One of the earliest local garden bloggers that I followed was Ann, aka the Amateur Bot-ANN-ist. Even though she was local, a fellow Portlander, I didn't cross paths with her until the first Garden Bloggers Fling I attended, in Seattle in 2011. I might have known she was going to be there, but I honestly don't remember. I do remember meeting her, face to face though, when Pam Penick introduced us the first morning as we were boarding the buses to head out for the day. Not long after that I was invited over to see her garden...
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One of the initial things I noticed? She has the world's smallest hellstrip! Seriously.
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It can't even be a foot wide...
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Marrubium rotundifolium, you don't see that around here very often.
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Ann, and her husband John, had a new fence built earlier this year, it's really changed the feel of the front garden.
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Lots of new plants went in the ground before this weekend (Sept 9/10), Ann's first open garden for the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon and her fellow garden bloggers.
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Paul Bonine, of Xera plants, mentioned Ann had considered tossing these cement cylinder planters — oh the horror! They're wonderful...
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So why Campiello Maurizio? In Ann's words: "My garden is named "Campiello Maurizio" after my late cat Maurice. A "campiello" is the Italian name for a typical little Venetian square. You will find them throughout the city, and they have been meeting places for the residents for generations. My campiello was Maurice's domain and his favorite place to sit."
Here's a glimpse back into the private garden, but before we can poke around back there we have to complete the tour of the front garden.
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Spikes!
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More of those wonderful cement cylinders.
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Love this combination.
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The long walk back, on the opposite side of the house from what we earlier saw.
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Lovely Rhododendron sinogrande.
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Ann also has a sweet spot for pink flamingos.
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Every garden needs a place to nap.
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Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert', I believe.
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Cryptomeria japonica 'Spiraliter Falcata'
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Ann recently tried her hand at kokedama, quite successfully too.
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Perhaps Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait'?
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This is — for me at least — is Ann's signature piece, the willow arbor in her back garden. Grown from tiny whips it's become a natural enclosure over the sitting area.
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The trunks at the four corners have become rather substantial, gardening in the same location over time pays off!
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Excellent use of black mondo grass.
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The color scheme echoed in chairs nearby.
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And the door to Ann's laboratory (aka the old garage)...
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Ann must be rather disappointed I've made it this far into writing about her garden and not mentioned she's Italian, and proud of her heritage.
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Looking back down the pathway we saw towards the beginning of this visit.
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Ann's one of those lucky gardeners with a dedicated potting bench, which just may have been staged for the open garden visitors.
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The final bit of garden, fairly recently reclaimed from chaos.
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But now designed for relaxing.
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And enjoying the plants! Thanks for opening your garden Ann, I'm sure you inspired your many visitors...
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Weather Diary, Sept 25: Hi 69, Low 55/ Precip T
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
One of the initial things I noticed? She has the world's smallest hellstrip! Seriously.
Marrubium rotundifolium, you don't see that around here very often.
Ann, and her husband John, had a new fence built earlier this year, it's really changed the feel of the front garden.
Lots of new plants went in the ground before this weekend (Sept 9/10), Ann's first open garden for the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon and her fellow garden bloggers.
Paul Bonine, of Xera plants, mentioned Ann had considered tossing these cement cylinder planters — oh the horror! They're wonderful...
So why Campiello Maurizio? In Ann's words: "My garden is named "Campiello Maurizio" after my late cat Maurice. A "campiello" is the Italian name for a typical little Venetian square. You will find them throughout the city, and they have been meeting places for the residents for generations. My campiello was Maurice's domain and his favorite place to sit."
Here's a glimpse back into the private garden, but before we can poke around back there we have to complete the tour of the front garden.
Spikes!
More of those wonderful cement cylinders.
Love this combination.
The long walk back, on the opposite side of the house from what we earlier saw.
Lovely Rhododendron sinogrande.
Ann also has a sweet spot for pink flamingos.
Every garden needs a place to nap.
Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert', I believe.
Cryptomeria japonica 'Spiraliter Falcata'
Ann recently tried her hand at kokedama, quite successfully too.
Perhaps Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait'?
This is — for me at least — is Ann's signature piece, the willow arbor in her back garden. Grown from tiny whips it's become a natural enclosure over the sitting area.
The trunks at the four corners have become rather substantial, gardening in the same location over time pays off!
Excellent use of black mondo grass.
The color scheme echoed in chairs nearby.
And the door to Ann's laboratory (aka the old garage)...
Ann must be rather disappointed I've made it this far into writing about her garden and not mentioned she's Italian, and proud of her heritage.
Looking back down the pathway we saw towards the beginning of this visit.
Ann's one of those lucky gardeners with a dedicated potting bench, which just may have been staged for the open garden visitors.
The final bit of garden, fairly recently reclaimed from chaos.
But now designed for relaxing.
And enjoying the plants! Thanks for opening your garden Ann, I'm sure you inspired your many visitors...
Weather Diary, Sept 25: Hi 69, Low 55/ Precip T
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.