History
Cloud Mountain’s nursery began in 1978 when Tom and Cheryl Thornton, the original founders, began selling extra fruit trees that were being grafted and grown at the farm. The nursery soon expanded into other edible, fruiting, and ornamental plants and became a community hub, where educational workshops and demonstration gardens provided invaluable hands-on experience to small farmers and home growers in Northwest Washington.
The nursery became well known for its rigorous selection of plants that can stand up to the unique climate of Whatcom County – the Fraser Valley outflow winds that can be so punishing to perennials over winter, and the mild summers that makes ripening crops difficult. From Japanese maples and dwarf conifers to grapevines and sweet cherries, the nursery carried something for everyone. Beyond the plant selection, the nursery has also been well known for its knowledgeable and friendly staff, always willing to go the extra mile to help their customers succeed.
The nursery has gone through many iterations over the years. However, Cloud Mountain has always prided itself in propagating many plants in house. Initially, many plants were field grown, balled, and burlapped for customers to take home. At one point, the nursery expanded to sell tens of thousands of grapevines as a wholesale business model. As consumer habits evolved, and climate change led to warmer and drier summers, the plant selection has moved towards drought tolerant and native landscaping plants. Despite the many decades of change and evolution, fruit trees have remained the backbone of the Cloud Mountain nursery. Over nearly 50 years in business, the nursery has supplied thousands upon thousands of fruit trees to orchard enthusiasts across the state and even nationwide.
Partners
Cloud Mountain’s nursery has always been integrated into the local food and plant ecosystem – in Whatcom County and beyond. Cloud Mountain was one of the original vendors at the Bellingham Farmers Market, selling plants, fruit, and cider as well as sharing knowledge with the community. The nursery has partnered with other organizations and businesses around the county, including the Whatcom Conservation District (Cloud Mountain often had a presence at their Native Plant Sale), various garden clubs, the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, and Biringer nursery.
Workshops
Cloud Mountain has been a hub for learning about plants, fruit, and farming since its inception. Hundreds of workshops have taken place at the farm over the decades, focusing on skills for growing food, homesteading, gardening, preserving, and more. Examples of workshops over the years include Fruit Trees 101, advanced stone fruit workshops, animal husbandry, cover crops, farm tours, vegetable growing, plant propagation, botany walks, gardening with native plants, growing a fruiting wall, and community led workshops, which brought experts to the farm to share their skills.
Notable Plants
Over the years, Cloud Mountain’s nursery has become renowned for selling plants that are tried and tested to withstand the challenging climate of Whatcom County. Here are just a few of our team and community’s beloved favorites:
Karmijn de Sonneville apple
- This apple became the “if you know you know” fruit, cherished by staff and customers alike for their intense sweet-tart flavor and floral aroma, making the perfect dessert apple for baking, fresh eating, and pressing into cider.
Climbing hydrangea garlic barn
- If you’ve been to Cloud Mountain, you’ve likely seen the climbing hydrangea that drapes over the side of our garlic barn – once home to garlands of drying garlic, in more recent years the barn has stored extra orchard and nursery materials. However, the climbing hydrangea remains!
Weeping Lebanon cedars
- These iconic trees mark the entrance to Cloud Mountain Farm Center. Planted decades ago, they grew alongside the farm and are icons of the unique landscaping style developed by Cloud Mountain.
Paperbark maple
- This paperbark maple specimen has a prominent position in the nursery and is one of the most asked about trees on the farm. It was painstakingly trained into a beautiful multi-stem form to show off the exfoliating bark.
Hardy kiwis
- Cloud Mountain has grown these smooth-skinned kiwis for decades, yet they never failed to elicit surprise at the farmer’s market from customers who considered them a tropical fruit. The rich and flavorful “kiwi berries” are a treat when they ripen in fall.
While the nursery will no longer sell these plants, many thousands of them have (literally!) taken root all over this community, contributing to a more resilient ecosystem and foodshed.
Resources
Cloud Mountain has been a vital resource for home gardeners, growers, and farmers through its many decades in operation. We will continue to share our growing tips (for fruit and ornamental plants alike) and resources on cloudmountainfarmcenter.org. Those interested in learning more about growing fruit in Western Washington can visit the WSU fruit research station in Mount Vernon for demonstration gardens and examples of training styles. The Whatcom Conservation District is an excellent resource for farmers seeking expertise. Of course, the Master Gardeners’ plant hotline is there to answer your burning questions. This region is rich with resources for those who want to learn more about plants and how to grow them.
Are you going to be selling anymore rhubarb or selling the plants? I am having a very hard time finding rhubarb to plant.
The Nursery has already sold through all of its inventory and is closed. Look for rhubarb plants in late winter or early spring at other local nurseries. It is often sold bareroot and is only available during the dormant season.