Wow, will you look at that agave! (those agaves...)![]()
I didn't just happen upon this fabulous garden, no, Paul Bonine of Xera Plants tipped me off to the fact there were a few extraordinary agaves here that I might enjoy seeing. Yes. Very much yes.
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This Agave 'Blue Glow' doesn't know it's only marginally hardy here in Portland, and so it's thrived for several years.
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I started to count, I lost track and started over, more than once. Let's just say there are more than 16 agaves in this hellstrip.
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Of course this is the main attraction...
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Agave x protamericana 'Blue Steel', for those of you who are wondering.
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A nearby pup.
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Yucca? Dasylirion? Nolina? I wish I knew...
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In this photo I think the plant on the far left is a puya, then clockwise from there you've got Agave 'Sharkskin', Agave ovatifolia, Agave parryi, Agave bracteosa, and another A. parryi.
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Agave parryi
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Agave 'Sharkskin'
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Agave ovatifolia
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Agave ovatifolia (another view)
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And another look at the Agave x protamericana 'Blue Steel'.
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With a Yucca linearifolia tucked up close!
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As luck would have it, as I snapped these photos of the hellstrip a car pulled into the driveway, and that's how I met the garden's owner and creator, Scott. He wasn't the slightest bit phased by a stranger snapping photos of his garden (I would imagine with a front garden like this it happens all the time) and invited me to tour the private, back garden.
Blooming Arbutus menziesii, fancy conifer whose name I cannot remember, and a pond!
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Pavers all hand poured and placed by Scott himself. Can you imagine?
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Garden "shed" (seems too nice to call a shed) built by Scott.
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A closer look at the pond.
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And a look out across the back garden...
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Pathway on the shady side of the house...
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Yes, that's a stock tank.
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This man does agaves so well!
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Now we're back out front and looking at the shady pathway from the front gate.
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Just a few more agave shots. This plant and the next couple were rescues from an over-grown lot in North Portland...
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I also had to include an appreciation shot for the dramatic eucalyptus that frame Scott's driveway.
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What a wonderful garden with a gracious and creative owner. Gardeners are really the very best people!
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Weather Diary, May 16: Hi 83, Low 51/ Precip 0
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