone Pine Gardens: specialize in cacti, succulents, bonsai and unusual ornamentals
http://www.lonepinegardens.com...

California Carnivores: (and next door is Greenman Nursery, a general nursery )
http://www.californiacarnivore...

Cottage Nursery of Petaluma: Perennials, grasses and succulents
http://www.cottagegardensofpet...

Wildwood Garden & Nursery: specialize in Japanese Maples sale and garden
http://wildwoodmaples.com/inde...

Here are some other photos I've taken on visits to Calif. Carnivores:

Sundews:


Various Pitcher type plants and their beautiful colors and textures:

Jennifer, your job to check on regs about taking plants over state line!

We can ask the nurseries before we visit. They should know.

Anyway, we have some time to figure this out. As much as I would love to make this trip happen next year it would be highly irresponsible of me. I will do my best to be patient. Make solid plans. And MOST IMPORTANTLY figure out a way to save a boat load of $$$$ to make this happen. Oh and also I worry about leaving for any length of time in the near future since old gal Tyra is still with us.

valleylynn said:And this is the plant sale of the year to go to:
http://www.clackamascountymast...

J and A,
Speaking of things that can be money saving and time saving, Lynn and Julia's suggestion to go to these garden events where many nurseries gather to sell their stuff is a smart suggestion. Here's where nurseries that are close in proximity of at least a hundred miles(or more) all congregate in one place for a day or weekend and so think of how much time you can save with all visiting them all within walking distance. You can probably ask if a certain product was available at the nursery and have them bring it to the event for you to pick up.

In regards to plants across state line, that was a concern for me to bring plants back in to an agricultural based state. In New Mexico, coming and going across state line with plants did not seem to be an issue when I lived there. But CA is a different story. I called the state dept and asked about what I could do to ensure passage with my purchase plants from Oregon back into CA. He said that there would be no problems if they were purchased at a nursery. He also said that succulents were not plants of concern. He did name a certain group that was of concern but it went in one ear and out the other because I was listening for semps/succulents only. So when I went to Oregon and bought plants, I always made sure I got and kept receipts from my purchases to have for any border checks. One nursery offered a certificate of within-regulation-nursery-operations type of documentation and I had that to show to the powers that be. You can also call the state dept of any state and ask what particular concerns they have at the moment and just steer clear of those plants.

At the end of course, after checking before the trip to Oregon and heading back armed with my receipts at the border check point as I was entering CA with my coveted purchases, the patrol just waved us by without stopping us.

My experience with coming into California from Nevada:
At the border everyone was stopped and asked if you are carrying plants. If they were in a prepared potting mix (not native soil) they pasted them through with your nursery receipts. If it had native soil it was taken and disposed of. I had succulents, shrubs and a tree. The tree was taken, as it was planted in native soil.

So is it just coming into California or out too?

Maybe we could fly into CA and rent a car, no better make it a van! Do a few CA nurseries and then drive up to Oregon, and then Washington. And then make the long drive back across country to somewhere like perhaps Kentucky, rent another vehicle so we each can head our separate ways.

That sounds like the perfect plan Jennifer. I am getting so excited for your adventure.

It's coming into CA...and I guess with coming to CA first without anything green would avoid the possible hassle. Just check on WA and OR.
If this trip for you both becomes reality, I'd like hearing from you before you do blow into CA. I could help with arranging accommodations and take you to the aforementioned nurseries.

Bev, back at the turn of the century ( ) I lived in Davis. We often would cross the mountain to romp in wine country. And of course visit San Fran and Santa Cruz.

I just looked up B&D lilies and they are in Port Townsend also!! Don't know if they allow visitors but I'll check sometime in the next year

I'm getting really exicted too Lynn. Also I hear Oregon is the place to get dwarf conifers. Something I would like to start exploring.

webesemps said:... and take you to the aforementioned nurseries.

I should re-phrase that; it would be my hubby taking you to the aforementioned nurseries as we just got a new fangled car that is so loaded technologically that I can't tell whether I am in reverse or drive (so stuck momentarily in parking lot in front of the busy pizza joint) and the memory settings always puts me in my hubby's saved settings for way back there seat positioning and way down there steering wheel height. I hate that car...

There you go Bev, making me laugh again.

WA & OR have no check stations on plants. Not sure about other states you might be traveling through.

Just a starter list of conifer nurseries:
http://www.peaceofmindnursery....
http://www.coniferkingdom.com/...

Jennifer and Arlene it would truly be the journey of a lifetime!! How exciting!

Bev - I only 'do cars' as a passenger

Greg I love your new avatar.

, very nice Greg. He's a great passenger too.

Thanks ladies!

Bev, I can relate! Some years back, I went to visit my Mom in SoCal and my brother got me a rental car. Nice shiny new car. Very nice, and very nice of him. BUT when I went to fill the tank before returning the car....oops! How the heck do you open the darn filler cover? I had no idea that there was a stupid lever inside the car, behind the driver's seat that you had to pull to open the cover. Had to ask someone at the station, and of course it was during rush hour evening traffic. Did not make any friends at that station!

Garlands Nursery is the big one in this area, but as others have said the big plant fairs - like the one in Canby- is the way to go! The trip sounds like a blast!

Hi Jennifer, I hope your Great Nursery Excursion of 2016 materializes, as I'm sure it would be a memorable experience.

If you are in Washington in April you may want to attend the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival at Mt. Vernon,WA
http://www.tulipfestival.org/g...

And just at the edge of these ..."with 1000+ acres of Skagit Valley tulip, daffodil, and iris fields" near interstate I5 is Skagit Valley Gardens
http://www.skagitvalleygardens...

Or here you can select a state and choose the native plant nurseries along your route that you would like to visit.
http://www.plantnative.org/nat...

Have a safe and wonderful trip.