A note before I jump into today's post. I have been struggling with continuing on, writing and posting about plants and gardens...as though my world, our world, hasn't been altered by Tuesday's events. Yesterday's Mumvember post seemed so discordant with reality. However, on Wednesday morning I vowed to garden on, to love, and to fight against the darkness. I'm choosing to continue posting here because that's how I share my love for gardens, plants, and the natural world. As well as all the people that populate that world. Onward!...
Back in June I took part in the Salem Study Weekend, this is an annual event which rotates between a few Pacific Northwest cities and includes tours of private gardens and lectures (next year is in Victoria, BC). The schedule for the first day of touring was rather packed (9 gardens) and so I prioritized my list based on the descriptions we were given. I did not expect to make it to all of them. Luckily I did because otherwise I would have missed this one, which turned out to be a favorite!
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The description: "Our garden is a casual mix of Asian meets Arts-and-Crafts style. The front is somewhat restrained but as you pass through the custom gates you’ll see a personality shift. Note the westerly territorial view and the long Ipe deck with pergola and two privacy screens for outdoor dining. The gravel pathways and terraced rock walls feature a vast collection of trees and shrubs that dance in the evening breezes. An array of textural, colorful perennials are accompanied by the sound of water. The coeur du jardin is a garden house with stained glass and an Asian-style door nestled between a flowering Golden Raindrops crabapple and a chocolate mimosa. It has been challenging and fun to explore the possibilities in our small garden. We look forward to your visit."
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What about that description had me placing this garden last on my list? I guess it was "Asian meets Arts-and-Crafts" — neither are favorite styles of mine. Plus I Googled the address of each of the gardens to check them out in "street view" (creepy? maybe a little). They were right about the front being restrained. I wasn't seeing the passion. I want to visit gardens with passion.
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But you know what? There was plenty of passion here...
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In person I didn't notice the great fence detail on the extreme left in this shot. I was too busy looking through the gate at the plant treasures that lay beyond.
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What a great way to block an unsightly under-deck view.
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Note the perfect leaves on the Impatiens omeiana. Not a single notch where some evil creature has been snacking (unlike in my garden).
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Holy big leaves Batman!
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I know not what they are named, but they are very fabulous.
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And you know how I feel about Kangaroo Paws, especially orange ones.
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Both of those amazing plants fell by the way-side though when I saw these cool seedpods and started trying to figure out what they were.
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It took me awhile but I finally realized they were something the gardener had purchased and then stuck into the container. Nicely played!
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There's a lot going on in there but it all works together so well.
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And the Stachys 'Bello Grigio'— with it's oh so very ghostly white leaves — doesn't seem out of place the way white plants sometimes can. Instead it blends with the neighbors white fence.
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Can you guess what my favorite part of this area is?
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Yep — the Sedum and Hebe combo.
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More fun with pods (I think these are bits from a palm tree?)...
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Another angle.
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A dead-end, that wasn't treated as such.
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Looking back the other direction. This garden is built on a steeply slopped bit of land, it was very well crafted to be accessible.
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Looking up, towards the house and the deck.
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I've got this same fuzzy succulent and I should be able to tell you it's name. Should be able...
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I have no idea what this fabulous yellow bloomer is. I meant to ask the owners when I finally worked my way up to where they were, but by then this was only a distant memory.
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What a great planter!
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And nicely planted up too.
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Another container specimen.
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And this! I coveted this...
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Can you blame me?
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I was so wrong about the passion thing. Clearly a passionate plants-person gardens here.
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Stachyurus salicifolius
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I forget now what that little yellow variegated plant was. I loved it here and then later saw it elsewhere with a tag. I never did take the plunge and purchase it. I think it's an annual?
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Rhododendron 'Ebony Pearl'
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OMG! A difficult plant grown to perfection! Daphne × burkwoodii 'Briggs Moonlight'
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I can't name anything going on here but it's a delightful mash-up, don't you think?
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Thank you Olga and Ron for opening your beautiful garden. It was a pleasure to meet you!
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All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Back in June I took part in the Salem Study Weekend, this is an annual event which rotates between a few Pacific Northwest cities and includes tours of private gardens and lectures (next year is in Victoria, BC). The schedule for the first day of touring was rather packed (9 gardens) and so I prioritized my list based on the descriptions we were given. I did not expect to make it to all of them. Luckily I did because otherwise I would have missed this one, which turned out to be a favorite!
The description: "Our garden is a casual mix of Asian meets Arts-and-Crafts style. The front is somewhat restrained but as you pass through the custom gates you’ll see a personality shift. Note the westerly territorial view and the long Ipe deck with pergola and two privacy screens for outdoor dining. The gravel pathways and terraced rock walls feature a vast collection of trees and shrubs that dance in the evening breezes. An array of textural, colorful perennials are accompanied by the sound of water. The coeur du jardin is a garden house with stained glass and an Asian-style door nestled between a flowering Golden Raindrops crabapple and a chocolate mimosa. It has been challenging and fun to explore the possibilities in our small garden. We look forward to your visit."
What about that description had me placing this garden last on my list? I guess it was "Asian meets Arts-and-Crafts" — neither are favorite styles of mine. Plus I Googled the address of each of the gardens to check them out in "street view" (creepy? maybe a little). They were right about the front being restrained. I wasn't seeing the passion. I want to visit gardens with passion.
But you know what? There was plenty of passion here...
In person I didn't notice the great fence detail on the extreme left in this shot. I was too busy looking through the gate at the plant treasures that lay beyond.
What a great way to block an unsightly under-deck view.
Note the perfect leaves on the Impatiens omeiana. Not a single notch where some evil creature has been snacking (unlike in my garden).
Holy big leaves Batman!
I know not what they are named, but they are very fabulous.
And you know how I feel about Kangaroo Paws, especially orange ones.
Both of those amazing plants fell by the way-side though when I saw these cool seedpods and started trying to figure out what they were.
It took me awhile but I finally realized they were something the gardener had purchased and then stuck into the container. Nicely played!
There's a lot going on in there but it all works together so well.
And the Stachys 'Bello Grigio'— with it's oh so very ghostly white leaves — doesn't seem out of place the way white plants sometimes can. Instead it blends with the neighbors white fence.
Can you guess what my favorite part of this area is?
Yep — the Sedum and Hebe combo.
More fun with pods (I think these are bits from a palm tree?)...
Another angle.
A dead-end, that wasn't treated as such.
Looking back the other direction. This garden is built on a steeply slopped bit of land, it was very well crafted to be accessible.
Looking up, towards the house and the deck.
I've got this same fuzzy succulent and I should be able to tell you it's name. Should be able...
I have no idea what this fabulous yellow bloomer is. I meant to ask the owners when I finally worked my way up to where they were, but by then this was only a distant memory.
What a great planter!
And nicely planted up too.
Another container specimen.
And this! I coveted this...
Can you blame me?
I was so wrong about the passion thing. Clearly a passionate plants-person gardens here.
Stachyurus salicifolius
I forget now what that little yellow variegated plant was. I loved it here and then later saw it elsewhere with a tag. I never did take the plunge and purchase it. I think it's an annual?
Rhododendron 'Ebony Pearl'
OMG! A difficult plant grown to perfection! Daphne × burkwoodii 'Briggs Moonlight'
I can't name anything going on here but it's a delightful mash-up, don't you think?
Thank you Olga and Ron for opening your beautiful garden. It was a pleasure to meet you!
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.