Garden Blogger's Fling, Portland: Pomarius Nursery

There are many tales to tell about the recent Garden Blogger's Fling: Private gardens, secret gardens, water gardens, nurseries, plants found, plants lost, memory cards failing, falling rain, scorching heat, funny hats, no extra camera batteries, wading pools, lemonade, wine spritzers and salmon dinners. Oh, the stories, the people, the new friends!

 Allow me to start with a charming European-style nursery, Pomarius Nursery, in the heart of Portland's industrial Northwest neighborhood. To kick off the annual Fling, the nursery graciously hosted our first evening with drinks and libations as Flingers from around the world met for the first time. It was a beautiful, warm evening as we converged on one of the loveliest gems around.

Pomarius is a very special nursery, so much attention to detail. They carry a wide variety of perennials, shrubs, trees and annuals as well as garden decor, pots and topiary. This is a nursery that dreams are made of, and is certainly an inspiration. It is very romantic and European in feel which is apropos as the owner is Belgian, Peter Lynn, a very welcoming and lovely fellow.

Once upon a time Pomarius had chickens who lived in a coop with a rooftop planted with sedums. That is long gone; too much work for owners of a small business. Enter the bees, fabulous bees in a super-stylish home. I just want to say "Wagon's Ho!"

Inside the greenhouse I was overwhelmed with eye candy.

The evening light was something extraordinary, especially in this greenhouse.

They have a wide variety of gorgeous pots in every shape and size.

And succulents, too. If you are in the Portland area, please go. It's such a dreamy place.

Wow, just wow. I love these blooms, this color, the electric outline of light.

Some fellow Flingers enjoying refreshments.

We did some damage with what Just A Girl With A Hammer called an "Epic %$#@!-load of wine". Yes, we had that, Heather....and we all appreciated it!

Fellow Flinger and Portlander Jane Finch-Howell of Mulch Maid fame enjoying the plants with me.

That light is the stuff of dreams. Just lovely.

Flingers unite! There's Danger Garden, Alternative Eden and Succulents and More, all in one group! Wow...that's a lot of talent there.

It looks like candy to me.

A white-crowned sparrow having a snack at the nursery. His mate was in the bush across the gravel path; they were having quite the conversation! I love it when I see wildlife at a nursery.

Such wonderful plants for sale.....

Stunning tomatoes...oh, yes, they sold these, too!

I wanted everything on this table... EVERYTHING!

Containers of every size as I mentioned...plus, delightful little decor. Wanted these, for sure. I hope to get back there soon and pick up a few...while there, I was too distracted.

I wanted just about everything on this table, too.

See what I mean about romance? Pomarius is dripping with it. I love it.

And as the sun finally sets I leave you with a parting image, a little blurry, as was I at this moment. At this gathering I met so many people whose blogs I read, enjoy and for whom I have great regard. As a shy person it was overwhelming but everyone was so gracious that it made it a true joy.

More stories from the Fling next week...to be continued...thank you for reading and happy gardening!

DIRECTIVE NOTE: When in Portland, GO to this nursery.