Another garden visit (flashback to September)...

On a rainy Saturday back in early September I went on a couple garden visits. My goal was to see the garden of Barbara Blossom Ashmun, but as sometimes happens when one is opening their garden for the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon (HPSO) a neighbor joins in and all of a sudden you have multiple gardens to visit on the same street.

Because I am a bad blogger I can't tell you whose garden I took these first few photos in. He was just up the street and loved Dahlias...

He told me the name of this one, it was something like 'Bad Hair Day'...

But I eventually sauntered down to Barbara's garden, word has it she's been gardening here since 1986, can you even imagine?

This was just one of the fabulous Hebe I fell in love with that day (no, I don't know which one it is).

You'll see this becomes a repeated theme, a trio of creatures in the foliage. Here it's fish.

A Schefflera! (far right)

And one of my new fav's Fatsia japonica 'Variegata'...

Entering the back garden...

There was a matching sign on the other side too, as I left. Luckily not in use on this day.

The front garden was small, but stepping into the back garden I discovered a very large space, what fun!

More Hebes along with dark leaved Heuchera.

Memory is foggy, I think that's a Eucalyptus?

Abies concolor, I think.

Finally, the clouds parted to let in a little sunshine. From the mostly dormant lawn you can see the rainy season was just beginning.

For me this was one of the major highlights of this garden. A vintage Sturdi-built greenhouse.

Seriously!? Want...

Have you noticed the severe edging? I love it for it's simplicity and sharpness.

This was magic.

Inside...

And the smell, unless you know the distinct smell of Concord grapes you have no idea. It was thick and heavy and I was overwhelmed. My grandparents grew Concords and I was instantly 14 again and in their back yard. I sampled a couple. I'm not proud of that (sorry Barbara) but there is no way I could resist. Delicious!

Back out from under the grape arbor...another trio of critters!

And another.

Common, but I never can remember the name.

Again but with a Physocarpus opulifolius/Diablo.

The moody sky does wonders, the fog on the lens...not so much.

Oh to have a garden large enough that you can get away with artfully parking a wheel-barrow full of debris!

I remember I was in awe of her blooming Castor Bean, mine weren't there yet.

Even better with a Hibiscus.

Physocarpus opulifolius/Diablo?

And I have no idea what the silver shrub is. I asked another visitor and heard others asking others. Barbara was busy when I saw her again so I was unable to inquire.