If you're a fellow Garden Blogger think back to when you hit *publish* on that first blog post. Did anyone read it? Anyone besides your mom and your best friend that is? When did you get your first "real" comment? Can you remember? I do. It was on my 8th blog post, where I outed myself as a Flax Addict. Portland had just experienced it's first PKW (Phormium Killing Winter) — there would be more — and I'd just bought replacement plants and was very excited about it. Ketzel Levine commented: "Takes a lot of guts to come out in favor of flax after just about EVERY FLAX IN PORTLAND bit the dust this winter! I admire your tenacity since I'm still recovering from the loss and wondering whether to revisit that heartbreaker again."
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One of the first garden blogs I read was her's. Memory says she kept on blogging after being laid off from NPR. Of course I can't find that blog now, it's off in the internet archives somewhere. I also remember seeing a few online tours of her garden, like this one from Garden Rant and this one from Sunset. You'd think with all the open gardens I've toured here in Portland I would have visited hers by now, right? Nope. Not until a week ago when my friend Ann was house/dog sitting and invited me over. Just like Susan from Garden Rant (link above) I toured Ketzel's garden without Ketzel...
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No worries, I did check with her (via email) to make sure I could share photos. She generously said yes.
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Oh look, it's that Monarda macrantha I lost last winter. I wonder if her's wintered over in the container? I'm guessing no, since that succulent in the center isn't hardy here in Portland.
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Here's the generously sized gate from which you enter the front garden.
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And this area is just to the north (on the left as you enter). We previously saw the home's front porch which is directly ahead of the gate.
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I absolutely love the mixed material hardscape.
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Love it.
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And the fact the colors are very consistent throughout her garden.
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Looking back on Keeyla Meadows garden in San Francisco — which you'd think would have sent me running, but didn't — it's that consistency of color palette that let's my brain take it all in without seeing lots of big bright exclamation points. Does that make sense?
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Ah...a Daphniphyllum!
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Big leaves, blue sky.
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I really should know what this small tree is. I've admired it's bumpy bark (and Azara-like leaves) before. Anyone?
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The purply-pink flowers in the background (above) do not belong to the tree, but rather a Clematis.
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We've stepped though another gate and are now in the side garden. The fact garden tools are being hung out in the open, yet decoratively, hints at how small this space is.
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Then there's this. Yep, Magnolia figo. Ann posting about this tree set off a chain reaction of events that had me at Cistus Nursery (after the fern-table class at Joy Creek) eyeing one to possibly buy for my very own. I passed it up. It was VERY difficult but the right choice. I've got no space for a large plant that is fairly unremarkable until it blooms. But when it blooms....oh my but I wish you could smell this flower. It's insane....
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As is this wall. It's the backside of a next door business (or maybe their parking?) but Ketzel is using so darn well...
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Subtle stripes that pick up the color of the bark...(maybe a Stewartia? or perhaps a Franklinia?)...
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And this (!)...
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The only regret I have about my visit is that the lighting (bright afternoon sunshine) made getting good photos of the fountain wall nearly impossible.
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It really is spectacular.
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Seeing this sculpture brought back memories of my visit to Marcia Donahue's garden (also when she wasn't at home)...
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Don't worry, I'm almost ready to point my camera elsewhere...
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Almost...
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On to the narrow space at the back of the house, and it's Itea ilicifolia.
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And a great collection of old bird houses, this one with other animals too...
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Okay, this magical visit is coming to an end...
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Back out on the street I finally noticed the Eucalyptus. How did I miss it when I was on the inside of the fence?
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Weather Diary, July 12: Hi 82, Low 55/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
One of the first garden blogs I read was her's. Memory says she kept on blogging after being laid off from NPR. Of course I can't find that blog now, it's off in the internet archives somewhere. I also remember seeing a few online tours of her garden, like this one from Garden Rant and this one from Sunset. You'd think with all the open gardens I've toured here in Portland I would have visited hers by now, right? Nope. Not until a week ago when my friend Ann was house/dog sitting and invited me over. Just like Susan from Garden Rant (link above) I toured Ketzel's garden without Ketzel...
No worries, I did check with her (via email) to make sure I could share photos. She generously said yes.
Oh look, it's that Monarda macrantha I lost last winter. I wonder if her's wintered over in the container? I'm guessing no, since that succulent in the center isn't hardy here in Portland.
Here's the generously sized gate from which you enter the front garden.
And this area is just to the north (on the left as you enter). We previously saw the home's front porch which is directly ahead of the gate.
I absolutely love the mixed material hardscape.
Love it.
And the fact the colors are very consistent throughout her garden.
Looking back on Keeyla Meadows garden in San Francisco — which you'd think would have sent me running, but didn't — it's that consistency of color palette that let's my brain take it all in without seeing lots of big bright exclamation points. Does that make sense?
Ah...a Daphniphyllum!
Big leaves, blue sky.
I really should know what this small tree is. I've admired it's bumpy bark (and Azara-like leaves) before. Anyone?
The purply-pink flowers in the background (above) do not belong to the tree, but rather a Clematis.
We've stepped though another gate and are now in the side garden. The fact garden tools are being hung out in the open, yet decoratively, hints at how small this space is.
Then there's this. Yep, Magnolia figo. Ann posting about this tree set off a chain reaction of events that had me at Cistus Nursery (after the fern-table class at Joy Creek) eyeing one to possibly buy for my very own. I passed it up. It was VERY difficult but the right choice. I've got no space for a large plant that is fairly unremarkable until it blooms. But when it blooms....oh my but I wish you could smell this flower. It's insane....
As is this wall. It's the backside of a next door business (or maybe their parking?) but Ketzel is using so darn well...
Subtle stripes that pick up the color of the bark...(maybe a Stewartia? or perhaps a Franklinia?)...
And this (!)...
The only regret I have about my visit is that the lighting (bright afternoon sunshine) made getting good photos of the fountain wall nearly impossible.
It really is spectacular.
Seeing this sculpture brought back memories of my visit to Marcia Donahue's garden (also when she wasn't at home)...
Don't worry, I'm almost ready to point my camera elsewhere...
Almost...
On to the narrow space at the back of the house, and it's Itea ilicifolia.
And a great collection of old bird houses, this one with other animals too...
Okay, this magical visit is coming to an end...
Back out on the street I finally noticed the Eucalyptus. How did I miss it when I was on the inside of the fence?
Weather Diary, July 12: Hi 82, Low 55/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.