Heronswood Gardens and Nursery in Kingston, Washington, USA

[Pixydish]

This is a fabulous garden designed and planted by plantsman and horticulurist Dan Hinkley. The nursery is one of the best places to buy unusual cultivars that cannot be found other places. One of the best features of the garden is a 'dinosaur garden' that has simply huge Gunnera and Darmera plants growing in a shady bog. There are also many unusual varieties of hydrangeas, maples, and other ornamental trees. It is definitely worth a visit.
You can visit www.heronswood.com to get a bit of an idea about it.

[ideasguy]

Hey, I've heard of Dan Hinkley!! Thats no ORDINARY human being.
That man is a living legend in plant collecting circles. No wonder you can get unusual cultivars. He travels the world collecting plants, and introducing them to us Plant Lovers.

And you've BEEN to his nursery! Did you buy some of his specialities?

[greenfinger]

That's the real spirit, son, working hard on your general education, believe me. Sorry, pixydisk or is it Pixydish, where all my bifocals, to interrupt this conversation, but I always have known 'ideasguy' had it in him. And loo: it's coming out! He knows Dan Hinkley, the planthunter. Pay attention: this is no mean thing. We have been working very hard at his horticultural background but you see: it pays off. There is still a long way to go, but it takes the right direction. One day he will go his own way to a bright future.
This topic reminds me of the old days: planthunters gored by wild bulls (Douglas), escaping by a hairlength the pirates (Fortune), and after a lot of hairraising trips in Asia dying in a trivial car accident (in the car city Detroit by all means!) just like my old buddy Chinese Wilson. I bow my head and know the trompets shall sound.
You, young follks, can you tell in all honesty you still know those pioneers, shedding their own blood and  that of others,  just for the sake of a handfull of seed??
Yes, I know the argument that is coming: 'And you, old grumpy, do you know Dan Hinkley?'
First let me put on some more coal (I mean in the stove). By the way: I have a cat put in my neck: better than a shawl during these cold days (if you want to try this out: take a tame one, it's better for your own sake).
Where were we? Aha yes, this man Hinkley. Sorry, I can't come up to your expectations: I know the boy. Come from behind your dazzle-light and take the book "The Plant Hunter's Garden" by Bobby J. Ward out, page 163 please: "Dan Hinkley is a category of one in that he is probably the most indefatigable plant hunter today as he makes numerous collecting trips each year. Barry Yinger, owner of Asiatica and himself a plant hunter, says, "Dan has the highest profile of all contemporary plant hunters." Like a modern-day Tantalus, Dan shares the gods' ambrosia with mortals through his many plant introductions and is driven to continue to search out new plants. His plant hunting expeditions have taken him to exotic places, the envy of many gardeners: China, Nepal, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Turkey, Chile, and Mexico. The list continues to grow."
The old days are back again! Perhaps even with bulls, landslides, pirates and other enjoyable things. l'Histoire se répète.
His webaddress is the www.heronswood.com
Nom de pipe, nom de pipe, that hyperlink doesn't come tru!! Is there anybody out there prepared to help an old man of 91, not yet bald and in the possession of half his teeth and mindpower, with these url's? Hallo, nurse? Nurse? Is there anybody?? Hallo? _{nom de pipe!}

[Pixydish]

But this is tres terrible, Greenfinger! When I click on the link in your post, I pull up Heronswood's website. That is certainly the url.
Yes, Dan is, as we say here, "THE MAN". I have never met him and if I did, likely I would be tongue tied and make a fool of myself. But his garden is a lovely creation. If you do manage to get to the website, you can sign up for the newsletter where Dan the Man himself writes about his travels.
Now, you see, George, you will just have to hop on over and pick up Greenfinger and come on out to Washington State again. Then I will personally escort you both to Heronswood.
Yes, I did pick up some cool stuff at his nursery. Let see. I bought  Disporum cantoniense 'Night Heron' , a cultivar he developed. I bought a tiny little pot at his nursery, then I found a gallon sized pot of the stuff at a different nursery for about a third of the cost. I see Heronswood varieties sold occasionally other nurseries in the area. I think they must propogate them themselves. I bought also some Croscosmia, but I cannot remember the cultivar.
They have a tree in their understory that I have located at a local nursery. If they still have it, I may have to buy it. It is a Euonymus latifolia. A very delicate tree with an open habit, lovely dangling rose colored flowers and colorful seeds.
I hope to make another visit in the spring.

[ideasguy]

Good article about night Heron on "Paghat the Ratgirl"'s incredible website

Night Heron

That's an interesting plant. She says it emerges blackish purple in April. I like that. It would look good among the Japanese maples.

[Pixydish]

Paghat's site is very informative, especially for those gardening in this zone.  I can't wait to see this emerge in the spring. The color looks like it is going to be spectacular for the rear of the shade bed.