I have posted before about the RVW Greenhouse, which is just a few miles from where I live. I often don't go there until June, for two reasons: 1) By then I know there should be no more frost for the season so it's safe to plant, and 2) The plants go on sale then.
Even though it is later in the season, there were still plenty of flowers to choose from, plus a few vegetables. The selection is smaller, especially the vegetables, yet I found plenty of things to buy.
The first day I went to the greenhouse, I went by myself. After admiring all the pretty flowers, I fell in love with the pink petunias. I decided I could fill a pot with them rather than buy a hanging basket.
Million bells, or calibrachoa, are what I have been putting in the deck railing planters in recent years. They don't have to be deadheaded, and they grow into large plants. I'm not sure what the greenery is called, which I added after my second trip.
This is the second deck railing planter.
My friend, Ms. J., rode along with me to the greenhouse the second time I went. She had never been there before, and was properly impressed. She drew my attention to some beautiful hanging baskets I hadn't noticed, and we talked each other into buying one. Hers is similar to mine.
When shopping with a friend, it seems as if we both notice things we might not have noticed by ourselves. I was struck by these petunias, and she noticed the interesting greenery, which I had overlooked completely. So I fixed up two big pots like this.
I planted the blue lupine here by the house two or three years ago, and this year I added the bright yellow snapdragons. It is important for me to invest in plants the deer won't eat, which includes these. Anything the deer consider tasty has to be up on the deck or inside the garden fence.
Ms. J. bought a few vegetable starts, in addition to the hanging basket. We felt like we had a successful visit to the greenhouse.