Jumanji Moritz had a vision five years ago to create a native nursery. Rainy Day Flora, on Langley Road, is the culmination of her vision. The nursery was created on a portion of property her parents had purchased in 1989. Her mission for Rainy Day Flora is “to educate the public about native plants and the benefits they provide to our local wildlife and surrounding ecosystems.”
Jumanji describes Rainy Day Flora as a nursery that “specializes in native plants of the Northwest, ranging from coastal plants of the Pacific Northwest to subalpine species from Northern California to the Northern Cascades of Washington State.”
Jumanji spent a lot of her youth on Whidbey, but moved away and lived in Seattle, Olympia and Portland before she decided she wanted to return to Whidbey. She received a degree in Environmental Science from Evergreen State College, and also studied Horticulture and Wetland Science.
She had a landscape design business in the Puget Sound Area for 12 years before she moved back to Whidbey in 2017 and began working on her concept for Rainy Day Flora.
A visit to the property at 5481 Langley Road, a short distance from downtown Langley, almost feels like walking into an enchanted forest. All of the plants are arranged in a way that invites exploration. Paths wind around the different plant displays. There is even a replica of a fire lookout tower (smaller version) that adds to the magic feeling.
Paths wind around through the different displays and, while nearly everything there is for sale; it feels more like a peaceful walk through a northwest forest than a visit to a nursery.
A visit to Rainy Day Flora provides an education in propagation and restoration, as well as a deep understanding of the plants that thrive in our climate.
Jumanji enjoys taking people on a private tour and responding to questions. She still does design, installation, and maintenance work so her connection to clients doesn’t end when they leave the garden.
Visits to the garden are by appointment only and can be arranged through the website. For more information about Rainy Day Flora, visit the website: https://www.rainydayflora.com.
