With this post I wrap up my coverage of the HPSO 2019 Study Weekend open gardens here in Portland. Study Weekend itself is an event that rotates among the PNW plant societies. Last year was in Seattle, the year before in Vancouver, BC. Next year should be in Eugene, but they're sitting that one out, so there won't be another Study Weekend until 2021, when it will be back in Vancouver.
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These events are a big draw for locals, as well as people from the other PNW cities and into California (hello KS from Gardenbook). The weather could have not been better...
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We'll look at two gardens today, the first is called "Age in Place" and is the garden of Marion Azorr and Rick Criswell: "This one acre garden shows what one gardener is doing to reduce maintenance and allow her to "age in place." Installing new hardscapes, gravel paths, yard art and reducing the amount of lawn allows enjoyment of this garden for years to come. The garden offers a variety of evergreen textures, flowering perennials, colorful foliage plants, carefully selected small trees, a small pool, a vegetable garden and assorted, colorful annuals."
The white froth in this image is blooming sedum.
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And green froth from Amsonia hubrichtii.
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I'm a sucker for interesting patterns that cast equally interesting shadows.
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What a luxurious deck...
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Beyond the rusty triangle sculpture was a small putting green. I didn't take a photo because there were several people enjoying the space and I didn't want to intrude.
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Large poles in urns were a theme...
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This shady deck was off the opposite side of the house from the first.
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I should have included something for scale, but those sempervivum were gigantic.
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What a nice sized pool. Not too big, not too small.
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The next (and last) garden belongs to Susan Albright: "Charmingly eclectic is an apt descriptor for this suburban corner-lot-garden. Over the past 32 years the garden has been remodeled in bits and pieces, resulting in a very pleasing patchwork of plantings and design. Anchored by a large maple tree, the mostly shady, two-level backyard displays several specimen trees and a variety of shrubs and perennials, most selected for their foliage... Starting in 2015 the hell-strip areas bordering this corner lot were redesigned. Focusing on drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plantings, the last section was completed in June 2018."
We begin our visit with the hellstrips...
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WOW! Delosperma as nice as what I saw in Denver, I am impressed.
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Hmm, that sedum! I know what it is, really I do...but I can't think of the name...
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This sweet vignette was in the back garden...
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...I think near where we swooped down those stairs.
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Wow! The best patch of Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla I've ever seen.
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So many people discovered this plant for the first time right here, in this garden.
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It was fun to watch.
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There were also nice raised benches for growing veggies.
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A big thank you to all the garden hosts who opened their garden for the Study Weekend tours! Oh and I lied, there is one other garden I visited during Study Weekend that I haven't yet written about, the Kuzma-Halme garden. That one is yet to come because I visited several times over the summer and have A LOT of photos to go through. Think of it as an upcoming January treat.
Weather Diary, Dec 4: Hi 53, Low 39 / Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
These events are a big draw for locals, as well as people from the other PNW cities and into California (hello KS from Gardenbook). The weather could have not been better...
We'll look at two gardens today, the first is called "Age in Place" and is the garden of Marion Azorr and Rick Criswell: "This one acre garden shows what one gardener is doing to reduce maintenance and allow her to "age in place." Installing new hardscapes, gravel paths, yard art and reducing the amount of lawn allows enjoyment of this garden for years to come. The garden offers a variety of evergreen textures, flowering perennials, colorful foliage plants, carefully selected small trees, a small pool, a vegetable garden and assorted, colorful annuals."
The white froth in this image is blooming sedum.
And green froth from Amsonia hubrichtii.
I'm a sucker for interesting patterns that cast equally interesting shadows.
What a luxurious deck...
Beyond the rusty triangle sculpture was a small putting green. I didn't take a photo because there were several people enjoying the space and I didn't want to intrude.
Large poles in urns were a theme...
This shady deck was off the opposite side of the house from the first.
I should have included something for scale, but those sempervivum were gigantic.
What a nice sized pool. Not too big, not too small.
The next (and last) garden belongs to Susan Albright: "Charmingly eclectic is an apt descriptor for this suburban corner-lot-garden. Over the past 32 years the garden has been remodeled in bits and pieces, resulting in a very pleasing patchwork of plantings and design. Anchored by a large maple tree, the mostly shady, two-level backyard displays several specimen trees and a variety of shrubs and perennials, most selected for their foliage... Starting in 2015 the hell-strip areas bordering this corner lot were redesigned. Focusing on drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plantings, the last section was completed in June 2018."
We begin our visit with the hellstrips...
WOW! Delosperma as nice as what I saw in Denver, I am impressed.
Hmm, that sedum! I know what it is, really I do...but I can't think of the name...
This sweet vignette was in the back garden...
...I think near where we swooped down those stairs.
Wow! The best patch of Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla I've ever seen.
So many people discovered this plant for the first time right here, in this garden.
It was fun to watch.
There were also nice raised benches for growing veggies.
A big thank you to all the garden hosts who opened their garden for the Study Weekend tours! Oh and I lied, there is one other garden I visited during Study Weekend that I haven't yet written about, the Kuzma-Halme garden. That one is yet to come because I visited several times over the summer and have A LOT of photos to go through. Think of it as an upcoming January treat.
Weather Diary, Dec 4: Hi 53, Low 39 / Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.