A trio of HPSO Open Gardens

First up is Matthew Hubbard, aka The Lents Farmer. His garden was open mid June.Curbside: Sedum rupestre 'Angelina', Crambe maritima and Crithmum maritimum (thanks Matthew for the name on that last one).
You never know about the turnout for a HPSO open garden. Sometimes there are crowds, and sometimes you're the only one there. This was a rainy day with sun breaks, while I was there I had the place to myself.
Since my last visit Matthew had removed some lawn and expanded the space for his peony obsession collection.
This beauty was much darker in person.
Like all of us Portland gardeners Matthew lost some plants, or parts of plants due to last winter's storm. This used to be a palm...
Matthew's other plant loves (after peonies) are water lilies and carnivorous plants. He goes to great lengths to protect them from the raccoons.



Did I mention there's a lot less lawn now? Still... I see room for more plants (less lawn).
Genista aetnensis
Love this shady combo, especially the impatiens.
Spikes!
And a nice patch of moss and saxifraga.
Sciadopitys verticillata (umbrella pine)
It started to rain as I took this shot and we sought out cover indoors...
Oh and look! I was sent away with one of those agaves in the "spikes" photo. A nice Agave victoriae-reginae that needed a home, lucky me!
On to Tim Batog's garden and more spikes! The biggy is agave vilmoriniana, one you don't see much around here since it's not hardy and is very brittle—those long arms are easily broken when you move it about (ask me how I know).
That's a dreamy class photo...
Syneilesis aconitifolia
Big-leaf rhododendron.
Dreamy peony (this garden visit was in late May).
The side pathway...
Aruncus dioicus. I was really happy to see this plant in Tim's garden as I had a volunteer pop up in mine and it was good to see just how big it could get.
Gateway to the edibles section of the garden...
What a beauty!
I love everything about this, the carnivorous plants, the pot, the pedestal.

I also stepped into the greenhouse to snap a couple photos.

Next stop, Mary DeNoyer's garden...
This was also a late May visit...
Arisaema some somebody.
Maybe Hosta 'June'?
Polygonatum kingianum
I am thrilled that I've now got a piece of this plant in my garden. Mary divided her plant and shared pieces at a plant swap.
Looking back where I've been.
Lots of drool worthy podophyllum in this garden.


And a collection of pseudopanax in pots...
Mary's most-excellent covered outdoor area.
And a few spikes lined up next to the built-in rock garden.
Sempervivum 'Gold Nugget'
In case you thought the spiky plants were the only dangerous thing in the garden (I'm sure Mary uses these for gardening, right?).
Beautiful raised dish planting along the driveway, perhaps a cracked birdbath that no longer holds water?
And a look across the front garden as this post draws to a close.
(Mary grows eremurus so very well)