It's time for the Association of NW Landscape Designers Annual Garden Tour, their 13th Annual. I first attended in 2009, which would make this my 8th...oh but wait, I was out of town one year, so only my 7th. Anyway...
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I was part of a group that got to pre-tour on June 7th, the actual tour takes place on June 17th (info here). This year's tour is on the west-side of Portland.
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My friend, and fellow blogger, Jane (aka the MulchMaid) wrote a great post where she distilled ideas gathered from the tour. My post is much less creative, I'm just sharing a few shots from each of gardens in the order we saw them.
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Our first stop was at Terri’s Garden – Designer Amy Whitworth & Lora Price. I was rather shocked to learn of the issues gardeners on the backside of the West Hills face when it comes to water and drainage. The lovely pebble creek here is not just for looks.
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Around the side of the house I was surprised to see this (my enemy...Bishops Weed!)...right plant right place? I pray that indeed that's the case and it stay's put. And they never decide to get rid of it. Otherwise...there's gonna be a fight.
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Here's the plant of the day, which we'll see in several of the other gardens we'll visit. I believe it's Autumn Fern, Dryopteris erythrosora.
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Second garden, Gardner’s Repose – Designers Lucy Hardiman & Susan LaTourette.
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Lucy Hardiman met us at the gate to share info on the garden and let us know the owner was quite the plant person. Yep, no mistaking that, so many amazing Verbascum olympicum (I believe) scattered throughout the garden.
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I should know what this bulb is, my mom gifted me a pack which bloomed fabulously the first year, not so much the second.
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Another Verbascum, but I don't know which one.
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Cornus sanguinea 'Compressa'
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The upper level seemed so much higher in person, less so here. Oh and that conversation pit area in the foreground...so wonderful!
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The Robinia was just gorgeous, it glowed.
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Our next stop, Mill Pond Garden – Designer David West, was unbelievable for it's steep (STEEP) lot.
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This is the lowest level, on grade with the back of the house.
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From there we just went up...
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Up...
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And up...
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Listening to the designer talk about how all this was carved out of the steep hillside was amazing. Standing on the third level up I couldn't help but feel a little dizzy. File this under "anything is possible with the right person leading the way..." (and the budget to support it).
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The next garden we visited was the Myers Garden – also by Designer David West.
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I was in awe of the green carpet of Bolax gummifera.
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And the largest Hosta I've ever seen.
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Which was actually three plants, but who's counting?
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Great combo...
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We then enjoyed a lovely catered lunch at Cornell Farm Nursery (and since they have an on-site cafe you can too) before traveling on to Andora Gardens – Designer Ann Nickerson. Where we saw another amazing Autumn Fern.
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Or two...(or maybe this is something completely different? I am not a fern expert...)
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And this fabulous grape arbor with grape lights suspended beneath.
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The final two gardens we visited on the pre-tour were just a few houses apart. The first one was the personal garden of designer Marcia Westcott Peck. And yes, it's when we saw our first Agave of the day. Finally!
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Yep, there was also one of these...
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And a gorgeous clump of Impatiens omeiana.
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Clever bit of stair embellishment.
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And stellar mosaic work by the designer and her husband...
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The Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' carpet under their Trachycarpus was sublime.
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As were several understated plant combos.
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The final stop, just up the street, was the Schmitt Garden – also by Designer Marcia Westcott Peck.
![]()
The front garden featured some great plantings and this large water bowl.
![]()
But the back garden was even better, with a built up/in planting area that doubled as seating. Since it was being used as such I couldn't get a great photo. You'll just have to check it out for yourself.
I was quite jealous they have a Passion Flower already blooming.
![]()
These creative twig tomato supports blended right in with the surroundings. Much more fitting than a wire cage...
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So...if you're in the Portland area I hope you'll consider attending this tour on Saturday, June 17 (details here). It's always fun to see what people have going on in their private gardens, and on this tour you get the added bonus of meeting professional designers, and seeing how they've conquered the challenges of the locations and their client's needs. If you're feeling lucky (and reading this post in time) my friend Heather wrote about the tour here, and is giving away a ticket on June 15th. My friend Amy wrote a piece here with her giveaway ending this evening, the 13th. I've already given away my ticket...
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Weather Diary, June 12: Hi 60, Low 53/ Precip .03"
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I was part of a group that got to pre-tour on June 7th, the actual tour takes place on June 17th (info here). This year's tour is on the west-side of Portland.
My friend, and fellow blogger, Jane (aka the MulchMaid) wrote a great post where she distilled ideas gathered from the tour. My post is much less creative, I'm just sharing a few shots from each of gardens in the order we saw them.
Our first stop was at Terri’s Garden – Designer Amy Whitworth & Lora Price. I was rather shocked to learn of the issues gardeners on the backside of the West Hills face when it comes to water and drainage. The lovely pebble creek here is not just for looks.
Around the side of the house I was surprised to see this (my enemy...Bishops Weed!)...right plant right place? I pray that indeed that's the case and it stay's put. And they never decide to get rid of it. Otherwise...there's gonna be a fight.
Here's the plant of the day, which we'll see in several of the other gardens we'll visit. I believe it's Autumn Fern, Dryopteris erythrosora.
Second garden, Gardner’s Repose – Designers Lucy Hardiman & Susan LaTourette.
Lucy Hardiman met us at the gate to share info on the garden and let us know the owner was quite the plant person. Yep, no mistaking that, so many amazing Verbascum olympicum (I believe) scattered throughout the garden.
I should know what this bulb is, my mom gifted me a pack which bloomed fabulously the first year, not so much the second.
Another Verbascum, but I don't know which one.
Cornus sanguinea 'Compressa'
The upper level seemed so much higher in person, less so here. Oh and that conversation pit area in the foreground...so wonderful!
The Robinia was just gorgeous, it glowed.
Our next stop, Mill Pond Garden – Designer David West, was unbelievable for it's steep (STEEP) lot.
This is the lowest level, on grade with the back of the house.
From there we just went up...
Up...
And up...
Listening to the designer talk about how all this was carved out of the steep hillside was amazing. Standing on the third level up I couldn't help but feel a little dizzy. File this under "anything is possible with the right person leading the way..." (and the budget to support it).
The next garden we visited was the Myers Garden – also by Designer David West.
I was in awe of the green carpet of Bolax gummifera.
And the largest Hosta I've ever seen.
Which was actually three plants, but who's counting?
Great combo...
We then enjoyed a lovely catered lunch at Cornell Farm Nursery (and since they have an on-site cafe you can too) before traveling on to Andora Gardens – Designer Ann Nickerson. Where we saw another amazing Autumn Fern.
Or two...(or maybe this is something completely different? I am not a fern expert...)
And this fabulous grape arbor with grape lights suspended beneath.
The final two gardens we visited on the pre-tour were just a few houses apart. The first one was the personal garden of designer Marcia Westcott Peck. And yes, it's when we saw our first Agave of the day. Finally!
Yep, there was also one of these...
And a gorgeous clump of Impatiens omeiana.
Clever bit of stair embellishment.
And stellar mosaic work by the designer and her husband...
The Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' carpet under their Trachycarpus was sublime.
As were several understated plant combos.
The final stop, just up the street, was the Schmitt Garden – also by Designer Marcia Westcott Peck.
The front garden featured some great plantings and this large water bowl.
But the back garden was even better, with a built up/in planting area that doubled as seating. Since it was being used as such I couldn't get a great photo. You'll just have to check it out for yourself.
I was quite jealous they have a Passion Flower already blooming.
These creative twig tomato supports blended right in with the surroundings. Much more fitting than a wire cage...
So...if you're in the Portland area I hope you'll consider attending this tour on Saturday, June 17 (details here). It's always fun to see what people have going on in their private gardens, and on this tour you get the added bonus of meeting professional designers, and seeing how they've conquered the challenges of the locations and their client's needs. If you're feeling lucky (and reading this post in time) my friend Heather wrote about the tour here, and is giving away a ticket on June 15th. My friend Amy wrote a piece here with her giveaway ending this evening, the 13th. I've already given away my ticket...
Weather Diary, June 12: Hi 60, Low 53/ Precip .03"
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.