A expert grower friend in Scotland gave us seed of "proper" 'Lingholm' after he could no longer bear seeing the dark blue verging tinged purple flowers of the US 'Lingholm'.  We told him that gardeners here are near brought to tears by our domestic blue poppy and he said just wait.  Large flowers of the most piercing, unsullied sky blue.

Oyster Leaf. The leaves are edible and taste - and feel - exactly like raw oysters. This likes ample nutrition and can be used in containers where the stems will drape down the sides. Perennial and dormant in winter.

Pink flowered version of the typically blue-flowered European species. Thanks to our friend and Hepatica guru John Massey of Ashwood Nurseries for sharing seed. We have flowered these plants and they are indeed pink! Perfect in the woodland garden, very hardy and with impeccable provenance.

Very intriguing perennial with intricate light brown flower buds that appear to be spun glass art depicting the skeletal structure of some microscopic sea creature.  From the center extends the feathered pinkish petals.  While not spectacular compared to a Dahlia, we think it spectacularly interesting but then we are certifiable plant loons.

A close relative to Gentiana acaulis and regarded as being in the acaulis group. This is one of the forms found in the nursery trade here in the PNW which means it is a good grower.  Maybe a little mongrel vigor from G. acaulis to pump up the volume on those big blue trumpet flowers above an evergreen spreading mat.

This is the Japanese version of our native False Hellebore. Wonderful broad pleated leaves and when old enough, nice spikes of white starry flowers to 3' or more. This likes a rich moist soil, emerges early in spring and goes dormant by mid to late summer. Deer resistant and very hardy.  Young plants.

A robust selection of this good garden species.  Large white flowers with a prominent broad and full upside down horseshoe of green on the inners.  The bold gray-green leaves of the species and this is a good increaser on its own without you having to learn how to do bulb chipping.

One of the larger flowered varieties of Wood Anemone, this has excellent white flowers which are more than enough to stand alone or perfect in a supporting understory role to larger shrubs and perennials.

A comparatively graceful species of Veratrum with broadly narrow leaves, if that makes any sense and sadly, it does to us.  The 4'-5' flower stem has numerous lateral branchlets clad in lots of red-maroon flowers. To compare to the better-known V. nigrum, narrower leaves, flower stems much more open with flowers more red than purple-black.  Excellent long-lived plant of outstanding hardiness best suited for the cool to cold zones.  Young plants.

One gold leafed seedling among thousands from seed sown of our Blue Poppies. Fortunately fertile, we are at last able to offer a few of this first gold-leafed form of this type of Meconopsis. The leaves are most intense in spring and the flowers are a lovely amethyst. Like most, some are perennial and some are not.  Save seed!

From our seed collection from the alpine rock scree of our neighboring Olympic Mts of this exquisite Jacob's Ladder.   Compact caespitose plants with soft pinnate leaves and copious blue flowers that are just perfectly this side of too much.  This one plant made the long steep hike worthwhile!  Rock or crevice gardens.

To find fault with this bit of botanical jewelry would be to put on display character defects so profound that your friends would desert you in droves while making plans for your involuntary institutional incarceration.  Perfect marbled leaves subtend appleblossom pink-white flowers of larger size than typical.  Shade garden pizzazz.

One of the finest of the species Peonies, this Mediterranean goody is among the first to bloom in spring.  Fabulous new growth and very showy single pink flowers.  If you want scent, get a hybrid.  If you want class, here you go.  This is a stunning and very good plant.  Good well drained soil.

One of the largest flowered selections of Gentiana acaulis, this is truly a showstopper with its big, deep blue trumpets in spring and lighter reblooms after.  It may owe its vigor to hybridity but whatever the reason, we are down with it!  Moist, rich soil in sun and stand back and enjoy. Gentiana acaulis 'Maxima Enzian' is likely the same as Enzian is German for Gentian.

Lavender flowered version of the typically blue-flowered European species. Thanks to our friend and Hepatica guru John Massey of Ashwood Nurseries for sharing seed. We have flowered these plants and they are indeed lavender! Perfect in the woodland garden, very hardy and with impeccable provenance.

Rare little offering from Siberia with very thin creeping rhizomes making a small ferny colony in light shade.  One of the last to bloom of the tuberous species, this usually shows its mauve-pink small tubular flowers in May.  Loves a woodsy soil which would make a Primrose happy.  Very hardy.

An intriguing curiosity that combines beauty with novelty.  In this selection, the flower petals have become lacy green petaloid structures that are perfectly arranged to create amusing and intricate green flowers.  A fun addition to the shade garden.

Familiar arching stems to 3' with narrow white bells tipped in green hanging underneath.  These flowers are scented with lemon and is most noticeable as you stroll the garden with your morning coffee.

Rock Soapwort.  This is a lovely and tough rock garden or crevice plant from the Pyrenees where it grows in exposed sheer rock faces.  Dense cushions of close-packed rosettes with narrow short green leaves.  Pink-purple flowers are held on short 2" stems in groups of one to three.  One becomes a group when hanging with the Threes.  Full sun, good drainage, zones 3-8.

Excellent little Asian Allium that is very nice with small heads of white flowers. Perfect for the rock garden or does great in regular garden beds as it does appreciate some moisture during the summer. Sun and decent drainage and thrives in one customers garden in Michigan. Tidy and of good disposition and certainly not a garden thug.

Found growing along coastal Maine and up the eastern Canadian seaboard, this was known as the dwarf form of I. setosa but is now regarded as a distinct species.  Favoring moist places but adapting very well to average garden conditions, this is best described in the most rigorous of botanical terms as "Cute".  Very hardy.

To our knowledge, not available in this country and very scarce elsewhere.  An early bloomer, in fact, it is flowering now this late December in its pots sitting outside unprotected as we have had a relatively mild winter so far. Huge flowers, increases well and a good performer in the garden.

Our native creeping dogwood from seed collected during one of our many hikes in the Olympic Mountains.  This deciduous groundcover is such a good plant with obvious white dogwood flowers on 4"-6" stems followed by clusters of red fruit.  We like it when it climbs a bit up mossy trunks and logs.  Loose soil with a good organic content.

Exceptional white-flowered Asiatic Gentian from the Berrybank Hybrids bred by Ian McNaughton in Scotland.  We never met Ian but were fortunate to meet his plantswoman wife Beryl which is a lasting fond memory.  'Oban' fulfills Ian's breeding goals of compact habit and upward-facing flowers in clusters.  For cool climates.

Meadow Blazing Star.  One of the many garden stars at Denver Botanic Garden's Chatfield gardens, this is especially favored by Monarch butterflies.  Fluffy rose-purple flowers to an an inch or more wide appear on the vertical 12"-36" stems midsummer to September.  Native from Alberta to New Mexico, this likes sandy or rocky soils on the dry side.  Rich loamy easy-livin' soils pushes too much growth leading to the dreaded flop.

Purple flowered version of the typically blue-flowered European species. We have flowered these plants and they are indeed purple! Perfect in the woodland garden and very hardy.

A classy selection we brought in from the UK as the pure white clone 'Serenity,' but turns out to be a dead-ringer for this Scottish selection with alternate petals dusted in light turquoise.  At first we were a wee put off and aye, felt a bit of an eejit, but now we ken this a bonny lass and we not be haverin'.

Merry Bells.  One of our favorite of the eastern woodland wildflowers.  Rich gold pendant flowers dangling like earrings on a woman of some serious substance.  Combines beautifully with upper crust plants such as Cardiocrinums and Arisaemas yet hangs comfortably with Hostas.

Asiatic Gentian with big deep blue trumpets on this mat forming beauty.  Rich moist acidic soil is best for this late summer-fall bloomer.  Outrageous in bloom.

All the rage in Europe is this Mother of all Fleece Flowers and for darn good reason.  This BEHAVES ITSELF!  it doesn't run or seed, just clumps and BLOOMS ALL SUMMER UNTIL FROST!  Get over the "I don't do Persicaria's" thing - this rocks.  It is a geyser of bloom fer gawd's sake.