This was my second visit to Christine and Jim Mitchell's garden, the first was on a very smoky day in 2015 when a few of us garden bloggers visited on preview for the HPSO/Garden Conservancy tour.
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The reason for this latest visit was the HPSO Study Weekend, held the last weekend in June. The garden was even better than I remembered it. And it's not just because there were agaves...
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The photographer with the lily where his head should be (to the right) was an accidental capture. I couldn't have done that on purpose no matter how heard I tried.
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This 1/3 acre garden sites on a corner lot, from our handout: "plants in this garden are selected for foliage—color, shape, texture and multi-season impact"...no wonder I feel at home here! Abies concolor I believe...
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Robinia pseudoacacia 'Twisty Baby', a tree I really wish I had room for.
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Chris does lift the many Agave americana 'Variegata' planted throughout the garden, they simply will not make it through our winters. She over winters them in her garage and since they're dormant there's no need for strong lights or water, just a little heat to keep them from freezing.
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Late June is lily season, so many of the gardens we toured during Study Weekend smelled wonderful.
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Rhododendron basilicum
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Rhododendron 'I Wish I Knew" (do you?)
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Now we've stepped into the back garden, the gunnera are kept happy in a stock tank.
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More from the handout: "in the backyard garden, there are two brick patios for entertaining, multiple trellises covered with clematis and hops (used by the resident home brewer), and stone paths created for exploration by grandchildren and an energetic border collie."
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I thought the wood and rebar "fence" was genus for keeping the grandchildren and border collie out of the various plantings.
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So minimal as to not distract from the plants...
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But significant enough to stop two or four legged creatures.
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Dryopteris sieboldii, on the far left.
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Mahonia confusa 'Narihira', a Dan Hinkley/Monrovia introduction
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Rhododendron 'Everred' (or 'Ever Red', depending on who you go pay attention to).
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Chris has put together quite a collection of succulents. Many of them potted...
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And some of them in the ground.
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The dried packing material—we called that excelsior back in my retail days, or maybe it's actually Spanish moss?—hides the nursery pot the agave is planted in. Just dropping it in the glazed container makes moving it, when the weather turns, much easier.
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I believe these all stay in place.
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Agave parryi and A. bracteosa.
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But that tall guy on the right is lifted and taken indoors.
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That's a very happy opuntia, with all that new growth (the bright green pads).
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Blooms too!
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A few more shots looking around the "desert corner"...
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Acanthus senni
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The collection really has grown since I was here last!
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Which maybe why Chris had filled this wagon with agaves for visitors to take as they left the garden. Wasn't that nice?
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Weather Diary, Sept 18: Hi 73, Low 55/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
The reason for this latest visit was the HPSO Study Weekend, held the last weekend in June. The garden was even better than I remembered it. And it's not just because there were agaves...
The photographer with the lily where his head should be (to the right) was an accidental capture. I couldn't have done that on purpose no matter how heard I tried.
This 1/3 acre garden sites on a corner lot, from our handout: "plants in this garden are selected for foliage—color, shape, texture and multi-season impact"...no wonder I feel at home here! Abies concolor I believe...
Robinia pseudoacacia 'Twisty Baby', a tree I really wish I had room for.
Chris does lift the many Agave americana 'Variegata' planted throughout the garden, they simply will not make it through our winters. She over winters them in her garage and since they're dormant there's no need for strong lights or water, just a little heat to keep them from freezing.
Late June is lily season, so many of the gardens we toured during Study Weekend smelled wonderful.
Rhododendron basilicum
Rhododendron 'I Wish I Knew" (do you?)
Now we've stepped into the back garden, the gunnera are kept happy in a stock tank.
More from the handout: "in the backyard garden, there are two brick patios for entertaining, multiple trellises covered with clematis and hops (used by the resident home brewer), and stone paths created for exploration by grandchildren and an energetic border collie."
I thought the wood and rebar "fence" was genus for keeping the grandchildren and border collie out of the various plantings.
So minimal as to not distract from the plants...
But significant enough to stop two or four legged creatures.
Dryopteris sieboldii, on the far left.
Mahonia confusa 'Narihira', a Dan Hinkley/Monrovia introduction
Rhododendron 'Everred' (or 'Ever Red', depending on who you go pay attention to).
Chris has put together quite a collection of succulents. Many of them potted...
And some of them in the ground.
The dried packing material—we called that excelsior back in my retail days, or maybe it's actually Spanish moss?—hides the nursery pot the agave is planted in. Just dropping it in the glazed container makes moving it, when the weather turns, much easier.
I believe these all stay in place.
Agave parryi and A. bracteosa.
But that tall guy on the right is lifted and taken indoors.
That's a very happy opuntia, with all that new growth (the bright green pads).
Blooms too!
A few more shots looking around the "desert corner"...
Acanthus senni
The collection really has grown since I was here last!
Which maybe why Chris had filled this wagon with agaves for visitors to take as they left the garden. Wasn't that nice?
Weather Diary, Sept 18: Hi 73, Low 55/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.