Rhone Street Gardens

HPSO Winter Program - Annies Hayes!

2012-02-01T11:28:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough this weekend to be able to attend the Winter Program featuring guest speaker Annie Hayes (of Annie's Annuals)! The program is sponsored by the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon..and was sold out (I believe it amounted to about 300 people). I went with Ryan (of gnomiscience) and got to chat in plant-geek-ese with him and Loree (of danger garden)! Good peeps! I even finally got to me Mr. danger garden himself (props to spouses who indulge us, the garden-crazed)!

The program was held at one of the auditoriums at PSU's downtown campus. Beforehand, attendees got a chance to peruse books for sale. There were even some old copies of Fine Gardening for sale (wish I'd had a chance to really look through them). If they'd been Gardens Illustrated, I'd have grabbed them to add to my collection ;-)


Items up for Raffle		Seed pod on display

In addition to door prizes, there were several items up for raffle. I'm notoriously un-lucky, so decided to cut my losses at one ticket. I selected the $100 Gift Certificate for the HPSO Spring Sale. Fingers were crossed, Incantations muttered. There were also several plants (mostly winter-blooming plants) on display in the front lobby. I'm not sure what these seed pods are from (should have asked). I'm guessing either a Peony or Iris???

Hamamelis
One plant I needed no help identifying...Hamamelis! I wish I had room for one of these beauties in my garden...their winter flowers and stunning fall colors are extraordinary. Maybe I'll find room for the related Fotergilla...there are some small-ish varieties available.

Anyway...after few announcements and the distribution of the door prizes (Ryan Miller got a Hellebore and Mr. Danger got a T-Shirt!), Annie took the stage before the rapt audience.

For the next 2 hours, Annie regaled us with the story of how she got her start (generously crediting some divine feline intervention) and her philosophy. "I'm just a flower floozy," she said once or twice...and I knew I loved her. I have to admit, she's pretty much exactly what I imagined her to be like. If you've ever read through the Annie's catalog, you know what I mean. She has a passionate, but quirky and irreverent attitude towards plants, which is quite charming.

Among other things, Annie showed us several photos of the seed collecting and starting process at the nursery. Amazingly, they grow around 90% of their plants from seed! Also, most of that seed is collected from their own plants...amazing!

Most of the lecture was spent going through slides of some of Annie's favorite plants...some of them teasingly not hardy in Portland! I saw people feverishly circling plants on the lists we were given, and jotting down notes in the margins. Below are a few I was especially tempted by...click on the names to link to their entry on Annie's website.

Lupinus 'Thomas Church'
I've always loved Lupines, both the flowers and their lovely foliage. Their one downside, however, is their tendency to develop Powdery Mildew…often right as they flower or soon thereafter. My little ears perked up the moment Annie mentioned that this variety has proven to be pretty much completely mildew resistant…oh yeah! I'm SO getting one of these!


Scabiosa ochroleuca		Silene asterias

I spent all last year waxing poetic about Knautia, so it only seems right that I branch out into more "scabious" flowers. This one sounds like a winner, 3' x 3' and long-blooming. Plus, I love those soft yellow flowers…and it has the familiar seed heads that I find so appealing. I remember thinking the Silene looked interesting the last time I looked through the catalog…but for some reason, seeing it this time, it really popped…like a very tall and vibrantly-colored Allium…must have!

Aristea inaequalis
I've wanted this one for the past few years…but just never quite hit the "Purchase" button. Hearing Annie talk about how easy-going and hardy it was, however, really won me over. She says it is really tough…practically impossible to kill. Even better…it blooms for a LONG time…and in blue…how can you say "no". I can't!

Asclepias speciosa
I love that this particular Milkweed reminds me so much of the ones I grew up seeing in ditches and fields back home in Nebraska. Those silver, felted leaves and those gorgeous soft mauve blooms...wonderful!


Dalea purpurea		Angelica stricta purpurea

Dalea purpurea is another plant I've wanted for a while...just love its humble beauty...plus, it should be tough and hardy! The Angelica is as overwhelmingly grand as the Dalea is subtle...I just have to get over the fact that it will die after blooming and leave a gaping hole in the border. There will be lots of seedlings...right?!?

Dierama 'Miranda'
I've been wanting to try a Dierama for the past few years...but just can't decide which one to try...perhaps this one? I just love its graceful, arching form...so lovely.


Phylica pubescens		Teucrium betonicum

Not being crazy over tropicals, I rarely lust after a plant that isn't hardy here in PDX…but this Phylica caught my eye…and has haunted me ever since…WANT! I became interested in Teucriums last year after Nan Ondra did a post on Teucrium hircanicum on her blog Hayefield. I finally found some at Far Reaches booth at the HPSO plant sale last fall...LOVE THEM! This Teucrium takes things to another level...growing into a 3'x3' shrub. Techincally, neither of these are totally hardy here (even with my new, supposed Zone 9 rating), but might be worth a try...especially in my sheltered backyard.

Clarkia rubicunda ‘Shamini’
I had never heard of these...but Annie kept showing picture after picture of them...and they just looked so beautiful...not that I really need MORE pink in the garden...sigh.

So...if you ever have a chance to meet or hear Annie Hayes speak...go for it! Oh, and of course, if you're ever in the Bay area...go to the nursery :-)

Feed the Birds!

2012-01-23T06:12:00.000-08:00

Goldfinches (I think) enjoying the seeds of Agastache 'Golden Jubilee'
Last weekend I was getting some half & half for my coffee when a flurry of activity outside caught my eye. A small flock of birds had appeared as if from nowhere, descending on the garden for a feast. For a few hours they went from plant to plant, eating their fill. Then, as quickly as they appeared, they took wing and were gone. Afterwards, it almost seems like I imagined it...the noise and activity were gone.

It was a reminder to me that although I leave the seed heads of my perennials and grasses standing because I like their winter form, they also provide a valuable food source to birds and other animals during winter. Even in winter-mild Portland, food isn't as plentiful as during the warmer months. I have no delusions that my little garden provides enough food to see any number of birds through the winter, buy every little bit helps, right?

Backyard Renovation: Part 3

2012-01-16T22:03:00.000-08:00

Alright everyone, it's finally time for the big reveal...what was I up to all last year. It sort of feels like the "What I Did This Summer" report we had to write every year in elementary school. In lieu of posts for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-up (which I hope to participate in next month), I powered through this post last weekend!

Like any big garden project, we started with a "master plan" of sorts. On the left you can see Norm's blueprint for the hardscaping. You may notice something missing from his plan...yeah...the plants.

I find it amusing that to him, the actual garden area is like a void!
My plan on the right, however, has almost no indication about the harscape. It is focused entirely on plants.

I went round and round about what I wanted to do in the backyard. Should it be minimal, focusing on usable space for sitting, dining and entertaining. Well...we do precious little of any of those things...so, "no" to that. I wanted plants, plants, plants! I did decide to pare the plant list down to just a handful of species...to keep the garden from feeling too overwhelmingly like a curio cabinet. However, I decided to also plant in a somewhat random "matrix" style. Except for a few structural plants, I would place things in a seemingly random pattern...avoiding groupings of 3, straight lines and obviously "planned" groupings. I hoped that the limited planting palette, and the islands of grouped grasses, would keep the garden from looking overgrown and weedy.

Above is the garden seen from the North. The first pic, in April, is right after we finished the hardscape (well, except of the pavers). The May pic shows the same area with most of the plants in place (except for a few I couldn't locate until later in the season (Eutrochium 'Little Joe' and Echinacea purpurea). The May photo also shows our first stages of laying the pavers…trying to figure out which ones we liked…and the pattern we wanted. The difference between May and July is astounding…once warm temps arrived, the garden exploded with growth. Even though I knew it would green up during summer, I was still sad to see the brilliant winter coloring of the Anemanthele lessoniana change.

High summer and fall are definitely the best months in my gardens, in general, and the backyard is seemingly no exception! I guess it's pretty obvious in all these shots that I tend to favor blues, purples and pinks…colors and hues toward the cooler, more soothing end of the spectrum. That's not to say these colors aren't rich and saturated…but, for the most part, I avoid hot, primary colors. I noticed that, as lovely as gardens look in soft, overcast light, I found that this garden was most stunning when backlit…all the blooms and grasses positively glow!

Here, we are looking at the garden from the South. Again, the shot in April is very soon after planting. One of the benefits of using Calamagrostis is that they are cool-season grasses, and give a lot of visual weight to the garden early in the season while everything else is catching up. The June shot shows the plants filling in, slowy but surely. Again, in July, everything seems to be surging ahead like a locomotive…practically unstoppable. I love the Bronze Fennel on the far right one the bottom photo…but it, unfortunately has a tendency to flop right as it reaches a crescendo of bloom. I always toy with the idea of cutting it back as it starts to bloom, but never do, as the bees and other insects go insane for the blooms.

The same view of the garden during the next three months shows the garden reaching it's finest hour. The dog days of August don't faze the garden in the slightest…the grasses and Agastaches luxuriate in the warm summer sun. September was, I believe, when the garden really peaked…it was absolutely a riot of color. Also, the rains hadn't returned yet to collapse the taller, more delicate plants. I spent a lot of time sitting in the garden during these months, as the days cooled down and every hummingbird and insect seemed to redouble their efforts to drain every last ounce of nectar from the blooms.

Haha…here's a view I probably won't show very often, as this window become partially obscured by the rampant growth of the Clematis tibetana vine during the summer. This is the view from our kitchen window, which I see every time I get a cup of coffee in the morning (so, quite a bit). It's a bit of an improvement, I'd say :-)

Above is an closeup of the "matrix-style" planting at work. I found this area of the garden was the most effective result of my adapted technique. I adore the tapestry of forms and colors. I must have taken a million photos, trying to catch the ever-shifting changes. The pic on the right is of Sedum 'Matrona', intertwined with the rambling Geranium 'Rozanne'. This is one Sedum that really looks striking all season, and I would heartily recommend it.

It took us a while, but sometime in August, we finally found a set of chairs we could both agree on!

On the opposite side of the fence I set up a sort of "holding area" for plants that I wasn't sure what to do with...or plants that I had previously planted in a spot that didn't quite suit them. Among the plants that resided there this summer were a pair of Agastache rupestris, which, in spite of hardly ever getting watered, thrived and reminded me of why I planted them in the first place. They also made a wonderful, unplanned pairing with Geranium 'Rozanne' (who sneakily crept under the fence to join the Agastache). It ended up being a wonderful pairing and a fabulous bit of spontaneity.

Agastaches as far as the eye can see! Here we see Agastaches 'Ava' and 'Blue Blazes', both backed by Agastache 'Purple Haze' and backlit by the smoldering September sunshine (yes, bonus points for unnecessary alliteration)! I have to mention that as much pleasure as the garden gave me, it was even more alluring to bees. There was never a time when the entire garden wasn't humming with activity. Hummingbirds seemed equally drawn to the garden...anytime someone would visit, I'd make them stand still for a little bit. Almost without fail, a hummingbird would appear within a few seconds. There was a breeding pair in a tree next door who were locked in constant combat with any visiting hummer. As far as they were concerned, it was THEIR garden!

At some point, i realized I had to find a way to vault the Clematis tibetan a over the path and onto the fence. Try as we might, we just couldn't find any sort of arbor we both liked. I liked rusty metal, Norm did not. It doesn't help that so many of the arbors we "sort of" considered were really expensive. In the end, I decided to make one out of copper pipe. I spent a few days hammering out a VERY SIMPLE design. We bought the pipe and necessary tools and had the entire thing finished in a day! I'm not overly-fond of how shiny it is at the moment…but rest assured, knowing it will for a handsome patina soon enough.

I know it's becoming a bit gratuitous…but here's another backlit Agastache shot! Oops…looks like our arbor is leaning a bit in this pic.

It turns out that our new backyard was a Mecca for the neighborhood cats. There was never a time that I'd look back there and NOT see a cat sleeping in a corner or stalking the birds that frequented the area.

I mixed several Verbena bonariensis, 'Lollipop' in the garden, randomly wherever I wanted a filler. While I was annoyed at myself for not realizing it was a much-shorter version of it's cousin, I realized that it was farm better suited for this small space.

Agastache 'Purple Haze', backed by Bronze Fennel. This is one of the few plants in the backyard that was totally an impulse buy…but was a huge success. I loved it's very upright and bushy form. A bonus, it bloomed from July to Frost…a never-ending succession of sultry violet blooms.

Another shot of the main planting area. I love how the Knautia has a constant supply of new blooms, while retaining the wonderful, spherical seed heads of it's past blooms. When backlit, the seed heads are a textural marvel.

I can't imagine not have Echinacea in my garden...of all the perennials I can think of, they are the ones that most remind me of the prairie. I'm old-fashioned, so just plain ol' E. purpurea for me :-) They are honest plants graced with a dignity and simple beauty missing in many newer varieties. You all remember Boots, our Construction Foreman...he enjoys the new seating as well.

For the first time this year, I grew some annual Poppies…and absolutely loved them…the blooms last for such a short time (glorious as they are) but it's the long-lasting seed pods that really endear them to me.

Another shot of the wonderful Knautia…this must have been one of the very first blooms…as they coincided with the blooms of Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'. I find 'Karl Foerster' interesting in all its stages…these feathery, pink-tinged blooms are so very different from the tawny talons they will later become.

Of course, we can't always win, can we. I had planned on putting some Rodgersias I found for sale along the north side of the fence. I figured they would be shaded during most of the summer. I was so wrong…they got blasted with sun during the hottest part of the day…oops. It's always so hard to judge how far the shade will recede during summer. Oh well…I moved them all this fall to a more hospitable area…replacing them with Panicum 'Northwind'. Of course, the Panicums will not get as much sun as they would like until early summer…so we'll see how they fare.

Sadly, we got a few heavy showers in late September or early October (can't quite remember which), and they pummeled the garden a bit…the tallest of the Agastaches had quite a few snapped stems :-( As you can see, they completely fell over the path (which had already grown so narrow it was hard to pass through). I left them for a few weeks, then cut back all the floppy stems. To my delight, they resprouted at the next bud and within a few weeks, I had even more (albeit shorter) blooms!

I had better wrap this post up already! To end things, here's a look of what the garden looked like before we started working on it…and 1 year later. I will admit, one thing I would really like to figure out is how to provide a bit more privacy by screening out our neighbor's windows. I'm considering either some sort of bamboo…or, more likely, a stand of Miscanthus giganteus…do you all have any suggestions…remember, it's a tight space…and I don't want to block any more sunlight to the other plants than I absolutely must.

Again…from the other direction, the garden in spring…and fall of that same year!

Whew! I have to say, it ended up being both harder and far more rewarding than even I could have anticipated. Days of hard, sweaty labor and fretting proved to be worth it in the end. I highly doubt it'll ever win any awards or be on the cover of Gardens Illustrated (hey, a boy can dream, can't he?) but I love my little Hot Mess of a backyard :-)

Backyard Renovation: Part 2

2012-01-13T03:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have a confession to make...I totally intended these Backyard Renovation posts to be completed in 2 posts...but, as usual, it's taking me more time than I anticipated to complete the 2nd part (a hectic week at work didn't help). Therefore, I'm dividing the Backyard Reno into 3 posts! Honestly, cramming everything I wanted to cover into this post would have made it redonkulously long anyway (and I'm already guilty of too many monster-mega-posts)! This post is going to focus on the plants I chose to use in the backyard. The next (and last) post in this series will be about the finished product...woohoo!

How could I possibly have a garden without Agastache...well, I can't! I knew before I even started this garden that I wanted Agastaches to figure prominently in the design. Last fall, as I was drafting plan after plan for the plantings, I got the new catalogue from High Country Gardens. I was instantly drawn to one of their new introductions, 'Blue Blazes'. The rich, intense color and large size made it an instant buy. I also decided to try out one of their other Agastaches, 'Ava'. Even though not in my original plan, I also purchase a trio of 'Purple Haze' this spring at a local nursery. I was bewitched by the deep, sultry coloring of its foliage...and just hoped the flowers were even half as good as the leaves!

As it turns out, all of these Agastaches did AMAZING. I was blown away at how vigorous and floriferous they were, even in their first year. A few 'Blue Blazes' even topped 6' this year! 'Ava' grew to an impressive 4-5'. And the blossoms...such wonderful, rich colors...and they didn't fade in the sun like many Agastaches tend to do. I love them both. 'Purple Haze' also proved to be worth its weight in gold. It grows much fuller and more compactly than the other two, and blooms heavily in a wonderful smoky purple.

I'm amazed at how much I've come to rely on Geraniums for long-lasting color in my garden. I love how they form rich, emerald-green carpets of foliage, covering the bare ground...and even more, I love how they mingle with other plants without smothering them. Of course, I gush about 'Rozanne' all the time on this blog...suffice it to say, she's a staple here on Rhone Street. I'd become interested in Geranium macrorrhizum earlier last year, as much for the wonderful, evergreen foliage as for the richly-colored blooms. I happen to love the scent of the leaves (sort of a woodsy, incense-like smell), however, I've been told that quite a few people don't care for it. Geranium wllasovianum's claim to fame (aside from being both un-pronouncable and un-spellable) is it's wonderful rich fall foliage. The blooms are nice too :-)

If there's any one group of plants I can't live without, it's the grasses. Now, I have to admit that at least one of these grasses (the Stipa gigantia) is actually not going to stay in this spot! I've been wanting one for a while, but never saw it for sale around Portland. This spring, when I finally found some, I snatched one up and planted it in the backyard until I could find a better place for it the following year.Sadly, it's mature size is much too big for this space, and it would overwhelm the backyard. I'll probably replace it with one of the smaller Pennisetums ('Hameln' or 'Karley Rose').

Since many of the plants I was using throughout the garden have a very "relaxed" attitude, I wanted some really upright, structural grasses to contrast with them…and to make the garden feel a little less chaotic. I settle on Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster', with it's wonderful, tall seed heads. They grew huge and lush…and even though they get far less than full sun, never flop. LOVE THEM! I adore how, even though they are very sturdy and upright, the seed heads have a tendency to splay open at times…which gives a wonderful, naturalistic effect to the garden.

I bought Anemanthele lessoniana in a fit of lust at the spring HPSO plant sale. I'm crazy about it's wonderful amber-colored foliage. Towards the end of the summer, I realized the north section of the garden, which I has thought was very shady, actually gets quite a bit of sun during high summer…and, honestly, the spot needed some verticality to visually "lift" it up. What did I do…planted more grasses is what! I added a trio of Panicum 'Northwind'…so beautiful with their statuesque form and rich golden fall coloring.

Part of the fun of having a beautiful new fence is completely covering it with vines…right!?! I had actually planted the Clematis the previous summer after spying it at a local nursery and falling in love with a huge, mature specimen at Cistus Nursery. I've always love the rich, autumn coloring of the Parthenocissus…so knew I would get one of those as well. The cute little Dicentra was actually a gift from Ryan Miller…isn't it rad!

Ah yes, another one of my new loves…the Astrantias! I've been very surprised at just how tough and adaptable these puppies are. It was especially welcome once I realized that the spot they were in, which was full shade until about May, was pretty much full sun from June-August…oops. Regardless, with a little extra water, they didn't bat an eyelash…blooming for months on end. The only one that seemed a bit displeased with the sun was Astrantia maxima…although, even though it sulked a bit during the hottest part of the day, still managed to triple in size during summer.

Lastly, I have a few stragglers that didn't quite fit into any category. The Vernonias are awesomely tall and have gloriously rich violet flowers. 'Purple Majesty' Salvia has amazing rich, velvety purple blooms...they are too good to miss.

I almost always have a few Sedums in the garden, and this year decided to try 'Matrona'. It has wonderful pewter foliage that stands out amidst all the green. Plus, it's a beefier, taller Sedum than most, which I love. 'Lollipop' is a dwarf version of Verbena bonariensis, a it turns out that they are the perfect height for the tight space of the backyard garden.

While I started a few Knautia 'Melton's Pastels' from seed to plant in the backyard, I also purchased a few starter plants early this spring...just in case. Although the 'Meltons' Pastels' seedlings grew and grew, they haven't flowered yet. The Knautia starter plants, however, grew like weeds! I totally love how they throw up long-stemmed wands of ruby-colored flowers. They have a wonderful, carefree look I love. I've always coveted the dark-leaved Cimicifuga (Actaea) in other people's gardens...and now I have one! I can't get over how amazing its foliage is...I want a million of them!

Lastly, I have a plant that was gifted to me by none other than Mr. Impatiens himself. I had mentioned that I couldn't find any Impatiens balfourii for sale last year. Lo and behold, he brought a few seedlings from his very own garden. I know I will probably kick myself next year that I planted them, since they are supposed to reseed like there's no tomorrow. I'll think about that tomorrow...for now...aren't they pretty!

Alright...there are all the plants that I used...in the next post...the finished (sorta) product!!!!!

BTW...for all of you who got a weird message when visiting that requested a password for MuckAbout (or somthing like that), I apologize...one of the blogs in my feed was apparently doing that for anyone who hadn't logged on to WordPress as the feed attempted to load. I've removed that feed, so hopefully that will resolve the issue...hopefully :-)

Backyard Renovation: Part 1

2012-01-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year, we undertook the (seemingly Herculean) task of renovating our teeny, tiny back yard (about 10' x 20'). To be honest, we were actually creating one from scratch. Before we moved in, there was a decrepit garage in the back yard, which had to be torn down as it was structurally unsound. We also had an oil tank buried back there, which we had decommissioned before we moved in. The company that removed the tank also had to remove a relatively large portion of the soil, as it was contaminated from the oil, which over the previous decades had leached out of the tank.

This left us with a (semi) blank slate. There was the heavy clay soil itself, as well as a good dose of pulverized concrete chunks (from the garage pad) and loads of sand, which the clean-up company used to fill in where the oil tank had been. I knew we didn't have the time or $$$ to really do anything in the backyard that first year (or two), so we just kind of ignored it. Eventually, a few enormous Pokeweeds took up residence, which I kind of enjoyed, as they created a mini-forest. A word of caution, if you don't want to spend the rest of your natural life pulling up Pokeweed seedlings, please do NOT let them fruit and go to seed. Another benefit, you won't have to avoid neighbors' angry glances as they clean up purple bird-poop from their cars (Poke Berries are deep purple...you figure it out).

Of course, I am not completely innocent either. As I tore up the our lawn over the past two years, the sod I pulled up inevitably ended up in piles in the back yard. This is how it looked this spring...a muddy, lumpy mess. Oh, by the way, that nice, professional-looking shed belongs to our neighbor...and I gaze at it longingly during these long months as we slowly build our own shed (but that's another post).

And so, last winter, the planning began. Of course, all I REALLY cared about was which plants I was going to put in...but, fortunately, wiser minds prevailed. My partner, Norm, started drafting plan after plan after plan for the hardscaping portion of the back yard. I honestly lost count of how many times we changed it, but early this spring, we pretty much settle on a plan. We must have visited every garden center in the greater Portland area trying to figure out which materials we wanted to use. We eventually settled on the horizontal fencing shown above, as well as these cobblestone-ish concrete pavers. I liked that the fence was simple and contemporary, without being coldly modern. I've always liked the look of stone pavers...but on our budget real stone was out of the question...so these patterned pavers were a nice compromise.

This spring, we were ready to get to work. Although not the greatest idea, we both agreed that it would be easiest all-around if we could start with something of a blank slate. We spent days picking up all the loose sod, concrete and other remnants of construction debris and tossing it into a dumpster. We rented a Tiller from YardRents.com...which, by the way, is AWESOME!

For those of us without huge vehicles at our disposal, it's ideal. They dropped off and the tools we needed...then picked them back up when we were done. This is super nice for those of us who don't have Pickup Trucks or SUVs They also gave us a short tutorial in how to use the tools...especially handy since we (ok, mostly me) are kinda clueless when it comes to heavy machinery.

My partner made me put this photo up....so sorry, everyone.

Voila! Look at all that lovely dirt...free (mostly) of concrete and glass shards! Here is where I have to post a warning: We shouldn't have tilled up all the ground, because we ended up compacting it HORRIBLY as we worked on the fence and path afterwards. I ended up spending weeks afterward turning the ground over again before planting. Most any gardener can tell you this is really bad for the soil as it collapses all the air pockets that plants need. You live, you learn.


Our next step was sort of laying everything out to make sure we measured everything correctly. Measure twice, cut once...right?		Before we could put the fence up, we had to stain it...which ended up being the grossest/messiest part of the whole process.

Being spring in Portland, we had to plan all our work to (hopefully) coincide with the few sunny days we got. Actually, we lucked out for the most part, and had quite a bit of nice weather. Oh, here comes Boots...the neighbors' orange cat who has adopted us, up our driveway to oversee our progress.

Being project foreman is pretty tiring work, best to take a short nap.

OMG...amazing...the fence is up...wasn't it easy! No, it wasn't. We had a TOUGH time putting this thing up. To begin with...the ground was soupy from all the rains we'd been having. We rented an auger from YardRents.com (again...so great). We were initially worried that we'd have a hard time getting it to drill down into the ground. We were wrong...it slipped into the ground like warm butter. The problem is that the wet, heavy clay would then suction around the auger and we couldn't get it back out. GRRRRRRRR. In total, we put in 8 (I think) posts...which took us 2 full days of straining, sweating and swearing (I apologized PROFUSELY to our neighbors for months afterward). In retrospect, if we had been a LITTLE bit smarter, we could probably have done them all in 3 or 4 hours.


With the hardest part behind us, we started work framing out the paths and seating areas. It was hard work, but after the fence...seemed like a walk in the proverbial park! Here it is just after we filled it with gravel.		While I rather liked the idea of leaving the gravel as our walking surface, Norm HATED it, so we put in these pavers instead...and I admit, I like them too. We have yet to finish it with the Polymeric Sand.

At the moment, we only have the square seating area paved, eventually, we'll probably finish the path with pavers as well. I have to admit, although I originally wanted a more relaxed, curving path, I quite like the hard (almost severe) lines and angles we ended up with. Since I always end up planting in a very relaxed, informal way, the hardscape is a great contrast to the plantings.

Of course, Part 2 will be all about the good stuff...the plants!!!

Farewell, 2011...Hello, 2012

2012-01-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe we're already starting a new year, I sort of feel like 2011 was a bit of a whirlwind. For many gardeners around the country, it was a year of extremes. Extreme heat and drought for some, cold and flooding for others. As luck would have it, those of us in the PNW were spared from such extremes...and as a result, I think it may have been my gardens best year so far! Let's take a stroll through the past year, shall we?

The first three months of the year (especially January) are mostly ones of waiting, planning and watching. It seemed to me to be a pretty mild winter in 2011, but those who've lived here longer have told me it was actually quite a bit colder than usual. Nevertheless, being Portland, the early spring bulbs (Daffodils, Hyacintoides) were already poking above ground. By the time the Spring Home & Garden Show rolls around in mid-February, most Portlanders are itching for any excuse to think about gardening again. February also brought a short-lived snow storm to Portland, which melted away within a day. Still, it was a nice way to bid winter farewell. By the time March arrived, spring was well underway...one highlight for me this year was the first bloom of our newly-planted Parrotia persica trees...not especially showy, but interesting, nonetheless.

April brought us full-swing into spring, and with it, Plant Sale Season! The HPSO sale, Canby Sale and a slew of others keep gardeners busy...alway seeking out something new for the garden. April also brought my first nursery outing with a fabulous group of fellow garden bloggers...a true highlight of the gardening year for me. Our spring was mostly dominated by our backyard makeover (post forthcoming...I promise). It was also the start of Astrantia season here in my garden. It was the first year for these plants in my garden and I found them to be quite a success. Who knew that a plant that looked so delicate could be so tough? May is the month where it seems like all the little sprouts finally start to surge into real plants. Within the span of a few weeks, plants shoot up and bare ground becomes scarce overnight. Before the flowers appear en masse, it's the fresh foliage that sustains us. One of my perennial faves are the Rodgersias. They have the merit of having large, lush leaves that manage not to look overly-tropical. If May is the month where the plants start to grow in earnest, then June is the month they seem to all simultaneously burst into bloom! In the past, I've planted mostly for late summer/fall interest, but after feeling extremely jealous of other gardens around town last spring, I planted more spring/early summer bloomers...and boy was I glad I did! The Lupines were especially wonderful this year, even if they do disappear soon after blooming.

Here in Portland, we are gifted with unbelievably nice spring weather. We get ample rain paired with cool temps and a mix of sunny and cloudy conditions...which makes for lush and explosive growth. July, traditionally, is the start of summer. In the past, as strange as it sounds, it's rather as if someone flips a switch...and suddenly the heat is on! This year, however, the cooler temps of spring continued on and on. As a result, plants seemed to rejoice in the reprieve from heat and scorching sun. The garden seemed more full and vibtant than ever...and I barely watered at all...it was rad! Of course, everything comes at a cost, and for those with veggie gardens...well, they probably gnashed their teeth a bit. The first days of August brought with them the first blooms of my beloved lilies. It also continued the trend of cooler-than-usual weather and I was loving it! Instead of retreating into the house (and A/C) during August, I was out in the garden all the time. I even moved and planted a few things...which I would NEVER have attempted during our typical hot & dry summers. Amazingly, we managed to make it all the way to September this year without having a day over 90°...but it wasn't to last...and September brought with it a heat wave. Sun-lovers rejoiced...and I slunk into the house! The warm blast brought with it unsettled weather...strong winds and hazy skies. The haze did make for some wonderful photo opportunities...the unearthly quality of the light was amazing! Sadly, the hot weather had a somewhat negative effect on the turnout for the Fall HPSO Plant Sale, according to the vendors.

Fall is my favorite season, even if it does signal the end of the gardening season. October started with brilliant weather, alternating between warm and sunny and the return of the rains. As always, it's the grasses that really shine at this time of year. This was the year I embraced Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'. I had thought it too common in the past...of course, I was the one missing out. I realized this year just how amazingly versatile and beautiful it really is...and at no time is it more glorious than in fall. Portland was blessed with an amazing fall this year, which stretched on for months. November was wonderful, full of pleasant, sunny days. We had some of the best fall color in years, and without the typical rains, they leaves remained on the trees for weeks! The garden reached a real crescendo of fall color in Mid-November and was fabulous. December has come and gone, and with it the first killing frosts. Unbelievably, there are still quite a few plants that have managed to stay standing, and practically everything in the backyard is still green...must be it's own special little microclimate (must remember if I ever have some tender plants).

2012 has been good so far...starting off the new year with a bright, sunny day here in Portland. I have SO MANY plans yet for this year. I'm hoping to rip up and plant the remaining hell strip in front of the house. Sadly, that will be the last of our property that I haven't planted yet...what to do after that!?! Luckily, as is always the case with gardens, it will never be done. Even as I plan the new parts of the garden, I'm thinking of re-doing older parts (mostly adding more structural plants). Each year I spend here I get better acquainted with the idiosyncracies of this location.

I have to take a moment to thank all of you out there, my fellow bloggers, followers, readers and gardeners. Garden blogging has gone from something I just sort of "put out there" to something I really value. I can't begin to express how much I enjoy reading other blogs and reading your comments here. I love the community these blogs foster, they are an amazing source of inspiration and solidarity between us. I can't wait to see what 2012 holds for us all...Happy New Year, Everyone!

Merry Christmas - 2011

2011-12-25T12:28:00.000-08:00

Our cat, Gordon...she kind of worships the Christmas Tree.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you out there...I hope you have a safe and happy one :-)

A Visit From Jack Frost

2011-12-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

Frosty Heuchera 'Marmalade'
I know I'm a day late, but Happy Midwinter, everyone! You know what this means...going forward, our days will start to lengthen again! Granted, the coldest part of the year is still ahead of us (which luckily, for Portland, is not very cold). As a little Midwinter gift, we finally got a "hard-ish" frost the other night (I can only dream of one of those amazing Hoar Frosts that you see so often in gardening books). I only had a few minutes between the sun coming up and having to dash to work, so didn't get as many pics as I'd like. The above Heuchera looks better than it has in a while...it's too bad they seem to struggle through summer, yet looks so nice during the winter.

Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'
I'm never sure here in Portland when our technical first frost should be...but I'm guessing that it's later than usual this year. However, we've had almost no rain for weeks, which means its actually colder than usual (due to lack of cloud cover).

Euthrochium 'Little Joe', Muhlenbergia capillaris, Amsonia hubrichtii, Artemisia 'Powis Castle', Persicaria 'Lance Corporal'
I know, there isn't really any visible frost in this shot, but I was struck by how nice all the different colors seemed to really come together in this area this year...finally! Can you believe the Muhlenbergia blooms are still so colorful? I seem to remember last year they were more straw-colored by this time. I'm also REALLY liking the warm burnt sienna color of the Persicaria foliage...it's really striking. Oh, and of course, everyone stop to admire the retina-searing green recycling bin in the background.

Monarda 'Raspberry Wine'
While I'm endlessly fascinated by the strange seed heads of this Monarda, they are super-difficult to get a good picture of in my garden, being located halfway up the slope in the dead center of the garden. I carefully straddled a few other plants to get this picture...but ended up almost biting it when I tried to get down...I really must work on my dismount.

Geranium 'Ann Folkard'
Amazingly, the Hardy Geraniums are still pretty much green...which pairs nicely with the leaves that have turned red. Love how the frost accentuates all the textures of the leaves. One of the 'Ann Folkards' best assets, it's rich, red stems, are more evident now that the plants have started to collapse a bit...such a great contrast to the leaves.

As we count down to Christmas, I hope everyone has a good Holiday Season...safe travels and good times :-)

Gardening in Four Dimensions

2011-12-19T10:44:00.000-08:00

No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same in one garden.
~Hugh Johnson

I've mentioned before that one of my favorite aspects of gardening is the excitement of its continual change...its progress and evolution from day to day, season to season, and, of course, year to year. The constant change of a garden is one of the most intriguing...and challenging, parts of planning a garden. It's not enough to just plant something that looks good right at that very moment...because it will (generally) never be that way again. From the moment you plant a garden it starts to change and evolve. In essence, a garden is not a just the static, 3-dimensional thing it appears to be at any one moment, it is also product of time. Come along with me, then, and let's look at my garden as it progresses through the course of a single growing season.

Front (East) Border in Spring (Top) and Midsummer (Bottom)
As the photos above show (and as we all know), just a few months can make a huge difference between a sparse border and a packed-to-the-gills one! I'm always amazed by just how much growth plants can accomplish in such a short time. For example, even though only a few months elapse between the photos, the Sumac goes from being practically invisible to becoming the focal point of the garden. It's amazing how the empty space in an early-spring garden seems so vast…it's so tempting to keep filling it in…only to realize later the plants are all jostling for space. I find I constantly under-estimate the eventual, mature size of plants.

Side (North) Border in Late Spring (Top) and Midsummer (Bottom)
As the year wears on, the garden can change dramatically in mood. Above, the cool freshness of the late spring garden soon transitions to the rich, warm hues of summer. During the growing season, I find myself in the garden every day...constantly checking on things. My neighbors must seem it fairly odd, especially in early spring, when the garden is little more than sticks and mud. I find that while I enjoy the garden in the moment, I am always thinking forward to the next "stage" of the season. During the Tulips' reign, I look forward to the Echinacea...when the Echinacea bloom, I pine for the Agastaches. The anticipation is sweet, like the days leading up to Christmas when you're a kid!

Side (North) Border in Late Spring (Top) and Midsummer (Bottom)
The same part of the garden as above, from the other direction. Again, I love how plants come into the spotlight during one season only to fade away as another group of plants asserts themselves. Planning for this succession of interest is one of the most challenging aspects of gardening, indeed, there are whole book written about it!

Grouping A:
Geranium 'Rozanne', Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm', Agastache 'Desert Sunrise' and Panicum 'Shenandoah'
Of course, this constant evolution takes place throughout the entire garden, but it can be fun to focus on small vignettes as well. Take the above example…while in summer the focus is on colorful blooms with their contrasting colors, shapes and sizes, as they fade, it's their shape and form that creates visual interest. As fall moves into winter, most of the plant material will fall away, leaving only bare branches.

Grouping B:
Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus', Pennisetum 'Hameln', Agastache 'Golden Jubilee', Panicum 'Shenandoah'
Above is another small grouping that whose progress I enjoyed throughout the seasons. In spring, bulbs such as Tulips and Alliums dominate. In summer, the above plants have completely overgrown the fading bulb foliage. While colorful and vibrant in summer, as these plants fade, the scene becomes more monochromatic and structure again becomes the key to the scene's interest.

Side (North) Border in Spring, Summer, Fall
Above is the North Border during almost the entirety of a growing season. Missing, granted, is a shot of it in late Winter, right after I cut all the previous years growth back…at which time it's pretty much just mulch and dirt! I love seeing the constant parade of plants, continuously changing. Again, I'm always intrigued at how each group of plants passes on the baton to the next group as the season progresses. I'll be the first to admit that although my garden has lots of "winter interest", it's probably being generous to say it's "pretty"!

Side (North) Border in Spring, Summer, Fall
Above is the North Border again, from the opposite direction. Again, love how we move from the (somewhat bare) spring display into the full, verdant glory of summer into the more melancholic decline of the garden in autumn. Winter, luckily, is quite short here in the PNW...it often feels as if we skip it entirely. Nevertheless, I think winter is as important as the other seasons in the garden, if for no other reason than it makes us appreciate summer all the more.

Front (East) Border in Spring, Summer and Fall
The front border again from the beginning to the end of the growing season. This part of the garden is one that I've continually struggled with to get right. If it were a larger space, I might plant a few shrubs to provide a bit more structure…but I hate to block any of the already limited light to the rest of the garden. I've re-worked parts of the garden each year…working in more structural plants (mostly grasses) to help define the space more. At the height of summer, the lack of structure is inconsequential…but during other parts of the year, its absence is a definite drawback. As the years pass, and some plants start to attain their mature size, I'm having to re-evaluate the space as well…as these large plants block light from smaller plants around them. It's a constant balancing act, adding, subtracting and re-arranging. It's true what they say, a garden is never really "done".

NE Corner section of garden in Late Summer (Aug 29) and Mid-Autumn (Nov. 11)
The two scenes above are just a little more that two months apart. It's amazing how much can change over the course of such a (relatively) short amount of time. In Portland, I usually think of August as "High Summer" when the garden is really in full swing. It's always hard to believe at that point that the slow slip into autumn is just around the corner. This is one part of the garden that has quite a bit of structure. I love, however, that even these very structural elements (The Miscanthus, Eutrochium and Saccarum especially) are in a constant state of change…never static. Even while they anchor this portion of the garden, they are, like everything else, completely transient.

Of course, every one of these photos, if I were to try to re-create them next year, would look very different, there is always that little bit of mystery and unpredictability. Also, no matter how much control I think I have over the garden, there are factors (like the vagaries of the weather) that are beyond my power to control...or even predict! They do say the only constant in life is change…but isn't that what makes us get out of bed each day…the "what if"? Similarly, isn't that at least part of what makes gardening such a fun, challenging (and sometimes frustrating) endeavor…the "I'll put these plants here, here and here…and see what happens!?!?"

Sometimes, in spite of all our planning, it seems that we gardeners merely set things in motion and then go along for the ride...but what a ride it is!

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - December 15, 2011

2011-12-13T15:05:00.000-08:00

Persicaria 'Inverleith'
I'll be honest...I didn't really expect to have anything to show for this GBBD post...I kind of assumed I'd be opting out of this one! Our weather here in PDX has been pretty mild for the most part. We've gotten frost for the past week or so, but apparently not enough of one to really put the nail in the gardens coffin. The above Persicaria looks pretty ratty for the most part, but is still blooming and hasn't crumpled from frost yet.

Geranium 'Rozanne'
'Rozanne' seems almost indestructible this year...it still has quite a few blooms on it, in spite of our recent frosts and shows no sign of giving up.

Knautia macedonica
Another plant that doesn't seem to have gotten the memo that winter is just around the corner. Granted, the ones in the more-protected back yard are much fuller and have far more blooms than the ones in the exposed parking strip.

Agastache 'Purple Haze'
Another plant in the back yard that continues to bloom, even after getting partially flattened by our recent shed construction antics!

So, there it is...the last GBBD post of 2012! I can't imagine I'll have anything to show in January, but February is pretty much the start of spring here in PDX, so you never know. How about all you out there...do you have any blooms this month?!?

Sumptuous Seedheads

2011-12-12T09:22:00.000-08:00

“A plant is only worth growing if it looks good when it is dead.”
– Piet Oudolf, Dutch garden designer

Oudolf's famous quote above, while probably partly in jest, points to a key principle of his design ethic, that worthwhile plants are those that provide long-lasting, variable, interest in the garden, while eschewing the use of plants that have little interest except when in bloom. Interestingly, Oudolf also avoids plants that are un-changing and "static", preferring the drama of constant change.

Well, I have a ways to go before I'm anywhere as adept as Oudolf at staging such amazing seasonal spectacles! Even so, while the garden looks, admittedly, rather sad at the moment, there are still lots of things to enjoy...you just have to look a little closer.

Seed heads, in particular, are fascinating...so many different forms and structures...all designed for the same purpose, to distribute seeds for the next generation of plants. Let's take a tour of some of my favorite seed heads in the garden today!

Monarda 'Aquarius'

Panicum 'Shenandoah'

Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'

Persicaria 'Lance Corporal'

Malva moschata

Agastache 'Golden Jubilee'

Pennisetum 'Hameln'

Agastche 'Golden Jubilee' with Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues'


Echinacea purpurea		Rudbeckia

Calamagtrostis 'Karl Foerster'

North Border with Pennisetum, Panicum, Schizachryium, Rudbeckia

Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues'


Eutrochium dubium 'Little Joe'		Rudbeckia

Pennisetum macrourum

Eutrochium rugosum 'Chocolate'


Agastache 'Desert Sunrise'		Crocosmia

Miscanthus 'Malepartus'

Clematis tibetana

Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination'

Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' and Panicum 'Shenandoah'

Monarda 'Raspberry Wine'

Winter sun shining through Agastache, Pennisetum and Monarda
Are you enjoying seed heads in your garden right now...or do you have other forms of "winter interest" that you rely on to get you through until spring?

Shed Construction Update - Slow and Steady!

2011-12-05T11:53:00.001-08:00

What have I been up to in the garden lately...well...honestly, the only thing we're working on, at the moment, is the shed! We've made a fair bit of progress over the past few weekends. Luckily, it hasn't been raining too much over the last few weeks, which makes working outside much more pleasant. The frame for the roof is up for the most part and we have the layers of waterpfoofing and the root barrier on. Now we have to install the grid for the planting medium onto the roof and figure out a way to install mini-gutters for excess moisture.

I'm pretty pleased with how it's going so far, however, I'm thinking it's WAY too tall...when finished, it's gonna be around 8' tall! I honestly wouldn't care one way or the other, normally, but I'm afraid it will shade the plants along the foundation. Oh well...whatcha gonna do. Now, I'm sort of holding off plans for the front parking strips until this summer, when I should have a better idea of the impact the shed will have on the light in that area.

I can't wait to be able to stow away all those gardening implements that currently litter our driveway...including the wheelbarrow! Now, if only I can convince the city of Portland that our recycling/yard waste bins don't NEED to be the most eye-searing colors known to man ;-)

Thankful

2011-11-23T10:34:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all of you out there! Thanks to my fellow bloggers who continually post such awesome content. Of course, thanks to all you who follow and read my blog...for putting up with all my ranting, gushing and generally random musings about life and gardening ;-) I'm so happy to be part of the garden blogging community...with it's amazing wealth of funny, interesting, thoughtful and knowledgeable individuals. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Peculiar Pollen Post

2011-11-19T08:28:00.001-08:00

Pollen collecting in rainwater

Just a one-off post today of something unusual I noticed a few days ago.At first, I thought it was some strange fluid leaking from parked cars (antifreeze, brake fluid...who knows). I soon realized, however, that one of the neighbor's trees (some sort of evergreen) is producing huge amounts of acid-yellow pollen right now, forming strange psychedelic ribbons of color in the ever-present pools of rainwater. Bizarre!

Foliage Follow-Up - November 16, 2011

2011-11-16T14:08:00.000-08:00

I never seem to be able to muster up the strength to do these two posts back-to-back...but this month I was determined to make it happen! Pam Penick at Digging hosts the monthly Foliage Follow-Up at her site...and it's always a great way to recognize the importance of foliage after our monthly glut of blooming awesomeness the day before ;-) Of course, it helps that the fall foliage is at it's peak right about now...making it impossible to ignore. It helps that Autumn in Portland is generously long...lasting months...not the brief 2 (or fewer) weeks that I got in the Midwest when growing up!

Front (East) border on a foggy morning
We've had some really nice foggy mornings the past few weeks, which always makes things look even more beautiful. Love the misty, mysterious effect the fog imparts to the scene.

Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood)
Well, I can hardly do a fall foliage post without mentioning trees. We only have 2 trees on our small property. Two years ago we planted a pair of Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) trees with the Friends of Trees program. It's a pretty great organization whose goal is help people plant and care for trees in the Portland area. I have to admit, I'm not super knowledgable about trees, in general. When picking out trees from the lists they provide (based on the size and conditions of the area you are planting in), my only real criteria was that they have nice fall color and decent form. I decided on the Ironwoods because they filled both these requirements, adding interesting exfoliating bark and Witch Hazel-like early spring flowers. I have to say, I've been very pleased with them...they are handsome and have beautiful fall color...mostly gold with hints of orange and red. Our neighbors down the street planted the same trees at the same time as we did our. I've noticed their trees colored up several weeks earlier than ours did, and have much more red/orange in them. I think it's probably due to them not watering quite as frequently...which apparently produced more vivid fall colors...good to know for next year!

Oak trees across street
One of the reasons we picked this house in this neighborhood is because of the gorgeous old Oak trees that line the street we live on. I just love them to pieces...even if they shade the garden quite a bit. Of course, they also shade the house in summer, which makes me a happy camper. These Oaks are really variable in regards to fall color...some years the leaves just brown and fall, but this year they are turning a glorious range of gold and reds...so pretty!

Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)
Can't do a foliage post without grasses, the stars of my autumn garden! I know I just did a huge post on them, however, so I'll keep comments to a minimum ;-) I can never get enough of the wonderful color range of Little Bluestem...plant them, people!

Panicum 'Blood Brothers'
Can never get over the wonderful colors of the Panicums, especially this one. It's nice, too, that they are so upright and don't flop over in the rain.

Amsonia hubrichtii
I'm pleased with how the Amsonias I planted last spring have bulked up, and look forward to them getting better each year. I must say, this part of the garden is a bit sparse-looking right now as I wait for them to fill in...but these glimpses of their fall glory really makes me excited for what's to come! If you've ever seen a mature plant, you'll know what I mean!


Lilium 'Black Beauty'		Eutrochium 'Little Joe'

While I don't often think of Lilies as foliage plants (not that I don't find their stalks appealing), those of 'Black Beauty' turns the most luscious shade of ochre in the autumn. Add to that the spare, skeletal remains of the flower stalks and you have a winner. I planted 'Little Joe' Eutrochium in a tight space 2 years ago and have grown to really love it. I have to admit, it's nice to have the blooms closer to eye level...and the structure of the plant is so nice and compact. The warm autumn coloring is just the icing on the proverbial cake.

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'
I know it's considered bad to admit that I planted something just for it's flowers, but I have to plead guilty when it comes to Echinacea purpurea. However, come autumn, I'm vindicated when I remember that the wonderful yellowing foliage and dark, spiky seed heads are just as rad. I love how the leaves twist and curl...very Tim Burton-esque!

Geranium 'Ann Folkard'
Again, this plant delivers on every level...gotta love the foliage during the entire growing season...and now, as it turns deep red and purple...love it even more.


Geranium 'Rozanne'		Sedum 'Matrona'

'Rozanne' is a plant I show again and agin, because it's just so darn useful. Great form, wonderful flowers and now, gorgeous fall color! I mentioned Sedum 'Autumn Joy' in the GBBD post yesterday, so thought I'd show 'Matrona' here. While 'Matrona' doesn't hold it's bloom color for as long as 'Autumn Joy', the structure is just as good. Both have wonderful autumn coloring...turning bright canary-yellow...love 'em!

Geranium 'Rozanne'
Another, gratuitous shot of 'Rozanne'

Geranium wlassovianum
I bought this Geranium in spring, based purely on the promise of fall color. I'm pleased to say that it's actually quite lovely all year long. The foliage has nice dark markings and cute little violet flowers all summer and into fall. The autumn coloring is rich red-orange and looks spectacular climbing up through other plants.

Anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing'
While this plant really sulked during summer, I cut it back to the ground and it resprouted a few weeks ago and now looks fresh and lovely. Can't wait to see how it fares next year...I'm loving the dark, divided foliage.

Parthenocissus henryii (Silver-Vein Virginia Creeper)
I planted this vine purely for the fall coloring. It's definitely handsome during the rest of the year, but this is what I've been waiting for!


Panicum 'Shenandoah'		Eutrochium 'Gateway'

Panicum 'Shenandoah' continues it's change of color...and is so gorgeous right now...really standing out in the border. 'Gateway' is one of my top-ten favorite plants...one I'll never be without, and it's looking smashing right now as it changes color.

Closetup of Eutrochium 'Gateway'
This close-up of 'Gateway' shows off the wonderful wine-red stems...really a great contrast with the yellowing foliage. Although the stems are noticeable all during the growing season, they really stand out now.

Persicaria 'Inverleith'
I don't remember the Persicarias turning such vibrant colors last year...perhaps I just wasn't paying attention. Regardless, this year they are stunning...turning the most wonderful shades of scarlet and crimson...all this while continuing to bloom like it's still July!

Persicaria 'Lance Corporal'
This Persicaria might just be the perfect plant (aside from it's VERY generous re-seeding)! The foliage is gorgeous from the moment it emerges in spring...the richest, brightest green you can imagine, highlighted with maroon chevrons. In the fall, it turns a warm, vibrant yellow. Another bonus, unlike most Persicarias, which crumple into a heap at the first frost, the skeletal branching structure of 'Lance Corporal' remains standing sentinel all winter.


Pennisetum 'Hameln' with Euphorbia 'Blue Jeans'		Miscanthus 'Malepartus'

There is a reason that 'Hameln' is probably the most-planted of the Pennisetums...it has such a great, uniform habit. Love the form of this one, and now, as it's thin blades start to turn a vibrant yellow, it is at its most appealing, to me, at least! The tiny Euphorbia 'Blue Jeans' is a plant I have a love/hate relationship with. I love it when it's just the foliage...but don't partcularly care for it in bloom. It doesn't help that after blooming, I have to cut it down to the ground at a time in the garden (high summmer) when such gaps are REALLY noticeable. Once it leafs out again, however, I'm reminded about how much I LOVE the foliage...time will tell about if I keep it around (or at least move it to a less visible spot). In my grass post, I think I may have mentioned that Miscanthus 'Malepartus' turns a lovely shade of yellow in autumn...well, that's an understatement...it's is the most glorious molten-gold yellow you can imagine!

Side (North) border, featuring mainly grasses now
The garden relies heavily on the grasses at this time of year...and as they mature with each passing season, the garden feels more and more "together".

Front (East) border on a foggy morning
Again, the front garden during a beautiful, foggy November morning.

Happy Autumn, everyone! I hope you all take a moment and just ENJOY this amazing season :-) Oh...and dont' forget to head over to Digging for even more fabulous foliage-focused posts! Do I get bonus points for alliteration?!?

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - November 15, 2011

2011-11-14T14:28:00.001-08:00

November...can it really be! We've been really lucky here in Portland and have had a very pleasant autumn. I keep thinking it should have frosted by now (can never remember when our typical first frost is), but it means that every day from now until then is just that much more precious. The cool weather has re-invigorated me and I'm out quite a bit, taking photos, tidying up and generally just enjoying the garden. I find that during most of the year, if I think about November in the garden, I think of it as dormant...but that's definitely not the case. While it's not the powerhouse that it is in summer, the garden is still holding its own. Of course, most of the focus at this time of year is on form, foliage and seed heads. Looking closer, however, I realized there were still quite a few plants blooming...some just as heavily as any other time of the year!

Echinacea 'Magnus'
I love the Echinacea as they steadily inch their way to winter...this may be the last of the blooms. It may be small, but it's just as vibrant as the first blooms of June!

Verbena rigida and Muhlenbergia capillaris
You can hardly beat this Verbena for durability...sometimes they even blooms after the first freeze. I love the soft pink of the Verbena paired with the wonderful mauvy-pink of the Muhly Grass and the muted pink buttons of Aster 'Prince' in the background.

Sedum 'Autumn Joy'
I can never decide at which point I should stop calling these blooms and start calling them seed heads. I suppose at this point, it's fair to include them in both...and in either case, they are lovely. I especially love them when the foliage turns this wonderful, buttery yellow.

Persicaria 'Firetail'
How is it possible that every single Persicaria is still blooming. Not just that, it always seems like the cooler weather of autumn triggers a second growth spurt. Without exception, they have all grown more over the past month or two, and are blooming with increased vigor.

Persicaria 'Golden Arrow' & Panicum 'Shenandoah'
The newly-planted 'Golden Arrow' seems very happy in its spot. While most fall-planted things seem to sit in suspended animation, Persicarias grow like it's spring. Love, love, love the ruby-red wands of blooms paired with the wonderful yellowing foliage of the neighboring Panicum 'Shenadoah'.

Agastache 'Blue Blazes'
Some of the Agastaches that I cut back (due to their heavy stems getting snapped by heavy rains), have re-sprouted from lateral shots are are blooming again! The blooms at this time of year aren't the tall spikes...rather, they are cute little buttons.

Agastache 'Purple Haze'
This Agastache proved to be a real workhorse. I think I may try to take cuttings next spring and propogate more...it really makes an impact with it's rigidly upright form and smoky purple blooms.


Salvia 'Black & Blue'		Dicentra scandens

Salvia 'Purple majesty'
While it doesn't look particularly majestic right now, 'Purple Majesty' keeps blooming. I've found that this particular Salvia doesn't always overwinter for me...so we'll see if it returns next year.

Knautia macedonica
Another plant new to my garden this year, Knautia macedonica has proven itself worthy of a spot in my garden. It bloomed for the entire summer and is still going (lightly...but still). I've come to love it's rich, red blooms and the charming little spherical seedheads.

Aster 'Prince'
This wonderful Aster has been really spectacular this year, it's finally come into it's own. About 2' x 2', it's a smaller Aster, but very easy to tuck into an existing border. I really want to plant a few more next year in this part of the garden...as long as the new shed doesn't block too much sun for this area...cross your fingers.

Eutrochium 'Chocolate'
It looks a bit seedy, but I couldn't help but post this picture...which I may actually like more because of the awesome ball-shaped seed heads of the Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'

Geranium 'Ann Folkard' and Persicaria 'Golden Arrow'
'Ann Folkard' Geranium is another garden superstar that is re-invigorated by the cooler weather of fall. I love how it keeps pushing out new foliage, and it's interesting to see just how much the foliage changes during the year, as the older foliage is mostly green. Those vibrant purple blooms with their contrasting black eye never fail to please...especially paired with the contrasting pinkish-red spikes of the nearby Persicaria.

Geranium 'Rozanne'
And lastly, it would hardly be a bloom day without the bloomingest plant in my garden, Geranium 'Rozanne'. I can't believe this plant is able to put on such a show. Even if it isn't blanketed with blooms at this time of year, they are so beautiful that even a few can make all the difference. I especially love it right now, as the blue blooms contrast so wonderfully with the foliage as it takes on warm autumn tints.

Is your garden still going...if so, what's blooming!?! For more blooms all over the world, head over to the official Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post at May Dreams Garden!

Another project...are we crazy?!?

2011-11-08T16:59:00.000-08:00

Shed Construction
Well, the answer, of course, is YES, of course we're crazy! Ever since we moved in a 3 or so years ago, we've lamented our lack of outdoor storage. This means tools, soil and mulch are strewn haphazardly around the house...and the wheelbarrow is stranded in our driveway...the perpetual eyesore. We've been considering putting up some sort of shed for the past few years, but realized quickly we'd have to custom-build it ourselves. The space it has to fit on is so small that we couldn't find anything that would fit (and hold more than a few tools).

House before we moved in.
Here you can see the house just prior to us moving in...and there was a small garage at the end of the driveway. We had it torn down, however, because it was actually too small for our car (and probably any car larger than a VW Beetle). Also, for a garage that was too small for a car, it was way too big for our lot...taking up almost the entirety of the teeny, tiny backyard. It was also completely unstable...actually leaning against the neighbors shed. So, the garage came down...and we were thrilled at how much more space we had in the backyard (going from postage stamp to postcard! Yet...we soon realized we needed some sort of outdoor storage...

Shed Plan
...Enter the shed! Norm (my partner) actually has been in charge of this particular project (I'm no builder). I've been kinda just letting him figure it out...only offering my advice on material (corrugated metal) and size (short enough to not block sun to the south planting bed). Of course, when he mentioned that maybe we could do a green roof, I was INSTANTLY on board. NOW the fun planning begins!

Anyway, we've just started the framing and should be starting on the roof in the next few weeks...in a perfect world, we could have it done by Thanksgiving. I'll be happy (surprised) if we have it done by the 4th of July ;-)

Grasses, Glorious Grasses!

2011-11-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

Panicum 'Blood Brothers'
Wow, it's been a while since I posted anything...sorry! As I mentioned before, I caught a cold a few weeks ago that kinda sapped me. In addition, the past few weeks have been insane at work, leaving me a frail husk of a man in my off-hours! I finally caught up on sleep this weekend, however (thanks', partially, to "falling back"), and managed to get myself together enough for a real post! Hurrah! I've been meaning to do a post focusing on various grasses all summer, but never seemed to be organized enough...but here it is!

Grasses and sympathetic perennials
I think when I first got interested in grasses, I was really most drawn to ones that weren't particularly hardy for me (back when I lived in Nebraska). I really, really wanted to grow Misanthus...but they really, really didn't want to grow on the farm for me! Over the past few years, however, I've become more and more enamoured of our native grasses. During my recent trip back home to Nebraska, I was practically overwhelmed at being surrounded by all the amazing grasses that I had, of course, lived with most of my life. I guess it's a case of taking the things you see every day for granted.

Now I find that the grasses I love the most of the ones that were the main components of the tallgrass prairies I grew up surrounded by. Panicum, Schizachyrium, Sorghastrum and Andropogon. Of course, variety is the spice of life, and I wouldn't be without the non-natives either...but I've found renewed interest in these four groups...and the activity of breeders in the past few years have given us some amazing new garden-worthy cultivars.

Panicum 'Shenandoah'
I can't express how much I love this little Panicum. In more sun, it would have been a column of rich red by now, but in my part-sun garden, it's coloring is quite a bit more modest. Nevertheless, it still maintains its form (very upright...no flopping) and manages to color up nicely (if subtly). Even if it isn't quite as vibrant as it should be, it provides wonderful structure and movement to the garden. This was its first full year in my garden, and I plan on reducing the water it gets next year by at least half (by fitting the drip hose with a lower output emitter). Eventually, this portion of the garden (with a few exceptions) should only need to be watered very infrequently.

Panicum 'Shenandoah'
In mid-summer, this Panicum starts to throw out its tiny little metallic pink flower. While not as flashy as some grasses, they are produced in such a quantity, that there almost seems to be a pinkish haze hovering over them. I love how they move in the wind, and they provide a nice textural contrast to their more solid neighbors.

Panicum 'Blood Brothers'
A new Panincum introduction that caught my eye earlier this year. Introduced out of Canada, this might be the single most beautiful red-colored Panicum I've ever seen (in person). I spotted a trio of them at Portland Nursery this summer. Although I had no idea where I would put it, I bought one on-the-spot. I got it home and kept looking for a place to put it...all the while, thinking about the other two I'd left behind. Not one to let something go easily, I went back the next weekend...and they were still there! I snatched them up without hesitation...still, with no idea where I'd put them! I finally moved a few things around a few weeks later and they are now situated right next to our front walk. I can't begin to describe how beautiful the coloring is on these. Their leaves have the same powdery-blue cast as 'Heavy Metal', but is brushed over with deep red highlights. The effect, when viewed straight on, is blue with purple highlights. When backlit, however, they are a veritably feast fo the eyes...more like stained glass than grass! I can't wait for these to bulk up and really make an impact.


Panicum 'Northwind'		Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head'

'Northwind' is one of the loveliest of the Panicums, if, for no other reason, than for it's superb form. It stands bolt upright all season, providing wonderful structure. In the fall, it colors up earlier than many, turning a wonderful, vibrant gold. The color last seemingly forever. Now we focus on a different grass group, the Pennisetums. I've always loved these grasses, and there are quite a few to explore. One of my new favorites, purchased just this past fall, is 'Red Head'. It's habit is much like most Pennisetums, rounded and arching...wonderfully textural...I can never seem to walk by without reaching out to caress the leaves.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head'
The blooms of 'Red Head' and a wonderful reddish-purple upon first opening, darkening to near-black at the base. As they age, they bleach to a soft beigy-tan. The benefit of this over the very similar 'Moudry' (of which I already had several) is that it blooms so much earlier, adding, literally, months of bloom time.

Pennisetum orientale 'Tall Tails'
This is unlike any of my other Pennisetums, mostly due to it's impressive size! It somehow manages to get 6+ feet tall every year. Starting in mid-summer, it starts flowering...with enormous, foot-loot pink tapers. Unfortunately, it seems unhappy in its current location. I think it needs both more sun and space. I'll be moving it next spring into the North parking strip, which will hopefully provide both.

Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose'
'Karley Rose' was actually my first Pennisetum. I saw it in bloom at a flower show and fell in love with those pink-tinted blooms. This is actually one of the very first grasses to bloom in my garden, starting as early as June. I absolutely adore the effect it has on the garden...unfortunately it flops badly for me (hmmmm....seems the Orientale-type Pennisetums have more tendancy towards flopping). I know it doesn't get as much sun as it wants...but I love it where it is, so am resigned (at least for the time being) to staking it up.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'
I'd say if there was a standard Pennisetum, this is it. Although some may view it with disdain (being a key component of so many mall parking lot plantings), I love it. It provides invaluable structure and texture for such a long time in the garden. Even before blooming, the mounded form is great...and the blooms (which emerge in mid to late summer) are the icing on the cake. I love the way they catch the light...and again, are such a tactile element in the garden. Beginning in early fall, the leaves start to turn bright yellow...giving the whole plant a wonderful two-tone, glowing effect...like the entire plant is shot-through with gold fibers!

Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) 'The Blues'
If there is one grass that I could somehow magically plant in everyone's garden...it would be Little Bluestem. Native to a huge portion of the continent, it's pretty much amenable to any condition you throw at it...with one condition...full sun. Sadly, as is the case too often in my garden, it doesn't get enough sun and proceeds to flop over like a sloppy drunk in September. I'm planning on moving it to my north parking strip next year, which should give it not only full sun (or the closest I'll ever get in this location), but also better drainage. I've seen them planted in full sun with probably no irrigation and they look AMAZING for it. The foliage emerges the most delicious powder-blue and forms a mostly-upright, arching clump for most of the summer. Come late summer, however, it stretches almost straight up with it's flower stalks. Right around this time (depending on weather) it also starts to color up. This is where it gets interesting...the colors are the most indescribably beautiful mix of pink, purple, orange, red, yellow and blue...it's crazy-beautiful! The color continues to intensify right up until frost. To see one of these grasses in the right sight, lit by the angled autumn sun is truly wonderful. I plan on adding more next year...of a different variety. I've been researching and apparently there is a newer variety called 'Blue Heaven' which has all the strengths of 'The Blues' without it's weaknesses (tendency to flop). In addition, 'Blue Heave' is supposed to get 4' tall! Sign me up!

Molinia 'Moorhexe'
While I've always been intrigued by the taller varieties of Molinia ('Skyracer' and 'Transparent'), I'd never really given much thought to the smaller varieties until my recent trip to Wind Dancer Garden this fall. I was captivated at the nursery, however, by their amazing color and form. They are practically transparent...but provide a subtle scrim of color through which to see other plants...just love them!

Miscanthus 'Malepartus' blooms when dry
This is the very first plant (along with the neighboring Eutrochium 'Gateway') that I planted in my garden here on Rhone Street! I've always loved Miscanthus, but, let's face it, there are probably WAY TOO MANY on the market! I remember going to the nursery and being overwhelmed by the variety of Miscanthus cultivars...and really, without seeing them full-grown, how can you really make a good decision! Anyway, I lucked out by picking this variety that I'd never heard of. 'Malepartus' is a large Miscanthus...not for the faint of heart. The leaves are wider than many popular cultivars...looking to my Nebraska-raised eyes like a very open, fine-leaved clump of corn! Thats not to say it isn't lovely...because it is!

Miscanthus 'Malepartus' blooms after rain
'Malepartus' emerges earlier than almost any other plant in my garden and quickly grows to form a beautiful fountain-shaped clump. The movement and texture of this grass are truly breathtaking. The blooms emerge a rich ruby-red...which always surprises me...they compliment the nearby Eutrochium perfectly...and case of lucky positioning, if ever there was one!. Sadly, it's a bit of a flopper for me...so I'm forced to corset the poor thing right around the time it blooms.

Miscanthus 'Malepartus'
'Malepartus' also has the added virtue of amazing autumn coloring. It's just now starting to really attain it's wonderful golden hue.


miscanthus purpurascens		Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'

Miscanthus purpurascens is far smaller and more delicate than 'Malepartus', and is sort of nondescript for most of the year...which is not to say that it's not a handsome grass...but it's not terriby showy. The white, frothy plumes are quite nice...and really catch the light nicely. It's the fall color, however, that makes this grass truly garden-worthy. In my garden, they start to color right about the time the Rudbeckia goes to seed. The color is a wonderfully rich, warm gold (with hints of reddish-orange). It colors up quite a bit earlier than most other plants, so looks like a flaming torch in the garden! Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' is one of those grasses that I can't imagine gardening without...it's so very reliable...and manages to ALWAYS look good!

Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'
'Karl Foerster' is another grass that probably suffers a bit from overexposure...being used to widely in commercial landscapes. It does seem that when landscapers want "an ornamental grass", it's going to be good-ol' 'Karl' about 90% of the time. However, this is another case where common does not equal bad. 'Karl' deserves our admiration...in every respect. Being a cool-season grass, it's up and growing before most others...even before many perennials. This is a great benefit to the garden, since they don't leave a big hole in the garden while they get going. Also, they bloom as early as June, far earlier than most grasses. The tall, narrow spikes last all summer, fall and winter...looking great right until you cut them down in late winter/early spring (as new growth is starting).

Calamagrostis 'Avalanche'
While I love how narrowly upright the blooms of Calamagrostis are...I also like how they arch outward when drenched with rain. Luckily, as soon as they dry out, they spring right back up again!

Saccharum ravennae
Something of an anomaly in my garden is this semi-tropical-looking giant grass...also known as hardy sugar cane and hardy Pampas Grass. You can hardly beat this grass as a specimen plant...it's just huge. For most of the summer, it's a large fountain of long leaves. This is actually my favorite aspect of the grass...it's very graceful and demure for its size. The individual blades are really long (like 5-6') but all arch gracefully out from the center of the clump. Not heavy-looking, the blades dance in the slightest breeze...looking like ribbons caught in the wind...absolutely love it!

Saccharum ravennae
As fall approaches, Saccharum stretches up it's blooming stalks...which seem to top 10' in my garden...so tall that they are hard to capture well in photos. The stalks are kinda fabulous by themselves. They are covered in fine hairs and are blushed with red...really striking. In my garden, the blooms so far haven't quite opened completely. In warmer climates (and with more liht, probably) they would be large, open panicles of pinkish-silver. Still...I'd grow it just for it's form alone...it's that good!

Muhlenbergia capillaris
Now for something very different...Pink Muhly Grass. I first discovered this grass from Nan Ondra's book, Fallscaping...which, if you've never read, you MUST! While this grass is pretty nondescript for most of the year, staring in late summer/early fall it sends up dozens and dozens of stems topped with pink blooms. By the time it's in full blooms, the entire plants seems to be engulfed in a haze of pink...it's truly breathtaking...and so unexpected, both from a grass, and at this time of year.

Muhlenbergia capillaris
Here you can see a close-up of the flowers...each bloom is tiny...but there are so many produced that you get a wonderful, cloud of rich color!

As I wrap it up, here's the front (East) border...

...and the side (North) border.

Panicum 'Blood Brothers'
And I close with another shot of 'Blood Brothers', just can't get enough! And now I'm off to visit the blogs that I've been unable to for the past few weeks...woo-hoo!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately...a cold and the start of our busiest time of the year at work have kept me occupied (and exhausted). I have a ton of photos I've been taking, though, so hopefully can get my act together soon for a few great Autumn posts :-)

The Tipping Point...

2011-10-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

It happened...the Tipping Point. Of course, there are many such points during the year in a garden. There is the first sign of new growth at the end of winter, ushering in spring. There is the first Daisy, announcing summer. Then, there is that moment when late summer trips into Autumn. Some years, I admit, I'm so busy and preoccupied with other things that I won't realize it's happened until I'm faced with a mountain of leaves from our neighbors oak trees. This year I spotted it...that one moment where there is an ever-so-slightly perceptible shift in mood in the garden. Last month, while taking pics for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, I noticed that the Rudbeckia flowers (which always seem to last forever) had started to fade...only a few at first...then more and more...a sure sign that summer was on its way out. I know many gardeners hate to see summer end, but I love autumn, and all the changes it brings with it...even if winter is just around the corner. Of course, it helps that here in the PNW, our winters are pretty mild..absent are the shoveling of snow and the frozen fingers and toes that go with it!


September 15, 2011		October 15, 2011

As they age, the flowers go from being held stiffly horizontal to drooping a bit like an octopus on a stick. A month later, the dark black seed heads are all that remain. I love this time in the garden, when summer-bloomers start to fade away, putting their energy into interesting seed heads. I was particularly pleased with how the Miscanthus purpurascens behind the Rudbeckia created a warm background for the Rudbeckia., reminiscent of their summer show.

There is something wonderfully graphic about seed heads that I just can't quite put my finger on...how they create a field of tiny dark focal points against different colored backgrounds. Of course, this all relates to one of my favorite aspects of gardening...the constant (and sometimes unpredictable) changes that occur all year long. A garden is never static, but always growing, thriving, declining, going dormant. It's this ongoing evolution that makes me excited every morning to see what has changed. Even if I am only away for a short time, I am always amazed at just how much can change during just those few days!

Of course, with the advent of fall and the fading of many perennials, the ornamental grasses really step into the spotlight, like this Panicum 'Shenandoah'. Granted, this 'Shenandoah' isn't quite as vibrantly colored in my garden as it would be in a garden with more sun...but I'll take what I can get! Take a moment in your garden and appreciate all the changes that are happening now...faster and faster as we head into the next season.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - October 15, 2011

2011-10-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

October GBBD is here, and with it my favorite time of year...Autumn! While the leaves in Portland are just starting to turn vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow and purple, the rains have been in full force for several weeks. While I actually like the rain, I have to admit it's a mixed blessing in my garden. Fall planting is such a no-brainer in PDX, mild temps all winter and plentiful rain means the plants aren't stressed by summer heat and I don't have to traipse around the garden in a bonnet with my wooden bucket. The flip-side, however, is that tall, top-heavy plants just topple over as their blooms get waterlogged. As a result, the garden looks a bit rough this year...but whatcha gonna do? It's almost comforting to know that soon the garden will be cut down by frost and I can start fresh and new a few months later...now I just have to remember this feeling in January ;-)

Clematis tibetana
Blooming at last! I bought this vine at Cistus Nursery last fall after covetously eyeing this vine in their gardens the year before. It was just a sprig, and so fragile-looking I was afraid it wouldn't make it through winter. It popped up this spring, however, and hasn't looked back since. It's practically covering an entire wall of our house in the back yard. I love the thin, wiry stems, which change in color as they age, from a deep plum-purple to a warm rust color. The foliage is so finely divided, it's almost invisible from a distance. The blooms are reminiscent of a quartered lemon peel...thick and succulent-looking. I was so excited to see a few flower buds a month or so ago...feeling please to get any blooms...then, weeks later, I realized there were probably hundreds more starting to appear...love 'em!

Agastache 'Purple Haze'
This Agastache wins the award for durability this year. It's been blooming since June and is still going, it has also managed to stay fairly upright throughout our rains...although, admittedly, a few branches have snapped from the weight. The color is less vibrant than a few other Agastache, but is still a nice foil to it's brighter neighbors, plus, it adds mass and height to that part of the garden.

Agastache 'Ava'
'Ava' is still going strong, many of these plants collapsed almost entirely, but I propped them back up and they just keep on blooming! I'm probably going to cut them back a bit this weekend so I can at least walk along the pathway in back...and the formation of lateral buds along stems that already snapped let's me know they'll probably be blooming again in a few weeks (barring frost).

Persicaria 'Lance Corporal
Ok, ok, I know it's practically verboten to let this one blooms, unless you really want a million seedlings the following year, but I can't help it, there is something intriguing about those wiry, scarlet tapers! Plus, the seedlings are easy to spot and uproot if you don't want them.


Verbascum 'Album'		Persicaria 'Golden Arrow'

The Verbascum seedlings gifted to me by Ryan Miller are still blooming! I gotta admit, I love them without reservations, and can't wait to see them bulk up even more next year...they are so wonderfully evocative of meadows and cottage gardens. Persicaria 'Golden Arrow' has settled in happily (it is a Persicaria, after all) and has been blooming madly. I LOVE that burst of chartreuse in the garden and hope it seeds a bit around...would love to play with it in more spots in the garden.

Helenium 'Mardi Gras'
I was a bad gardener this year and didn't deadhead the Helenium, not even once. In the past, with regular deadheading, it has bloomed from July to the first frost...but it's in a very hard-to-reach spot, so I decided to just let it go this year. It rewarded my inattention with continuous blooms...apparently, I'm not as necessary as I thought!

Sedum 'Autumn Joy'
How can you have an Autumn post without the stalwart 'Autumn Joy'. Ubiquitous it may be, but for good reason! It's dependable and offers a really long season of interest. I actually appreciate it most in the winter, when it's skeletal silhouette remins a point of interest until I chop it down in spring.

Agastache 'Blue Blazes'
This Agastache, by far the tallest, also suffered the most from our recent rains. I woke up a few weeks ago to find most of the stems completely snapped. I actually wasn't surprised after I went out to cut them off...heavy with rain, they really weighed a lot! Next year, I'm resolved to cutting them back as they are growing, to keep them busher...well, most of them...I rather like the ginormous size they attained!

Agastache 'Blue Blazes' new growth
This is the new growth appearing at the lateral buds beneath the snapped stems. I can't believe how vigorously the Agastaches are still growing! I guess I always think of them as heat-lovers, but they seem to really be responding to our recent cooler temps and ample rains with a surge of new growth.

Symphyotrichum (Aster) 'Prince'
Yikes...this name change will take me a while to remember (and longer to pronounce). I suddenly realized, which typing this post, that this is my ONLY Aster...crazy! I think I've avoided many of them because they are so nondescript during most of the year...and having a small garden, I try to maximize interest as best I can. 'Prince', however, has wonderful, dusky purple foliage all season long...which makes it a no-brainer for me. I actually bought it out of bloom, just for the foliage, a few years ago, so was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful it is in bloom. I love those little raspberry-centered white blooms...which are absolutely tiny, but borne is such profusion that they (like most Asters) completely cover the plant. Seeing it in bloom these past few weeks makes me realize I'd really like to add more of these around the garden...such a great plant!

Geranium 'Ann Folkard'
Oh, 'Ann Folkard', you just don't give up, do you! This year, 'Ann' managed to completely avoid getting defoliated by rust, so I got to enjoy her awesome foliage all summer, and now with cooler temps moving in, she's putting out new, fresh growth. She flowers constantly until frost, although the amount of flowers decreases during the hottest part of the summer. Her wandering ways means I get to enjoy serendipitous combinations like the one above.

Agastache 'Desert Sunrise' and Vebena bonariensis
After this year, 'Desert Sunrise' may have become my "go-to" for smaller Agastaches, replacing A. rupestris. While I will always have a few rupestris in my garden, 'Desert Sunrise' has better color and more flowers...plus it still has that amazing silvery foliage that I love in rupestris.


Salvia 'Black & Blue'		Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'

Eutrochium (Eupatorium) rugosum 'Chocolate'
Another name change that I keep forgetting! This poor plant was smashed up a bit earlier this year when the neighboring Joe Pye toppled over onto it...eek! Next year, I'll be sure to brace the Joe Pye just in case it happens again. Luckily, 'Chocolate' is as tough as it is beautiful and formed an arching mound. This is one plant I could probably never have enough of...the foliage is just beautiful, sultry and lovely. The flowers are just a bonus, with their frothy white caps floating around the garden.

Knautia macedonica
The flowers get smaller and fewer, but they just don't stop! I must admit, Knautia has become one of my top plants for it's wonderful, rich reds...but in blooms small and charming enough to avoid being overbearing...great for a dash of warmth without setting fire to a border ;-)

Verbena rigida and Muhlenbergia capillaris
You can hardly beat a Verbena for durability and lenght of bloom. This one, a smaller, lighter version of another I have elsewhere, really captured my eye, even though I don't know if I would have bought it had I known it was such a light color....still, it's a happy accident, I now love it...plus, how can you not look smashing when you're enveloped in a gauzy pink cloud of Pink Muhly blooms!

Dicentra scandens
Another gift from seed-starting champ Ryan Miller, this little climber surprised me with it's vigor! It grew to over 6' in a little over 2 months! It's already taller than the Panicum 'Northwind' it's planted between!

Persicaria 'Firetail' and Miscanthus 'Purpurascens'
Persicaria are probably classified as "summer-blooming", but I think they are at their best in the fall...maybe it's just that their wild-looking nature speaks of gone-over pastures and opulent meadows. Then again, maybe it's that their fiery blooms look amazing popping up between the fading foliage of other plants.

Geranium 'Rozanne'
Oh, 'Rozanne', how could I ever garden without you? I am constantly reminded by how much I love this plant...such a long bloom season, and she always manages to look fresh...a winner in every way.

Salvia 'Purple Rain'
This Salvia really surprised me this year by blooming almost constantly...what a work-horse. Of course, the fact that the flowers are pretty much the most gorgeous, rich purple ever makes it even better!

Geranium wlassovianum
I bought this Geranium mainly for it's fall foliage color, which is supposed to be warm reds and oranges...so far it's looking like it will just be yellow. Oh well, I stil got the flowers :-)

Verbena bonariensis
How can you have a garden without this amazing flowers...you just can't!

Echinacea purpurea
While the Echinacea blooms coming on now aren't as richly-colored as those of summer, they are still a nice treat...and I actually like this sort of faded color almost as much...seems very fitting for fall, somehow.

Cosmos atrosanguineus
Another plant that just keeps pumping out the blooms! I'm not sure how hardy these are, but we'll see...I hope to see them come back next year bigger and better than ever.

Vernonia missurica
The Vernonia that was just starting to bloom in last month's GBBD post is finishing up. The other two plants near it were the victims of a spring cat-stomping, so were stunted a bit and are just now starting to bloom...which,happily, extends the show!

Vernonia missurica in BLOOM!
This is what the Vernonia looked like a few weeks ago, just before I left for Nebraska...what amazing color! I love that rich, saturated reddish-purple. Sadly, these were pretty top-heavy and were toppled over when I got back from our trip...I'll have to remember to stake them next year, just in case.

Persicaria 'Firetail' with Panicum 'Blood Brothers' and Calamagrostis 'Overdam'
So there you have it, a taste of what's blooming in my garden today...head on over to May Dreams Garden for more!

Going Home

2011-10-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

I'm back! Where was I for the past few weeks? In my home state of Nebraska, that's where! While not on the top of my list of vacation destinations, the occasional family event (in this case, a sister's wedding) can drag me back. While on the plane, in an attempt to resist the urge to throttle the screaming children in the row behind me, I finally did the math and realized that it had been around 6 years since I'd made it home. One thing I had not counted on...no cell phone service or wi-fi...eeek! It was very strange being "unplugged" for the better part of a week!

We flew into Omaha, and on our way to one of the most sacred of spots (a Runza Restaurant) I spotted a commercial planting with one of my favorite grasses, Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). I'm not sure if the intensity is due to it being a different cultivar ('Blaze', maybe)? It could also just be the severe weather Nebraska endures...with horribly, hot summers and freezing winters. Either way, I was smitten by that coloring!

A closer look reveals that the uniform reddish color is actually a rainbow of hues, from red, blue, purple, orange and green...wow! Seeing them up close was amazing. I resolved at that very moment to move my Little Bluestem to a sunnier position in the hell strips next spring (well...I had sort of already decided that after they flopped AGAIN this year). If you are ever looking for a shortish grass...go for Little Bluestem...it's great!

On the way to my sister's farm, we stopped by my childhood home for a quick visit with my Dad. The house sits outside the nearest "town" (population 1,300) on an acreage.

It was funny to see a few of the plants I had planted when younger were still going strong...indeed, Dad had divided them and filled in a lot of space! The Sedums and Tiger Lilies in particular made appearances all over the property.

While we were busy working on the wedding details (if you can describe moving hay bales and stringing lights from barn rafters "details") during most of our stay, I'd occasionally sneak down the long, country driveway to snap a few pics of interesting plants. I was struck by the lovely form and coloring of these seedheads, Gray Coneflower, perhaps?

I was totally intrigued by these seedheads as well...I remember them from my childhood, but never actually knew their name. After doing a little e-research yesterday, I can (almost) confidently declare them Desmanthus illinoensis (Illinois Bundleflower). They are actually related to Mimosa (which is evident when you see the finely-divided pinnate leaves).

Even the crops can be beautiful...here is Rye Grass waiting to be turned into hay bales.

And here is the resulting hay bale...I was always intrigued by the swirling pattern.

The effects of a few frosts (or maybe herbicide) were visible in a few plants that had obviously gone over. I was struck by the spare, skeletal beauty of this weed.

Grasses abound in Nebraska...each ditch of a gravel road can play host to dozens of species, which are at their loveliest at this time of year.

Mind the barbed wire!

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One of the pastures used for my sister and her husband's cattle sported a nice colony of Little Bluestem...a little hard to see in this shot, the whole field glowed with orange and red when backlit!

I shifted position and in this photo you can see the rich autumnal coloring of the Little Bluestem. I keep going back and forth about whether or not this is actually Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). It was taller than most Little Bluestem (around 4', if memory serves) but not quite the 6' that I've seen Big Bluestem reach...then again, if it had been grazed, it would understandably be shorter.

What about the wedding, you ask? It was really lovely...held outside the couple's house with the reception in their newly-build shed. Above, the happy couple!

The ceremony itself was held just as the sun set, which made for a beautiful service...but also tricky photo conditions!

Fall flowers were the order of the day...as were pumpkins!

The ceremony's setting...bucolic Americana!

Nursery Visit - Wind Dancer Garden

2011-09-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

Fall is here at last in the PNW...and that means one of my favorite plant groups, the grasses, are really shining! This spring, at one of the zillions of plant sales I attended, I met Carolyn Kolb, owner of Wind Dancer Garden, located just outside of Salem, OR. She mentioned that I should visit the nursery in September, when it's really looking it's best. I kept that little invite in the back of my head all summer, and after the Fall HPSO plant sale, decided to make the trek down to Salem for a visit.

THE GARDEN

As we pulled into the almost-hidden driveway, I knew this was a garden I could spend hours in. Full of grasses and complimentary perennials, it was amazing! There were lots of winding gravel paths throughout the garden, which made for great vignettes. The curved paths are great at creating a sense of "discovery", you are always wondering what is around the next corner.

This large patch of Sedum 'Angelina' makes me realize how effective they are in a larger mass...especially growing around objects. I resolved to be patient while mine fill in over the next year or two...I WILL resist the urge to plant more...they WILL spread and fill in!

While, in general, I'm no fan of tropicals, I found their inclusion here to be very tasteful and fitting. These dark-leaved Colocasia were particularly fetching...and given my love of dark-leaved plants, may be something I "mimic" in my own garden someday ;-)

This photo illustrated one of the things I love about grasses, their scale! There is something magical about feeling dwarfed by plants...especially when you consider this growth all occurs during a single year!

Carolyn offers a design service, focusing, of course, mainly on grasses, and judging by the design of the gardens at the nursery, I'd say she has a good eye and a deft hand!

I can't quite figure out if this is a variety of Deschampsia or Molinia...either way, love that gauzy veil of flowers in gold.

I adore this pairing of two of my favorite Pennisetum, 'Red Head' and Pennisetum spatheolatum. The contrast in shape and size are just amazing, subtle and dramatic at the same time.

I noticed that the Miscanthus purpurescens at the nursery were coloring up far sooner than mine at home are...can't wait for them to start their fall transformation...there's a reason it's also called 'Flame Grass'!

Another photo showing that Grasses and Sedums were made for each other!


I love how well the warm color of this Crocosmia works with the grasses, and offers a contrasting form to the more ubiquitous, flat-topped sedums.		The amazingly textural bloom stems of Pennisetum spatheolatum never fail to delight.

Another vignette showcasing the wonderfully varied forms and textures of the grasses on display.

Of course, there are plenty of non-grass plants in Carolyn's gardens as well, like this charming and vibrant little Clematis.

Past the main display gardens are some of the more "private" gardens, including this arbor which leads into a veggie garden.

Gotta love the pumpkins!


I always forget just how beautiful some veggies can be, like these cabbage.		This path leads around the back of the house to even more gardens!

I loved this little vignette with the birdhouse surround with a patch of Echinops...so very charming...and love the sympathetic tones of the colors.

I'm always jealous of gardeners who have ponds...especially one as nice as this!

The gravel path around the house, hugs the side of the house. Love the mix of perennials and shrubs through this area. The Rudbeckia and Verbena bonariensis were putting on quite a show the weekend we visited...such a great, classic fall combination.

More Rudbeckia...I was also impressed by the tasteful placement of various pieces of art and sculpture in Carolyn's garden...very nice.

A parting shot of the garden, showcasing one of my faves again, Pennisetum 'Red Head'.

THE NURSERY

Now for the good stuff...the shopping!!!!! I could barely contain myself once I entered the retail space of the nursery. It's espcially difficult as I'm running so short of space on my tiny plot...and I was keeping in mind that for every plant I was going to buy, that meant more of the hell-strip I would have to tear up this fall...which is not the easiest of work...as many of you know.

I'm a firm believer that fall is the BEST time for planting grasses, for many reasons. Of course, they are easier to establish, not being stressed with heat and drought...and the cool weather promotes root growth, rather than top growth. For me, it's also a bonus that many of them are at their full (for the moment) size...so I have a much better idea of their scale in the garden. It's far too easy (at least for me) to cram things too closely together when they are little more than a sprig in a pot in the spring. When they are 6 feet tall, however, it gives me greater appreciation about how they will eventually settle into the space.


Bouteloua, Calamagrostis, Pennisetum, Panicum, Schizachyrium...I want them all!		Although I'd ignored them in the past, the fall color of the Molinias brought me back again and again.

I finally got a good look at one of the newer grasses that were introduced this season, Bouteloua 'Blonde Ambition'. I have been curious about seeing these all season, so was really excited to see a bunch of them together, to get a better idea of the effect they would have in a garden setting. All I know is that I'm definitely including them in my plans for next year's garden additions.

Can you believe THIS is the retail part of the nursery...it's practically a mini-meadow!

Again, this grass, Molinia 'Moorhexe', kept drawing me back...I was positively smitten by those pumpkin-edging-on-scarlet stems.

MINE!


Molinia 'Moorhexe'		Pennisetum macrourum 'White Lance'

So, did I actually buy anything...you betcha! Of course, I got a few of those Molinia I was eyeing...their striking form and color really struck me. I love their extremely rigid, upright form...such a contrast to my many mounding perennials. One of the big reasons I went to begin with was to get a few more Pennisetum macrourum. I had purchased one at the Fall HPSO sale a week or so earlier, but really wanted 2 more to make a decent-sized grouping. I've been in love with this grass since seeing it used en masse at the Montreal Botanical Garden last fall...can't wait to see them fill in next year...with those elegant waving wands of blooms.

Pennisetum 'Red Head'
The last grass I got was this Pennisetum. It's very similar to a grass I already have in the garden, Pennisetum 'Moudry', the bonus of 'Red Head' is that it blooms MUCH earlier. In my garden, 'Moudry' just started blooming a few weeks ago, 'Red Head' is supposed to come into bloom months earlier...how can you not love that!

Of course, the sad part of this post is the poor grasses I had to leave behind. I've been working on garden plans for the rest of the hell-strips around the house for a while, and now have a very clear idea of which grasses I'm going to incorporate...so I know that a future trip to Wind Dancer Garden is on the docket for next year :-)

Fall Arrives on Rhone Street

2011-09-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

Happy First Day of Fall from me to you all!

Bye, Bye Arborvitae

2011-09-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

Up until a few weeks ago, this was my view every time I left the house. From the first day we moved in, I have wanted to remove the Arborvitae that was at the front of our house. I sort of wanted to tear it out as my first act of gardening...sort of asserting my dominance to the yard. For some reason, however, my partner was fond of the shrub, and since her practically never expresses any sort of interest in the garden, I decided to let him keep it. A few years have gone by, during which time I thought I'd grow to love and accept the shrub. I didn't. I grew to resent it more and more. It took up space, blocked light and was generally, well, boring. Yes it was evergreen...but I decided a better term would be "ever-boring". It didn't do anything but sit there...taking up precious real-estate (and during winter, getting me wet everytime I tried to squeeze past it.)

Luckily, my partner has come to agree with me that it's just out of scale...and really feels separate from the rest of the garden. Last month, we finally decided to cut it down! It went pretty fast, but wasn't the most pleasant of operations (it didn't help that we decided to do it on a blazing hot day). We cut off the branches one by one, then finally attacked the stump. I have to admit, we will probably have to get someone else to remove the stump at some point...it's a little beyond us to get it out at this time!

Voila! Here's the same view as the above, sans Arborvitae! I have to admit, I was a little worried I'd feel exposed when walking up and down the path, the shrub provided quite a bit of a barrier. I needn't have worried, apart from feeling exposed, the path to the house feels far less crowded and claustrophobic. It helps that the same day we cut down this shrub, we pruned back all the others as well.

We've moved the birdbath to the new open spot temporarily...until we can have the stump removed and plant something in its spot. It's become quite popular, if not with birds, at least with the neighborhood cats, who find it irresistible.

Another before and after...this shot shows the view of the house with the Arborvitae.

And now without. I'm excited to finally be able to integrate this part of the garden, as before, the shrubs proved to be a bit of a visual (and physical) barrier.

The day after removing the Arborvitae, I finally bucked up and admitted the Rodgersias that had been just to the right of the shrub were not happy. They were fine during our cool, wet springs, but very, VERY unhappy during our warm, windy summers. In spite of the fact that we had (for the most part) a very mild summer, and even though I watered them like a crazy person, their leaves were still scorching badly. I moved them all into the shade (this shot shows the area they vacated). and decided to replace them with plants that would appreciate the sun.

I replaced the Rodgersias with several Panicum, a new variety I found at Portland Nursery this summer, 'Blood Brothers'. I was totally smitten with their coloring (blue-ish foliage that develops red tints). I also popped in a few Persicaria 'Firetail' I got on sale. I can't wait to see them bulk up next year, I think they'll be a great counterpoint to the billowing blue mounds of Geranium 'Rozanne' in front of them.

With Fall approaching, I always get the itch to re-think the garden and move things around...our mild winters make it the best time to transplant things...are any of you making changes this fall?

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - September 2011

2011-09-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

September already...who let that happen?!? Portland had a rough couple of weeks at the beginning of this month, with some nasty temps, making me hide inside with the A/C blasting, but cooler temps have returned and I'm venturing out again into the great outdoors. This is one of my absolute favorite times in the garden, probably because I have such a leaning toward fall-blooming plants...and grasses, which are shining at this time of year.

Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' with Agastache 'Desert Sunrise' and Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'
I know this will show up in a lot of the photos throughout the post, but this workhorse of a plant still deserves it's own photo. Dependable and long-lived...and such a great standard in summer/fall gardens. I really love how it ushers in fall with a blaze of color. While I shun golden yellows earlier in the year, at this time of year, it just seems appropriate...and really sets off the warmer tones found elsewhere.

Agastache 'Blue Blazes'
My favorite of the blue Agastaches...huge, vigorous and floriferous. A few of these are 6' tall and almost as wide...they have a fairly open branching structure (which I may try to keep a bit more compact with selective pruning next year) and insinuate themselves into other plants, making for some great combos. In the above photo, you can see how fabulous it looks when backlit...which makes the entire plant look like, well, it's namesake!

Pimplinella major 'Rosea'
This was a bit of a surprise, the Pimpinella, which I thought only bloomed in spring, is re-blooming!

Salvia 'Black & Blue' and Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'
While I always curse the late arrival of this Salvia (which means I get to look at a patch of bare ground until July), once it arrives and starts throwing out it's amazingly electric flowers, I always forgive it. Love how the rich blue looks against the gold of Rudbeckias...and in combination with pink and purples.


Teucrium 'Purple Tails'		Agastache 'Ava'

Sedum 'Matrona'
I've grown Sedum 'Autumn Joy' for years, but this spring, decided to add a few of this Sedum as well. I really like the slightly larger size and colorful leaves and stems. The flowers are just as nice as 'Autumn Joy' and are totally loved by the bees. I love their subtle, glowing coloring.

Knautia macedonica, Verbena bonariensis, Agastache 'Blue Blazes'
I love this little combo...it's a sort of crazy free-for-all of red, blue and purple. A bonus, all the plants are pretty drought-tolerant...next year I'm hoping they will require only a few waterings.

Cosmos astrosanguiniem
I bought these on a lark, just because I love the way they smell. I have to say, they've grown on me. I really like their dark little flowers, which look smashing against Pennisetum 'Hameln'

Persicaria polymorpha
I FINALLY found one of these for sale this spring, and even though had no where to really put it, bought it anyway. I'm pretty sure I'll have to move it next year...but for now, I'm just enjoying it. I think I actually like the blooms best at this stage, as they are a little past their prime...they have a rich, earthy beauty to them.


Sedum 'Autumn Joy'		Echinacea 'Prairie Splendour'

Lobelia gerardii
I got a few of these at a nursery that was closing a few weeks ago. Just when I thought they are done blooming, they sent up more blooms. Love their rich, purple blooms. Apparently, these have a propensity to reseed a bit...they'll have to duke it out with the patch of Verbena bonariensis nearby.

Astrantia major 'Alba'
While 'Abbey Road' was just cut back, 'Alba' has sent up a few new blooms...I'm adding a few more Astrantia this fall...they've proven themselves to be not only charming and beautiful, but tough and vigorous...winners in my book!

Impatiens balfourii
A gift from the generous Derrick Pitman (Mr. Impatiens), this tender Impatiens has proven to be extremely vigorous, even though it got much more sun than I think it normally likes (4-5 hours in the middle of the day). It sailed through the summer while the Rodgersias and Ligularias scorched a few feet away (and with MUCH more supplemental water). Love the airy two-toned flowers!


Agastache 'Desert Sunrise'		Persicaria 'Golden Arrow'

Agastache 'Purple Haze'
One of the things I love about this time of year (aside from cooler weather) is the amazing quality of the light...as in this photo, plants look amazing when backlit!

Geranium wllasovianum
I've shown both Geraniums 'Rozanne' and 'Ann Folkard' numerous times in these posts (both are still blooming...what workhorses!). This is a smaller and subtler Geranium, which I got mostly because the foliage (hopefully) turns brilliant colors in the fall. The flowers are small, but are produced continuously for months and add a simple, understated elegance to the garden.

Verbascum chaixii 'Album'
Ryan Miller (Gnomiscience) gifted me with a bunch of seedlings a few months ago, and they are all thriving in their new spots...some of them, like this amazing Verbascum, have even started blooming already. Love the mix of colors on this plant...the purple stamens are just stunning.

Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'
I've been lax about dead-heading this summer, luckily, some plants, like this Salvia, keep pumping out flowers regardless...gotta love that!

Salvia 'Purple Majesty'
Another Salvia...this time, a giant! Getting over 6' tall (sadly, with somewhat fragile stems), this plant has been throwing out it's rich, purple blooms for months. I wish it was a little sturdier...then again, ever stem that breaks means that 2 more sprout a the axel below the break...so more flowers!


Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'		Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' and Geranium 'Rozanne'

Agastache rupestris
Another Agastache...one of the standards for the clan...and tough as nails! I had these planted in too much shade last year and they languished. This year, I knew I had to move them, but wasn't sure where...so I just dug them in behind the new fence. They have thrived there...it's not as sunny as they would probably like...but I haven't watered them but maybe 2-3 times all summer.

Persicaria 'Firetail'
I recently overhauled a section of the north border, adding some Panicum and this Persicaria...love the rich, ruby-colored tapers.

Vernonia missurica (Ironweed)
I was hoping this would be open by bloom day, but it's taking its sweet time! Planted as tiny little starts this spring (purchased at the Spring HPSO plant sale) they've grown rapidly...I'm surprised they are blooming this year! They topped out around 5' tall this year...I'm wondering if they'll be even taller next year.

Clematis tibetana
Another plant JUST about to bloom...look for it next month!

East Border, with Crocosmia 'Orangeade', Agastache 'Blue Fortune', Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm', Agastache 'Desert Sunrise', Geranium 'Rozanne', Geranium 'Ann Folkard', Knautia Macedonica
I leave you will a view of the east border, in front of the house...what do you all have going in your garden...are you enjoying our slip into fall...or dreading winter!?!

HPSO Fall 2011 Plant Sale!

2011-09-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

Well...hard to believe, especially with the recent nasty heat here in PDX, but this past weekend was the Fall HPSO Plant Sale! I can never decide which of the HPSO sales I look forward to more. The spring sale happens at that magical time when I am so psyched to get out in the garden...but the fall sale has so many plants I love (especially grasses). Another bonus to the fall sale is that you can count on rains and cooler weather returning soon, which is a boon when establishing new plants. I guess we'll call it a draw as to which sale is my fave and just say that it's whichever sale I happen to be at right at that moment!

It's hard to believe that such a humble edifice hides such a source of excitement for me. I battled my way through people with ammo cartridges under their arms and crossbows over their shoulders (at the Gun and Knife Show next door) to get to the plants that waited within.

Once inside, you are presented with a map of the rooms layout and a flat for some of the many plants you are bound to buy. I was lucky this time to run into two of my favorite gardeners right off the bat, the charming "Mr. Impatiens" (Derrick Pitman) and the always-stylish Loree of Danger Garden.

As always, I suffer from a slight case of sensory overload at these sales...so many plants, so little time. I inevitably miss things and end up pacing through the aisles several times. It's always fun to see what other people are picking up...now often do you see someone walking around with a Hedychium towering over their heads?

Most booths had a few employees (sometimes even the owners) who were eager to discuss their plants...for many of them (especially specialty nurseries) this isn't just a business, but a passion.


Nursery owners are always glad to offer advice.		I regret not picking up one of these gorgeous species lilies...drat! I'm guessing Lilium speciosum rubrum?

I remember hoping to find the above plant, Selinum wallichianum, at the spring sale, but with no luck. I've since order a few from Annie's Annuals, so was able to pass this one by...but not without gazing wistfully at it for a few moments. I was happy to see someone gasp later as they found in on the table and snatched it up!

One of the booths I am always eager to visit is the one for Wind Dancer Garden, from whom I've bought several amazing grasses (including my beloved Pennisetum spatheolatum at last years HPSO sale). From across the room, I can always spot the plumes of various grasses towering over everything else. From the moment I walked in this year, I spotted something that looked suspiciously familiar...and made a beeline over to the booth.

Pennisetum macrourum 'White Lance'
OMG...I couldn't believe it...Pennisetum macrourum!!! I had been lusting after this plant since seeing it at the Montreal Botanical Garden last fall. I hadn't been able to find a source anywhere that sold it (aside from seed...and seriously, how long do you think that would take???). I snapped one up (even though I could have taken them all), but decided to leave them for others...I'm already planning a trip out to the nursery to grab a few more.

Next I headed over to Far Reaches Farm, that's the owner, Kelly Dodson in the hat :-) After spending what seems like hours on their website, ogling plants I'd love, I was thrilled to pick up a few things that I've been wanting for quite some time!

Teucrium hircanicum 'Purple Tails'
I've wanted this plant since seeing it on Nancy Ondra's blog earlier this year. It pretty much hits all my weak spots...purple flowers, flowers that are spires and stems that are colorful...what more can you ask for? It blooms for months and months...how's that!

I'm suck a sucker for a plant with dark/contrasting stems!

Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'
I've been on the lookout for this since earlier this year when I saw it during a garden tour. The only other nursery I've seen it offered at was Digging Dog, and they have been sold out for quite a while. I love those rich, saturated blooms...which, depending on the light, can look either deep claret, or, as here, rich red-purple.

I'm sort of fascinated by seedheads, and am super excited to say those of the Cirsium are very striking...I love how each seed still has a dark purple petal still attached...so striking. Unfortunately, they are apparently completely sterile from seed...wouldn't you love to have a huge patch of these! I've heard they clump up fairly quickly...here's to hoping.

Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Golden Arrow'
This is the last plant I picked up. I've recently become slightly addicted to Persicarias...they sort of exemplify my admiration of "natural-looking" plants...sort of half-wild things that you could easily mistake for a weed, were it not so beautiful! I love, love, love the yellowish foliage...and it really enhances the rich pink blossoms...which are pretty numerous. I set these down at a table with my partner, who served as a reluctant guard, and he reported that more than a few people asked him about it. At the end of the day, one lady even stopped me as I was paying and asked for a stem to root. If Far Reaches had any left to sell, I would have said no, but as they were out, I didn't see the harm...she was thrilled! That has to count toward some good garden karma...right?

Here is one of the Persicaria (I bought two) in the spot I've chosen for it...mostly in shade. I haven't been able to figure out exactly how much light it needs/will take yet, so will put them in differing conditions and see which does better. In too much shade, they turn green...too much sun, they scorch...what a tightrope we gardeners must navigate!

How about all you...if in PDX, did you attend...what did you get!?! If elsewhere...do you have a similar sale you go to?

A Case of Mistaken Identity!?!

2011-09-06T15:53:00.000-07:00

Last year, towards the end of the growing season, I was poking around one of our local nurseries and spotted some Persicaria. For some reason, last year was the year that our local nurseries decided they didn't feel like carrying any sort of Persicaria, so when I saw these 2, I snapped them up without a 2nd thought. I'd been admiring them in many of the Gardening magazines I read and had been wanting some more for my garden. The label said that this variety was 'Taurus', one of the red-flowered ones that gets about 3' tall and wide. I got it home and popped it into the expanding north border.

At the time, I remember thinking the plant seemed far more dainty and compact than most of the Persicarias I'd seen around town (mostly 'Firetail'). Most of the ones I'd been seeing had quite large leaves and very open form...their flowers were also long and wispy. My little Persicaria was short, compact and had stubby little blooms. I decided it was just young and would attain it's rightful size the following season.

Towards the end of our growing season last year, I began to get really attached to this diminutive little plant...and was kinda sad thinking that it wouldn't have the same charming scale next year. I was really happy with how it looked growing through and around the trio of Schizachyrium scorparium (Little Bluestem)...and was dreading having to move them the following year, lest they overwhelm and bury the Bluestem.

Imagine my surprise this summer when they seemed to top out around 18"...hmmm. I double-checked the tags they came with, and sure enough, they were labeled as 'Taurus'. I was now pretty sure they had been mislabeled. I looked around on the internet, but didn't have much luck figuring out what they were...and wasn't too upset...after all, now I got to enjoy them where they were. To be honest, this little plant has become one of my favorite little fillers. It's great and carefree (as long as it gets a bit of moisure-they don't like to dry out). It blooms from late June to frost, and mingles so well with other plants. It's a clumping variety that expands outward, but doesn't seem to spread (beyond light re-seeding). The leaves are quite nice even before the blooms start...and the blooms are great! They start out a rich pinkish-red, turning dark red, and finally aging to a coppery-brown as they die. I love the change of colors and the fact that all stages are present on the plants at the same time.

A few weeks ago, I spotted some more Persicaria for sale, this time it was 'Firetail'. For all intents and purposes, it's pretty similar to 'Taurus'. Above, you can see a leaf of the mystery plant on top of 'Firetail', there's quite a size difference! Seeing the two plants in my garden ('Firetail' and the unknown one) got me curious again as to the identity of the original plants. This past weekend I started to do a little internet sleuthing and think I've figured out what variety the mystery Persicaria actually is.

From the Digging Dog Nursery website:
Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Inverleith’
A leafy, dwarf form of Persicaria amplexicaulis, this low growing cultivar has narrow foliage, crimson tapers and a refined appearance. It makes a perfect understory to late blooming Hydrangea ‘Unique’. Zone 5/6.
Blooms August–October.
Size: 18" high & spreading; hardy to zone 5.

Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Inverleith' and Salvia 'Purple Rain'
So there it is, mystery solved (I think)! If you are ever in the market for something short, floriferous and full of charm, I can heartily recommend this plant!

Garden Fail/Garden Win - Part II

2011-09-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

So, a week or so ago I posted about a spot in my front garden that I found perpetually troublesome. Heavy soil, strange light conditions and a steep slope wreaked havoc on the plants I had initially tried planting there...some Echinacea purpurea. While there is too much hot sun in the middle of the day for shade-lovers, there isn't enough to keep things like Echinacea from getting too tall and flopping. Last fall, after watching the poor Echinacea struggle all that summer, I decided to move them...I was tired of how pathetic they looked. I was left with a lingering question though, what to plant in the problem area???

After doing a little research, I decided to give Astrantias a try. I hadn't really seen them used around Portland much, but after seeing them repeatedly in books and magazines, I was very intrigued. I wasn't sure what to expect...they looked to dainty and fragile...would they really be able to survive in soil the consistency of potters clay? I waited until a local nursery discounted their stock last fall and snatched up 3 'Abbey Road'. I planted them right away, and a few weeks later, bought a trio of un-named Astrantias at the fall HPSO sale. Right at the end of our growing season, I bought a few more 'Abbey Road' from the same nursery. A week later, we got our first freeze. I didn't hold out much hope for them to return...especially the ones I had JUST planted a week before.

I was pleasantly surprised this spring when every single plant returned! I couldn't quite believe it. Here they are in April, forming their little crowns of foliage. I could already tell at this point that I'd be moving them around a bit...the spacing is a bit wonky, but that's what you get when you're try to squeeze plants in between full-grown plants in the fall!

Here's a view from on the porch, looking down at the garden. They seemed to take a while to get going in the spring, but grew rapidly once temps warmed up a bit.

Here's part of the patch, showing both the un-named variety (which I think is probably 'Alba') and 'Abbey Road' blooming. While 'Abbey Road' was about the size I expected from reading the tags it came with (about 2' tall and 18" wide) 'Alba' had much larger leaves and taller flower stems...I'm pretty sure it gets substantially bigger than 'Abbey Road' and will overwhelm them in a few years...so will probably get moved this fall.

Both 'Abbey Road' and 'Alba' bloomed from June until the end of August...and were absolutely beautiful...I could't have been happier. The three 'Alba' plants were just plugs when I planted them last fall...so only produced a few blooming stems each, but 'Abbey Road' put up dozens of blooming stems on each plant. The charming, papery blooms last quite a while, but aren't in-your-face showy...they have a subtle beauty.

This photo is a wider view and shows more of the whole patch...as you can see, the flower stalks of 'Alba' are far taller than the basal leaves, making me think the clump will eventually expand vertically and horizontally to support stems of such length. These taller stems did flop over a bit, but 'Abbey Road' was perfectly compact and has sailed through summer looking great!

The past few weeks, the flower bracts have faded a dried a bit as the plants set seed. While I sort of liked this phase, I cut off most of the seedheads to send the plants energy back into growth. Sometimes Astrantia will re-bloom in the fall as temps cool, but I'm not counting on it.

Here is the patch after I've cut off most of the seed heads. After less than a year, it's completely filled in the area...and I'm already planning where to move a few of them to keep it from getting congested as the clumps expand next season. I'm thinking of moving two of the larger 'Alba' clumps to another shady area that I have trouble with...and replacing them with the smaller, more compact 'Abbey Road' or 'Roma' when they (hopefully) go on sale again this fall!

I was a little afraid our (typically) warm, dry and windy summers would prove too stressful for Astrantias...but luckily they've been totally happy so far, granted, we've had a super-mild summer for the most part. A few of the lower leaves on the ones that get more sun are slightly yellowing, I wonder how they will fare in warmer summers. In front of the Astrantia patch is another problem area...which gets a bit more sun, but still not enough for full-sun plants. What do you think...should I plant more Astrantias there as well...or is there something else I could try???

Oh...and the 'Alba' are starting to bloom again this week :-)

New Web Address!

2011-08-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

Just an FYI to everyone...I recently purchased a new URL for my blog, it's http://www.rhonestreetgardens.com/

EDIT: Just to be clear...because I realize now it may have been a bit confusing...I just purchased that address above...and it now points to this blog. Nothing else is changing, I'm still using blogger...and they are still hosting my content, so you shouldn't have to do anything at all to access my blog...subscribers should still get updates and you should be able to use either the new or old address and still get directed to the same place. Sorry for any confusion! -Scott

Garden Fail/Garden Win

2011-08-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

Well, it was bound to happen...our pleasant, mild weather officially ended this weekend...and summer and I are officially broken up again. As I sat in front of my computer with the A/C blasting away I was pondering what to post about this week. I've been wanting to do a new series of posts about my gardening foibles (especially since I have practically never-ending string of them) and this seemed like a good time to start!

The above illustration from last year shows an ongoing issue I have. The front garden is located on the east side of our house, and due to some mature trees across the street, doesn't get light until about noon. The garden gets about 4-5 hours of sun, after which the house (and trees behind it) shade it for the rest of the day. I've struggled to find plants that will thrive in these conditions...shade plants fry in the hot sun and far too many sun plants grow tall and flop over. The black wedge above shows the most extreme situation...the peak of our roof actually creates a weird spot that only gets full sun for 1-2 hours a day...but during the hottest part of the day. Today I'm going to talk about the first plants I tried there...some poor Echinacea (white circle).

This photo shows just how tall and spindly the Echinacea were...they got almost 5' tall, with the thinnest (and weakest) stems...almost no leaves...you can see right through the plants, they are so sparse! Can you believe there are 3 plants in there somewhere!

Here is the view from up on our porch...at least now you can see the plants better. Anyway, the Echinacea were not happy here, they did bloom, but of course they flopped all over and were pretty sad looking. I decided last fall, a few weeks before the first frost, to move them. I knew it wasn't the best time and that they wouldn't have much chance to put down new roots...but figured at least they'd have a better chance...I wasn't sure they'd make it through another winter in their current location.

So I moved them, to the north side of our house, a spot which gets no sun at all during the winter, but is actually one of the sunniest during summer...crazy, huh! Anyway, I figured nothing ventured, nothing gained...they HAD to be happier here...if they survived. This spring, I was thrilled to see them return and they have been MUCH more successful here. They are fuller and much more floriferous.

Truth be told, they are still a bit on the floppy side, because even though for my garden, it's about as full sun as I can get, it's a far cry from truly being "full sun" conditions. I'm hoping they bulk up and are a bit sturdier next year, but either way, they are much improved over last year...so I declare it a win! Next time, I'll look at what I chose to replace the Echinacea in their old spot.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - August 15, 2011

2011-08-16T17:42:00.000-07:00

August is here...that's crazy! Here in Portland, we've been lucky to have an amazingly mild summer so far...it might be the first time I can say I've enjoyed summer weather! The garden is looking better and better as the weeks go by. Of course, now that most of the plants are at or near their full size, it's easier for me to judge what is and isn't working...so a few things will get moved in the following weeks (as long as the weather stays pleasant). I know there are A LOT of GBBD posts for everyone to get though, so I decided to only feature a few individual flowers and post wider shots of the garden this time...and off we go!

Agastache 'Blue Fortune' and Monarda 'Raspberry Wine'
I've been thrilled this summer that my 'Raspberry Wine' has escaped from getting Powdery Mildew (the same can't be said of the smaller 'Blue Stocking'. 'Raspberry Wine' has been blooming for over a month and will likely continue until frost (if it blooms as long as last year). I'm smitten with it's vigor and floriferous nature. In the past, the biggest problem I've had with it (aside form PM) is that its bottom stems get pretty bare during hotter weather. This year, it's been cooler and I planted a few Agastache 'Blue Fortune' in front of it to hide it's knobby knees. Love the contrasting color and shapes of the blooms.

Astrantia major, unknown variety
Some of the Astrantias are setting seed, but this one and 'Star of Beauty' decided to flower for a 2nd time this season. I thought about deadheading the others, but am interested to see if any of them set seed.

Knautia macedonica, Verbena bonariensis 'Lollipop', Agastache 'Ava'
The backyard is now officially a jungle! I'll have to do a more in-depth post soon. All of the plants are highly attractive to pollinators. Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds...all of them jostle and fight for a spot at their favorite flowers.


Agastache 'Blue Blazes'		Agastache 'Ava'

Two new Agastaches from High Country Gardens I'm trying for the first time this year. 'Ava' has been around for a few years on the market. I'm amazed at how full and bushy it is for a first year plant. 'Blue Blazes' is HCG's new Agastache introduction this year, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It has impressed me beyond all expectations. While a few of the plants are smaller and more compact, some of them have shot up to 6' tall and about 3-4' wide and are absolutely festooned with their gorgeous blossoms. The plants are a bit open and lanky, which I think will change next year as these were straggly sprouts when I planted them. HCG also recommends pinching this one back in spring to encourage it to stay bushier...which seems a good idea. Can't wait to see how these perform next year!

This is the front (East) border. The Rudbeckia certainly draws the eye, but is tempered by the blue and magenta of the neighboring Geraniums ('Rozanne' and 'Ann Folkard'). The 'Tiger Eyes' Sumac is finally coming into its own this summer and growing...it looks smashing...such a vivid spot of color and texture. I am crossing my fingers that it gets enough sun to give a good show of fall color as well.


Persicaria polymorpha		Echinops bannaticus

I've been wanting a Persicaria polymorpha since last year when I really started getting into Persicarias. Sadly, no one was selling them. This spring, however, I found one at Portland Nursery and grabbed it! I'm pretty sure it will have to move next year, having seen just how big they can get. The plants in the background are Eutrochium 'Little Joe' and Foeniculum vulgare. The Echinops is a plant I always wanted to have in my garden someday, back when I lived in an apartment. I love it's little spherical flowers...they seem utterly perfect...almost unnatural. They are such a great contrast to all the other forms in the garden.

Here's the front border looking from the other direction (and on a sunny day, no less). I love how the repeated Agastache draw the eye through the garden...can you tell I have a bit of an obsession with plants that bloom in spikes and spires?!?


Lilium 'Black Beauty'		Salvia 'Black & Blue' & Helenium 'Mardi Gras'

Lilium 'Black Beauty' begins blooming, for me at least, around the last week of July and continues until about the first week of September. I am totally in love with them, there is just something so elegant and dramatic about those richly-colored, recurved petals. Salvia 'Black & Blue' is one of those plants I get very frustrated with early in the season, as it takes forever to emerge and start growing...leaving a very large empty spot in the garden. Then, it blooms, and all is forgiven (at least until next spring). The color and stature of them is just so lovely...nothing comes close.

Helenium 'Mardi Gras'
This is the orange/yellow blob in the background of the above pic. I love Helenium and keep thinking I'll get more someday (they come is such a rich array of autumnal colors). This one is definitely a keeper. It has been blooming for over a month already, and if I keep it deadheaded, will go until frost. Plus, how many other plants are tough enough to survive (even thrive) wedged between a Miscanthus and a Eutrochium...not many.

Here is a pic of the North border from the West. I've been very happy with how this border (which is only a year old) has shaped up this year. It's one of the few times I've felt very little need to fuss around or move things...well, not TOO much, anyway ;-)

Eutrochium 'Gateway'
Ah yes, what would my garden be like without Joe Pye Weed...very sad, indeed! This is actually a pic of the smaller of my 2 'Gateway', the larger one is by our front steps. This one is on the North Side of the house and is sizing up nicely. Love those large heads of mauve flowers...and so do the bees. Joe Pye provides good structure and mass to my garden...and is lovely in and out of flower. As a bonus, the stems are a wonderful red/burgundy color as well.

Crocosmia 'Orangeade'
My only Crocosmia, 'Orangeade' is a good performer and has clumped up handsomely. It provides a nice shot of warm color to my predominantly cool palette of plants.


Agastache 'Golden Jubilee' & Persicaria 'Taurus'		Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'

Agastache 'Golden Jubilee' is such a great plant and I use it around my gardens, including paired here with Persicaria 'Taurus' and Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem). I love that both flower with spikes, but they are very different in size, shape and color. Echinacea are, for me, the signature flower of summer...I can't imagine a garden of mine without them.

The North border form the East...love the play of color, form and texture.

And here is the whole shebang...hope you're having a great summer so far...for more blooms, head on over to May Dreams Gardens for more Garden Bloggers Bloom Day posts!

A Polarized Garden

2011-08-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I like taking photos...although I was late to the game and didn't get my own real camera until a few years ago. Since then, I seldom leave the house without my camera...you just never know when something interesting will catch your eye. One question I get asked on occasion is what it takes to get good garden photos. Well, aside from the obvious, (shoot on overcast days, or during the famed "Golden Hour") my best piece of advice is to invest in a polarizing filter.

From Wikipedia:
A polarizing filter, used both in color and black-and-white photography, filters out light polarized perpendicularly to the axis of the filter. This has three applications in photography: it reduces reflections from some surfaces, it can darken the sky and it saturates the image more by eliminating unwanted reflections.

The short and simple of it, it reduces glare from reflected light, the benefit of which is more saturated colors and "cleaner" images. A polarizer is really useful for almost all outdoor photography...it darkens skies (how many times have you taken a photo with a totally blown-out white sky). Although for gardening shots, it's main benefit is to cut down on glare on leaves/flowers, it can also reduce the effect of atmospheric haze in wider, landscape-type shots.

Here is an example of glare that would normally show up in a photo...you can see the polarized version has elimiated the white glare on the side of the petals facing toward the light source.

Another example, this time on Miscanthus. This is more dramatic than many examples, as the leaves of the grass are slightly more reflective anyway, and compounded with glare, get totally blown-out. With the polarizer, however, most of the glare is reduced enough to be able to actually see the grass, not just the glare!

Another case where you can get extreme results is with water. These are some shots I took at the Portland Japanese Garden last year. The shot on the left shows the effect of the Polarizer, actually counteracting the glare on the pond, allowing you to see the fish underneath its surface! Notice on the un-polarized photo on the right shows how much the reflected light blocks your view of what's below the waters surface. Also, notice the fog/haze in the background...which is almost non-existant in the polarized version. You'll notice that one shot is vertical and one is horizontal...this demonstrates the difference in rotation of the filter. I rotated my camera after taking the horizontal shot and didn't rotate the filter accordingly, so that 90° rotation totally reversed the polarization.

Here are two wider shots, showing both effects of the polarizer, both the reduction in visible glare (hot spots) and the saturation of colors that comes from minimizing the scattering effect of the glare.

The filter screws onto the front of your lens and you use it by turning it until you get the desired effect. Depending on the angle you are in relation to the sun, it could have a dramatic effect, or no effect at all...it takes a bit of getting used to the quirks, and it IS possible to go too far, but it's worth it for most shots to give it a try.

So, if you have a camera that accepts a polarizing filter, I say go for it! You can find them pretty cheap on Amazon (just make sure you get the right one for you size lens...usually you can see the size in Millimeters on the edge of the lens). They are useful more often than not, especially if shooting in wet conditions or if you are forced to shoot in full sun.

Summertime...

2011-08-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

The north border on the first day of August, 2011.

Ahhh...this photo really sums up what I love about the summer garden (can you hear Ella singing from here?) Lots of color, texture and variety. I love taking photos of this part of the garden at this time of year, as it gets hit by both morning and evening light.

In spite of a few issues I need to figure out soon, I've really been trying to just enjoy the garden for what it is this year. For some reason, this border, in particular, has come together better than I expected.

Here in Portland, we've had a pretty mild, pleasant summer so far. We've certainly been spared the horrendous heat so much of the country is suffering through...and I'm VERY grateful. Mornings like this make me so happy to live in the PNW.

Garden Profile - Bellevue Botanical Garden

2011-08-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we decided to take a weekend off from everything and head up to Seattle...mostly to visit the Battlestar Galactica exhibit at the SciFi Museum (yes, we're nerds). Of course, I couldn't commit to an entire weekend without ANY sort of garden activity...so we also decided to visit the Bellevue Botanical Garden (which, I'm ashamed to admit, I'd never heard of) as well.

The first thing that greets you as you enter the garden is this great patch of grasses. Even though the bright sun made taking photos a nightmare for the most part...it did make for some awesome backlighting effects on these grasses.

Another shot of the grasses, with the wonderful red-tinted Imperata in front, the soft purple cloud of Nepeta behind that, and all around the feathery plumes of stipa tenuissima.

More grasses...sorry, I love them!

I found this circular path very pleasing...love the mixes of grasses and perennials. The Oat Grass is especially lovely right now. I love the pairing of the blue grass with the wonderful chartreuse blooms of the Alchemilla...which makes me question why I don't have any.


Blue Oat Grass		Crocosmia 'Lucifer'

This is a picture of the same border from another angle. I love the warm colors and how they play off each other. I'm generally not a fan of red Crocosmia...it tends to be a bit too strident for my liking...but with the dark foliage of the barberry behind it, I find it quite fetching.

I loved this pairing of the somber, bruise-colored Astrantia and the brighter yellow of the Spirea ('Ogon', perhaps?).

even though most of the Astrantia are done blooming, the bracts remain and continue to look good...just in a subtler, more earthy palette.

This is the top of the large perennial border...the border cascades down a gentle slope in several tiers.

The paths in the Perennial border run parallel along the slope, dividing it into 3 or 4 tiers, I love so many of the plants they have planted here...it has a very English Border feel...with lots of complimentary tones of pink, purple and blue.


Echinacea hybrid		Allium seedhead

I love the soft colors of these borders...so calming, so restful...and the color echos are lovely

Seeing lavender in bloom always makes me want to run out and get some...then I'll see an old plant all woody and distorted...and my wallet pops right back in my pocket ;-)

I loved how they incorporated Astilbe into the border, they create such a nice gauzy effect...like cotton candy.

The spent blooms of Allium are almost as lovely as the blooms themselves...and I love the muted mauve color.

The color of these Eryngiums was electric...the bees and I were competing for the best view Sadly, the plants seemed a bit straggly...must find something to camouflage those knobby knees!

Another shot of those gorgeous Eryngium blossoms.

I really liked this combination of Salvia and Achillea...a nice study in complimentary color and form.

There were a few lovely Agastaches in the garden...love the multi-hued blooms on this one.

Now THIS is a color pairing I can love without reservations...Nepeta, Lavender and Agastache...colorful and drought-tolerant!

More Allium seedheads, I just love the structural quality of their blooms.

Another shot of the Crocosmia, accented by a wash of warm Helenium in the background.

More of the Agastache/Lavender grouping, with Kniphofia in the background.

While I'm not a fan of Kniphofia, I did appreciate this pairing with Physocarpus.

Again, not usually a fan of bright red...but I think this photo illustrates the trick to using it well...a dark background...it really seems to alleviate the overbearing redness of these Monarda. At the same time, the red seems deeper and richer against the dark background. The difference between the red on green and red on purple/burgundy is striking. One is like a laser beam to the brain...the other like a glowing ember.

While the bright yellow Achilleas you see most often can be a bit bright, I was really digging these Achilleas...they had just a hint of orange...which really softens them and makes them feel earthy.

I totally love this grass (Stipa gigantea)...mine is WAY smaller than this...definitely has a way to go before it's very "gigantea"! Here's to hoping it is just putting down lots of roots and will look this amazing next year! Love the fountain-like stems of flowers...so arresting when backlit.

Closeup of the Stipa blossoms.

Phlomis russeliana is another plant that I almost think looks better post-blooming...when the form of the seedheads is really noticeable.

Another path cutting through the hillside.

I love this combo of purple/orange...I could be wrong, but I believe these are Stachys and Helianthemum.

A wider view of that section of the garden.

Another nice contrasting purple pairing...again the Stachys, but paired with Gaillardia this time.

I was surprised to see Geranium 'Blue Sunrise' in the garden...mine is still pretty scrawny...someday it'll look this good.

Another path lined with some grasses (looks like Panicum). One thing I would have liked to see more of was grasses, there weren't very many in this part of the garden.

My favorite new short groundcover, New Zealand Burr (Acaena inermis 'Purpurea') with Gaillardia coming up through it. Love, love, love the color of this groundcover.

I believe this is a Mimosa...love the delicate structure of the unfurling leaves.


Hakonechloa		Allium

I really do love the blooms of this Eryngium...there's just something about it...or maybe it's the story of Miss Wilmott that I like...either way, great plant!

Another path winding past the Monardas and Yuccas before disappearing behind a cloud of Leucanthemum.

Even after the blooms of Salvia have faded, the spires add valuable color and structure to the garden.

A frothy, dreamy, backlit view of the dry garden.

Again, backlighting for the win! Stems of Verbascum rise out of the Stipa, backed by colorful swathes of Agastache.

Oh...and there's a foresty/shady section of the garden too...but that probably deserves it's own post, as this one is already far too long!

Overall, I thought this Botanical Garden was pretty good...especially since I'd never heard of it before. There did seem to be large areas in a few borders, however, that were empty...perhaps they were in the midst of some re-planting? They also seemed to be using a really limited selection of plants (especially in the perennial garden). One thing that struck me on their sun-baked slopes was the paucity of Echinacea and/or Rudbeckia (except for the few hybrid Echinacea I showed above...hardly a good representation of the genus).

Also, as I mentioned previously, with that much sunny space, I would have loved to have seen more Ornamental Grasses. They had several beds that illustrated wise water usage...for which plantings of American prairie grasses would have been idea (never mind that they would also look spectacular!) Can you imagine a huge planting of Andropogon, Schizachyrium, Panicum and Sorghastrum...interplanted with their native partners...Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Vernonia, Eupatorium and Liatris (to name but a few). Then again, I'm sure I missed some parts of the garden...and like most public gardens, I'm sure they are constantly changing.

Still...and this is something I've always been puzzled by, why doesn't Portland have a botanical garden?

Bee Season

2011-07-28T07:02:00.000-07:00

Bumblebee cleared for landing on Agastache 'Golden Jubilee'
OMG...the garden is looking amazing right now (not that there aren't problem areas)...and I'm so overwhelmed with the bounty of it all, I can't keep a thought in my head when in comes to blogging! It's a good problem to have, but I find that I can't stay focused long enough to post on ANYTHING. The moment I sit down to start a post, I decide it's also the perfect time to take a photo of XYZ in the garden. Up I hop with the camera...and an hour later I am back inside, post forgotten.

What looks like chaos to us humans is nirvana to bees
Anyway...amid all my walks around the garden I've been noticing just how many bees there are this year. I thought last year was good for bees...but this year I seem to have formed my own swarm(s)! I have to admit, I didn't plan a garden purposely to attract bees, butterflies, etc...luckily, the plants I love just happen to be the same plants beloved by our little pollinating friends. The new backyard planting, in particular, seems especially suited to them, having a variety of flower types for different kinds of bees.

Bumblebee on Knautia macedonica
Knautias seem very popular with the Bumbles...they are constantly dive-bombing these little buttons.

Bumblebee on Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'
While they seem to have to really work to get at the nectar beyond that spiny center, the Bumbles are determined to get to it!

Bumblebee on Agastache 'Golden Jubilee'
Agastaches have proven to be one of the absolute favorite plants among the bees, especially the Bumbles...they are constantly swarming around them.

Bumblebee on Agastache 'Ava'
The western-type Agastaches have longer tubes, which I thought would hinder the larger Bumblebees from frequenting them...oh no, they LOVE them! It's hilarious to watch them clamp onto one of the tubular flowers, they immediately drop down under the Bumble's weight, but they don't let go...they must really love that nectar!

Bumblebee on Agastache 'Blue Blazes'
Another of the new Agastaches I'm trying this year...and one that the bees are especially manic over.

Bumblebee on Agastache 'Purple Haze'
'Purple Haze' has been blooming for two months already, and shows no sign of stopping. It is constantly covered with bees, grateful for its dependable flowering.

Bumblebee on Persicaria 'Red Dragon'
While the small white blooms of this Persicaria aren't very noticeable to us humans, the bees seem to go crazy for them. Luckily, 'Red Dragon' doesn't seem to seed itself around, so I can let them bloom for the benefit of the bees.

Bumblebee on Persicaria 'Taurus'
'Taurus' has also proven popular with bees...and even though it does seed itself around a bit, it's not a nuisance, and I can always find a spot for the seedlings.

Bumblebee on Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'
Bees seem to love the sultry purple blooms of this Salvia...they careen drunkenly around its branches morning to night.

Here they are at it again, you can see that some plants are so delectable that nectar-drunk Bumbles will even ignore the customary 1-bee-per-stem rule!

Bumble on Verbena bonariensis
The tall stems of these Verbena tremble constantly under the barrage of bumbles.

Bumblebee on Panicum
While doing my research, I found out that the Bumbles that I often see sleeping on plants in the garden are the males and queens who have been driven from the hive. They will spend their time seeking out each other, mating and will eventually hibernate (well, the queens will, anyway).

Bumble sleeping on Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes'

Bumblebee on Miscanthus

Bumblebee and Lupine
This is my FAVORITE bumblebee...there are only a few of these super-sized beauties in my garden, but I love seeing them. They are bigger than the other Bumbles and have dark orange markings on their backs. I call them Bumblesaurus Rex.

Honeybee on Astrantia 'Abbey Road'
The Bumbles and the Honeybees each seem to have their own preference as to which plants they frequent. One of the flowers that are more attractive to honeybees is the Astrantia...which they swarm over...I'm hoping they will help it produce seed.

Honeybee on Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination'
While both Bumbles and Honeybees visit the Veronicastrum, the Honeybees seem to love it far more, they are covered with multiple bees all day long.

Honeybee on Geranium 'Ann Folkard'
Geranium seem to be preferred by Honeybees...I hardly ever see Bumbles on them.

Honeybee on Geranium 'Rozanne'
If I had to pick one plant that the Honeybees go absolutely insane for, it's this Geranium. I have a group of several of them, and it positively hums with bees. They perform the most amazing little dance...going in a circle around the blooms, looking for every ounce of nectar.

So there you have it, if you want to encourage bees, plant a wide array of flowers. The garden is starting to ramp up now into its late summer/early autumn crescendo...and no one is happier about it than the neighborhood bees ;-)

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - July 15, 2011

2011-07-15T22:32:00.000-07:00

Wow...is it really July...how did that happen! Although I hate the heat of summer, even I have to admit that's really when my garden hits its stride. Plants are exploding with growth, bare soil is a rarity at last, and every day brings new blooms.

Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'
Love, love, love the sultry purple color of this Salvia...let's hope it doesn't succumb to powdery mildew this year.

Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain', sunset
Here it is again, at sunset...I just love how the purple is even more intese at this time of day...seeming to smolder from within!

Monarda 'Raspberry Wine'
Every year I'm a little aghast by the color of the first blooms of this Monarda. Did I really plant something THAT garish!?! Yes, I did...and I kinda love it! The color isn't subtle...it screams from across the street!

Monarda 'Jacob Cline'
I think this is the only pure red flower I have in the garden, primary red being the one color I'm truly not fond of.

Agastache 'Blue Blazes'
One of two Agastaches I'm trying for the first time this year (both are from High Country Gardens). I've been impressed with their vigor (one plant is almost as tall as me!), and their blooms are stunning, a vivid mix of purple and blue...I can't wait for next year to see this plant bulk up and really perform!

Agastache 'Ava'
The other Agastache I'm trying for the first time, 'Ava' is even more vigorous than the above 'Blue Blazes', with all 3 plants pushing 5' tall, and very bushy for a first-year Agastache. The blooms are the most luscious shade of bubble-gum pink. It's like 'Tutti Frutti', but without the hopeless flopping.

Agastache 'Desert Sunrise'
I planted these Agastache last year (also from HCG) and this year they are big and full...I couldn't be happier with how they've matured. They have very similar foliage to Agastache rupestris, very fine (not quite as thread-like) and greyish-green, making them very attractive even when not in bloom. The blooms are just starting...but are a wonderful mix of fuschia and magenta...with just a hint of orange...lovely.

Agastache 'Golden Jubilee'
One of my favorite plants...beautiful in leaf and flower. I love the flowers the most at this stage, when they haven't been faded by the hot summer sun and are still a grapey blue-purple. These plants are so vigorous and care-free...they just look great all the time!

Agastache 'Acapulco Orange'
I'm not as fond of the orange Agastaches...but I do like the punch of contrasting color they give in my predominantly restful garden...POW!

Knautia macedonica
These are the straight species, which are quite a bit taller than the below 'Mars Midget', and in their first year, a bit more sprawly and open. I love how their blooms change color, from cherry red to fuschia, and occasionally, slightly lavender. I love how they are just little buttons of rich, saturated color at the end of these wispy little stems.

Knautia macedonica 'Mars Midget'
More compact than regular Knautia, 'Mars Midget' is also a blooming machine. The color also seems more uniformly colored...a deep claret. I'm loving the little spot of rich color it provides in the garden...and as a bonus, I love the little spherical seedheads as much (maybe even more) than the blooms themselves. This plant is magical when backlit by the rising and setting sun.

Astrantia 'Abbey Road'
Ah yes, the Astrantias...they are still blooming...actually, they seem to just be hitting their peak! I was under the impression that they bloomed in June, then sort of rested and bloomed again when the weather cooled down. Maybe it's our cool summer weather this year, but many are still putting up new stems of flowers.

Astrantia maxima
These are mostly going to seed, but are still pumping out new blooming stems each time I check...love those chalky, pink flowers...and that large collar of bracts is sumptous.

Astrantia 'Star of Beauty'
This is the Astrantia I bought in bloom in a moment of flower lust early this spring. I let it bloom until the blossoms were spent, thinking it doubtful that it would bloom again anyway, so I might as well enjoy them for a while. They lasted over a month, at which time I cut them off. The past few months, the plant has been expanding steadily, and to my surprise, a few weeks ago, started throwing up more bloom stalks!

Astrantia major 'Roma'
I finally found one of these Astrantias for sale at The Oregon Garden a few weeks ago. A hybrid between A. major and A. maxima, it supposedly has the best traits of both (large, lovely luminescent blooms and a very long bloom period). I love its soft pink coloring, which is a nice contrast to the deeper, almost somber, colors of the other Astrantias nearby.

Another gratuitous shot of 'Abbey Road'

Lilium 'Ariadne'
I picked up a trio of bulbs of this lily at the spring HPSO sale. Unfortunately, I had to wait to plant them until we finished our backyard renovation (more on that later) which meant the poor little bulbs sat in my office for over a month. Two of the three did sprout, but are only about a foot tall...they are blooming, however! It was a bit tricky getting a picture through the foliage of the surrounding plants...but here it is! I'm not terribly font of the orangey color when they first emerge, but...

Lilium 'Ariadne'
...after a few days, they tone down to a luscious silvery pink...which is much more to my liking.

Echinops bannaticus
Ok, so it isn't quite blooming...but it's close!

Epilobium angustifolium
I know I just did a whole post on these, but I couldn't resist putting up another photo of these gorgeous blooms!

Verbena rigida with Geranium 'Ann Folkard'
I've come to rely on Verbena rigida during summer. They come up, spread around and bloom their heads off...with no intervention at all from me (save for dead-heading if I really feel like it).

Verbena rigida
While the ones I've had for a few years are a rich purple, the new ones I bought this year (for filling in a few random areas) are a very light lavender...almost white...strange.

Geranium 'Blue Sunrise'
This little Geranium was purchased as a bare root plant at the Yard Garden & Patio Show this spring. It has been growing slowly and is now blooming. The blooms are much like those of Rozanne.

Geranium 'Rozanne'
Of course, I couldn't do a Bloom Day post without the star performer. 'Rozanne' will add her gracious sprays of blue-purple blooms until frost cuts her down...a reliable beauty if ever there was one...and as I'm discovering...she gets BIG!

Geranium 'Ann Folkard'
What can I say, I love this rowdy, sprawly gal. Every day, when I come home from work and walk up our front steps, seeing this mound of flowers, growing every which way, makes me smile!

Persicaria 'Taurus'
These were just starting to bloom at the time of last months GBBD post, and is now going full-force into summer. Love those rich, rosy wands of color.

Impatiens balfourii
The little seedlings I was given by a friend this spring are happy as can be, and are now rewarding me with their charming little bicolored flowers...yay!

Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination'
If I ever had to name a flower that defined elegance, it would be this...Veronicastrum. Tall, wispy and delicate...but with a strong consitution...love those candelabras of blossoms...so stately.

Helenium 'Mardi Gras'
I know summers warmer palette is approaching when the Heleniums start blooming. While decidedly nondescript when not in bloom, Helenium makes up for it by blooming from now until first frost with countless warmly-colored daisies. Soon it will be joined by the Rudbeckia and Echinacea...but for now, it has the stage to itself.

I guess I'll wrap this up with a view I don't normally show...from above the side border of the house, on the grassy strip I left behind it to walk around...this is the view we have our kitchen window...and it always makes me happy...well, unless a cat is sleeping on one of my plants ;-)

Echinacea purpurea bud
Just wait 'til next month...there's still so much just waiting to bloom!

Noteworthy Native - Epilobium angustifolium

2011-07-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

Epilobium angustifolium (Fireweed)

When I first moved to Portland, several years ago, one of the things I really wanted to do was visit Mt. St. Helens. Growing up in the Midwest, I could hardly have imagine someday living in the shadow of a volcano...let alone one that was active! On the way up to the viewpoint, I kept noticing stands of intensely colored magenta flowers. What were they?!? I had never seen anthing quite like them. They weren't single and solid-looking as Foxglove...they seemed more diaphenous...and were clumping...not single stalks.

Of course, during that time, I was still looking for a job, so my obsession with these mystery plants was short-lived. Every time I'd venture out into the area outside of Portland, however, I'd see these flowers, again and again...taunting me!

Close-up of Epilobium flower

Finally, I started looking in earnest, and soon discovered that these must be Epilobium angustifolium, more commonly known as Fireweed (or, in England, Rosebay Willowherb). Named due to the fact that they are typically one of the first plants to re-appear after a fire or other natural disaster. In fact, they were one of the very first plants to emerge on the scarred and blasted hills and valleys around Mt. St. Helens.

Newly emerging foliage in early spring

Strangely, no one around the Portland area seemed to sell Epilobium. It seemed strange...here was a beautiful native plant, that was completely ignored by nurseries! It seemed odd that while I kept seeing native plants of dubious merits (drab) for sale all over, this colorful (and apparently easy-going) plant was no where to be found. Perhaps it was horribly invasive in a garden setting? Eventually, however, I found some last year at Bosky Dell Natives...which, if you're looking for natives, this is the place to go.

Epilobium with forming flower buds

I bought 3 tiny little plants...barely more than a few wispy twigs with a crown of needle-like leaves, and popped them in the ground. Then we got our first freeze. I hoped they would be ok...but wainted nervously as spring arrived and there was no sign of them. I needn't have worried...they popped up as soon as the days grew longer and grew with lightning speed!

Last month, they started forming flower buds, which gradually elongated and a few weeks ago, they started blooming...and what a show!


Spike just before blooming		Blooms!

The flowers are exactly what I remembered falling in love with...such bright, saturated color...but not garish or overwhelming. Indeed...they could almost be called subtle in comparison to most flowers you see for sale in nurseries. If not for their size, they could easily be overlooked. I find them as stately and lovely as Delphiniums, without the need for staking (although mine do tend to LEAN outward a bit).

Something I never realized while observing them in the wild is the branching along the main stem, which would seem to create even more bloom spikes...extending the show for even longer. The height for mine is topping out around 5.5-6', but I've seen them around town at least 7' tall (maybe even taller).

So there you have it...a totally beautiful PNW native! Is it invasive...only time will tell. I've read that it spreads by both rhizomes and seeds (I've seen warnings to avoid planting along waterways as it can spread aggressively). I'll keep an eye on it, to be sure, but for now, I'm just enjoying the show :-)

Walking the Cat

2011-07-12T06:40:00.000-07:00

Our cat, Gordon, enjoying her evening stroll.

In my last post, I think more people were intrigued by the idea of me walking my cat than of the garden, so I thought I'd just do a quickie follow-up. Our little cat, Gordon, who had lived in an apartment her whole life until we bought this house a few years ago, has suddenly become obsessed with going outside. There's a slight problem, however...well, a few, really.

Gordon (in the distance) being stalked by Boots...the sweet neighborhood cat.

I don't like it when people just let their cats roam around freely in the city. There is too much chance of them getting hurt or killed (cars, bigger animals, etc.) and also a large opportunity for them to be a nuisance to others...not to mention all the wildlife they kill. Also, our cat is declawed...so she has no way to defend herself or even climb a tree if she gets in trouble.

Boots attempts to play with Gordon...she ain't havin' it!

Therefore, Norm (my partner) and I must escort her whenever she goes outside to explore...usually in the morning and evening. This usually means that Norm watches Gordon while I putter around the garden, watering things, pulling weeds, and generally fussing over things.

One of the neighborhood cats who has adopted us enjoys some freshly-cut Catmint (Nepeta) from the garden. Don't let his sweet face fool you, he is a stone-cold killer...bringing us a constant supply of birds and squirrels.

Gordon's favorite outside activity...rolling around in the sun.

The Next Generation of Astrantias?

2011-07-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

Astrantia major 'Alba'

Last night I was out walking our cat (yes, it's as ridiculous as it sounds), which of course meant a few opportunities to shoot some more photos of the garden. The overcast weather made for nice photo conditions. Upon looking closer at some Astrantia blossoms, I noticed it looked like some of the blooms were different than others (In the above photo, it's the flower right in the middle).


Unfertilized		Fertilized

I suddenly realized these blooms must be setting seed. I have these planted with a few other types of Astrantia ('Roma', 'Abbey Road', and an unnamed variety I got at the HPSO sale this spring), and Astrantias are known to be a bit "promiscuous", inter-breeding freely. Who knows if they will actually be viable, or if they even germinate, but I'm rather excited thinking about what may result. I will definitely be keeping a close eye on the area for little seedlings next year!

ACK! Powdery Mildew!

2011-07-06T15:29:00.000-07:00

Clematis recta purpurea in it's full glory.

Well, with the arrival of hot weather, it was only a matter of time before Powdery Mildew reared its ugly head in the garden. It seems that no matter how diligently I water, some plants are just determined to get PM. I blame the fact that our springs are so lovely, mild and wet (not to mention, long), that the plants get used to easy living...then BAM...summer hits and they are like, "What's this all about?"

This year, the first victim was, surprisingly, this Clematis. I don't remember it getting it at all last year, but this year, it certainly did. I'd read that this Clematis (which is grown primarily for it's lush new purple growth) can be cut back hard in midsummer after the foliage turns bronzy-green and you'll get a new batch of purple growth. I hadn't intended on cutting it back, figuring it still added some nice bulk, texture, and floral beauty, but after I saw the leaves covered in PM earlier this week, I decided to just chop it to the ground and hope for the best.


Before Powdery Mildew		After Powdery Mildew

On the left is the Clematis last month, looking fabulous, to the right...they same area, right after I cut it back. At first, It looked pretty sad, with a big hole right by the front steps (I did wait until after everyone left our 4th of July BBQ), but by the next morning, Geranium 'Ann Folkard' had moved in and claimed the space as her own, at least for the moment.

Here is the poor Clematis, waiting for the City of Portland to take it to its final resting place.

Oh, and I now have my spray bottle of anti-fungal...and I'm pre-emptively spraying the Monarda...this time, it's personal!

Independence Day

2011-07-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July from me to you!

Winter Sowing Update - SUCCESS!

2011-06-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

It finally happened! The first of the plants I winter-sowed earlier this year have started blooming! I posted months ago about my first attempts at sowing Knautia 'Melton Pastels'. They proved to be sporadic with their germination rate (out of 36 sown, only 4 sprouted). To make myself feel better, I decided to try sowing some other plants too, to see if I would have better luck with something else.

Browsing the seed racks at Portland Nursery, I decided on these Poppies (Papaver somniferum 'Himalayan Blue'). I have always loved poppies, especially their interesting, architectural seedheads. I just tossed them onto the soil and to my delight, probably had almost 100% germination rate! Unfortunately, they grew fast...really fast...and soon were way too big and floppy and had to be planted in the garden ASAP. In spite of their spindly little stems, they recovered quickly and started really growing in earnest. That was a month or so ago...and last week I noticed flower buds forming...woohoo!


Here are their nodding buds, ready to spring up		One bud last night, with the capsule splitting.

This morning...ahhh...gorgeous! I walked out this morning to knock some rain of a few grasses, and suddenly noticed these amazing blooms! The color is nothing like what I expected (which, from the seed packet, seemed to indicate an ashy lavender color). These are rich, saturated red-purple...glowing grape with deep plum blotches at the base of each petal. I am smitten! I'm totally going to be saving seeds from these babies...and will let a few standing to seed around the same area as well. After seeing how easy these were to start, I'll definitely be scattering seeds for these all around the garden next year! Enjoy a few more pics below!

Oh...and the Knautia seedlings...they are doing awesome...and will be the subject of another post :-)

2011 ANLD Garden Tour!

2011-06-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

Last weekend a friend and I attended the 2011 ANLD (Association of Northwest Landscape Designers) Behind-the-Scenes Garden Tour. I had never even heard of this tour until Loree over at Danger Garden posted about it a few weeks ago. I guiltily admit to mild voyeuristic tendencies regarding other people's gardens...so I wasn't about to pass this up! The tour was comprised of 8 gardens scattered throughout the Portland metro area. Sadly, it was so humid and wet outside, that my camera continuously fogged up...especially on wide shots...so there is a paucity of images, unfortunately.

The Twombley Garden
Designed by Courtney Downing
The first garden we visited was located in NE Portland...out past 82nd. The above photo is my favorite spot in their garden (and maybe my favorite spot of all the gardens we visited). I was instantly in love with the simple, graceful, curving gravel path. I love it when the hardscape doesn't compete with the plants...because the plants were clearly the star of the show. Big, beautiful, lush foliage lined the path. The giant plant at the front is (I believe, forgive me if I'm wrong), a Farfugium. I love how they've contrasted the foliage textures, using hakonechloa as a foil to the larger foliage of Hostas, Ferns and Gunnera. I love the bright green groundcover (might have been a type of moss...can't remember).

Here's one of the wonderful blue Hostas...love the crinkly leaves. Behind it is and Eyrsimum...which I didn't realize would tolerate so much shade.

The backyard had a great stand of this yellow-stemmed bamboo. I didn't realize at first that almost every stem is held in place with twine. It always makes me feel better about having to stake and corral my plants when I see others doing the same!

This vigorous vine covers a seating area...I don't know what it was (should have asked) but I love how it looks from beneath...the light filtering through the leaves was so lovely.


One of MANY Tetrapanax in their garden!		I love this Iris emerging from low-growing Sedum

Don't you love Verbascum...I really need to remember to save some space for these when I do my "micro-prairie" in the parking strip someday.

I really, really like their front garden area...it was covered in gravel, accented with rock and had lots of interesting textures and colors. Strangely, it looked like many of the plants were JUST planted, perhaps last winter was harsher than I remember. For some reason, many of the gardens we looked at seemed to have A LOT of extra space between plants...I guess those plants have quite a bit of growing to do...or the owners just love the look of their mulch/gravel. Then again, I am horribly guilty of "crowdscaping" my plants!

Sedums & rocks...go together like peas & carrots.

I "heart" Echinops...these are MUCH further along than mine...and has red stems...ME WANT!

I felt sort of divided about this screen. I think in photos it looks super-cool, in person, it's a bit too much. It might be that it's just a tad too big...or, it may just be me ;-)

The Jennings-Teutsch Garden
Designed by Rick Hansen
The next garden was just off 33rd & Fremont in NE Portland, one of my favorite areas of town for it's beautiful homes and lovely gardens. The front yard is quite large, being very deep...while the backyard, which is accessed by a narrow walkway, is quite small (almost as small as my backyard)!

There were some lovely Clematis planted throughout the garden, my fave was this deep purple one. While the rain may have made for a slightly uncomfortable viewing experience for us, the plants were loving it.


I swear this Hosta was at every house we toured!		Love the spiraly form of this fern.

I have to remember to find this Allium this fall...is it 'Star of Persia', perhaps?

My favorite thing at this garden was actually at the garden next door. I've been thinking of getting some of this plant, Acaena inermis ‘Purpurea’ (New Zealand Burr), for a colorful groundcover in my own garden. Hmmmm...can I commit to such a short plant...only time will tell.

Hardiman Horticultural Haven
home of Lucy and Fred Hardiman
Ok, in spite of it's silly name, this was, far and away, my favorite of the gardens, the reason for which I'll explain at the end of this post. Let's just say that it was full of awesome plants that were put together in great combinations. Above is, I believe, Comfrey.


Comfrey, Hosta and Rodgersia, together at last		Because they are awesome, Rodgersia blossoms

Ok...staking fears be damned! I'm going to have Delphiniums next year!

I'm totally smitten with Pimpinella major...so graceful...and so useful in combination with other plants...love it here, backed by the sumptuous purple spears of Salvia 'Caradonna'.

The plant many gardeners were searching for the day after the tour, Cirsium rivulare. I've been looking for this one all spring after seeing it in Gardens Illustrated last fall...someday, you will be mine! This variety, apparently, was given to the gardener by Dan Hinkley.

A lovely sky-blue Geranium I failed to get the name of.

Beautiful, sophisticated, Astrantia major were scattered throughout the garden.

I couldn't help by be jealous that their Amsonia was much bigger than mine.

Cerinthe major

Breadseed Poppy (Papaver somniferum)

Normally, I don't think I would even have given this shrub a second glance...but the silver new growth deserved a third glance as well.

Brunner foliage never fails to please.

The Hardimans' dog was super friendly, but even it had to take shelter from the downpour after a while.

The Barnes Garden
This garden was in the West Hills of SW Portland on Old Orchard Rd. It was on a crazy-steep slope (making even mine look like the plains of Nebraska in comparison). The most notable thing in this garden was definitely the hardscaping...lots of paths and terraces to make the slope traversable (and stable). I definitely liked the variety of sedums and succulents the owners had planted on the steep rock wall in front of their house.

The garden had quite a few of these Hydrangeas...which were lovely in their pre-blooming blush.

Abutilon, anyone?

This garden was really all about the hardscaping...the paths, walls and fountains...even a bioswale and a henhouse.

The Marsh and Fear Garden
Design Work by Anne Marsh & Gary Fear
This is also the home of the designers above. You could tell they had put a lot of work and thought into every inch of the property. Unfortunately, my camera utterly refused to take any decent pictures...being very soggy and cranky at this point.

Ahh...foggy camera...Thalictrim (Meadow Rue) gets it's moment in the mist. Looking through all these hazy photos was a bit like watching just the Cybil Shepherd portions of Moonlighting.

Is that a rose peering out through the Cercis...it may be a case for Blue Moon Detective Agency.

Ms. Depesto would never let her camera get this foggy...sorry little Cercis.

The Waterman Garden
Designed and Installed by Steve Carruthers
Carruthers Landscape
Are you still with me? If you make it through all my self-indulgent 80's TV show references, congratulations! Anyway...on to the next garden, which took us all the way to the terrifying wilderness that is Lake Oswego (that is, if like me, you are terrified by the idea of shopping at Banana Republic). This first garden had quite a few mature trees surrounding it, which gave them some nice shade. They had a really nice rain garden full of lush, beautiful grasses (pictured above).


Chives		Hosta and Sweet Woodruff

The first bloom on a Baptisia, from the bloom, I'm guessing 'Twilite Prairie Blues'.

I really liked the foliage on this Iris, but the blooms actually detracted from the foliage. Note to self...buy this iris...and cut off the flowers to enjoy inside.

The Dischinger Garden
Designed and Installed by Kip Nordstrom
The next garden in L.O. was this one...and while I can definitely appreciate the improvement this is over what they had originally...I just can't get over the fact that 90% of the space in this "garden" is a pool...sigh.

The Paanakker Garden
Designed and Installed Rick Hansen, Pacific Gardens and Waterworks
The last garden on the tour! Are you as exhausted as I am!?! The first thing I noticed at this garden was on the driveway up to the garden itself...these lovely, large patches of Thyme...truly lovely.


Geranium macrorrhizum		Thyme

A lovely Iris beside the waterfall.


Sedum 'Angelina'		Garden Art

As you can see, this is another garden where the hardscape was king. To be honest, the stonework was pretty impressive...but again, totally overwhelmed the plantings. There was a fireplace...a veranda, a hot tub...it was just a bit too much...I wanted to see plants!

That brings me to a realization I came to during this tour. These were (for the most part) "landscapes", designed by someone who was paid by homeowners, not "gardens", designed and lovingly (sometimes obsessively) maintained by gardeners. I guess I really prefer the simple, honest garden...with all it's pitfalls and warts. After all, without those blemishes, how can you really appreciate those glorious moments...even when they might only last a few days, when everything you've worked and planned for, suddenly comes together and you can stand back and say, "Damn, I'm good...wait, when did that die?!?"

Foliage Follow-Up June 17, 2011

2011-06-17T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it's time for a little foliage from the garden. I realized after spending a while last night going through photos, that I had gone a little overboard (not EVERY plant has to be included!). So here is an abbreviated posting!

Persicaria 'Red Dragon' and Rhus (Sumac) 'Tiger Eyes'
Two of my favorite foliage plants right next to each other...how can you lose! The Sumac finally seems to be happy this year and the combination of it's yellow, finely dissected foliage wiht the rich red-burgundy of the Persicaria is magic!

Parthenocissus henryana (Silver-Vein Virginia Creeper
I had wanted Virginia Creeper for my new fence in the back, mostly for it's outstanding fall color...but also for it's vigorous growth. A few years ago, I had seen a variety with silver veining and since then have known that if I were to get one, it would be this one. Unfortunately, I passed one up at the HPSO sale this spring and all the nurseries I've been to only have the plain green one. I finally found this one at Joy Creek last month...score!

Parthenocissus henryana (Silver-Vein Virginia Creeper
This is a photo of the new growth...love that red-flushed foliage!

Astrantia 'Ruby Wedding'
It doesn't show up well in photos, but the tips of the foliage (especially on new growth) is suffused with maroon...really striking in concert with the deep red flowers.


Cimicifuga 'Black Negligee'		Aster 'Prince'

I finally got a Cimicifuga after debating for almost a year which variety was the best. I finally gave up and just got one that was on sale! Love it's foliage so much (although it's almost hidden now by an Agastache that has exploded with growth the past few weeks. This one is opposite of most dark-leaved plants I've seen. Instead of starting out intensely dark and fading to green later, it seems to emerge green and gradually darken to a lusty chocolate color. The Aster is another plant that doesn't look very impressive in photos...and is kinda small, but the color is really sultry and wonerful. I just wish it would get a little bigger...maybe I should just get a few more for a bigger impact.

Clematis tibetana
Unlike most of these plants, the foliage of this is practically invisible! I got this last fall at Cistus after falling in love with a mature specimen the year before. I love how it's just the finest foliage you can imagine on these deep red stems. In late summer/early fall, it should start flowering with odd "lemon-peel" type flowers, with really thick, fleshy petals, beloved by bees.

Calamagrostis 'Overdam'
I love the striped foliage of this particular grass...very bright and elegant.

Eutrochium maculatum 'Gateway'
Can you believe they reclassified Eupatorium...I still feel weird saying Eutrochium! Regardless, this is one of my absolute favorite plants ever...gorgeous, whorled foliage on deep wine-red (almost purple) stems...beautiful all season long. I can't believe that just a month ago I was looking down at this plant, now it is taller than me!

Oxalis 'Iron Cross'
One of the loveliest Oxalis for foliage...I love the contrasting colors. This is just about the latest-emerging plant in my garden...just appeared a few weeks ago, I thought it was a goner!

Sedum 'Matrona'
I have a few of the standby Sedum, 'Autumn Joy', which I love for their stalwart good looks and long-lasting architectural contribution to the garden. This spring, however, I decided to ramp it up a bit and get some additional sedums with a bit more color. Enter 'Matrona'. The coloring is not completely consistent on all my plants, being much darker and more noticeable on some...but I really like its subtle, smoky color, especially in contrast with silvers and yellows.

Agastache 'Golden Jubilee'
I couldn't do a foliage post without my favorite Agastache for foliage! I love how this plant gives so much interest, even when not blooming. The chartreuse coloring is invaluable for the gardens, breaking up the more common greens and adding contrast to the darker purples and reds.

Foeniculum vulgare (Bronze Fennel)
Vulgare it may be...but I wouldn't be without Bronze Fennel. Great for its size, texture and color...I have been finding seedlings all over this spring and re-planting them for more impact. A bonus, insects adore the flat yellow umbels of flowers later in summer.

Miscanthus 'Malepartus'
This Miscanthus is now in its 3rd year in my garden and is really coming into its own. It's a veritable fountain of foliage...I love it!

Rheum palmatum tanguticum
Although it's supposed to have reddish-tinted foliage, the Rheum has pretty much always been green. Nevertheless, its big, bold, serrated foliage never fails to make me smile. I think it may want a bit more shade, as it's leaf tips have a tendancy to scorch.

Persicaria virginiana 'Lance Corporal'
Another of my top-ten foliage plants...bright but sophisticated...the contrasting burgundy chevron is so striking. A bonus, I have a bunch of seedlings this spring, that I've been sharing with friends and spreading throughout the garden.


Geranium 'Ann Folkard' & Clematis recta purpurea		Rodgersia podophylla 'Rotlaub'

Just as both plants begin to flower, the Clematis starts to green up...I certainly will miss that amazing purple foliage...especially in contrast with 'Ann Folkard'...the yellow/purple pairing was amazing! Rodgerisa 'Rotlaub' seems very happy so far this year, putting up additional stems here and there. I'm especially happy that some of the leaves are retaining their red-flushed foliage.

Amsonia hubruchitii
This is one plant that has to be seen in person to be really appreciated...it's so light and feathery...love it!

Rodgersia aescufolia
Another Rodgersia...love the resemblance to a Horse Chestnut leaf...also, the deep furrows...beautiful in side-lighthing.

Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination'
Lastly we have Veronicastrum...which are grown mostly for their elegant, wispy candelabras of flowers and long-lasting seedheads. I think the foliage is lovely even when they aren't blooming. I love the tiered effect of the whorled leaves moving up the stems. In spite of their height, they have a feeling of airiness.

So that's it for today...how about all of you...what's turning your head in the garden today?

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - June 15, 2011

2011-06-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

Wow, how can it be the middle of June already! After a week of being sick and kind of ignoring everything, I am amazed at just how much progress the garden has made in the past month. Everything seems just so much bigger and farther ahead of where it was last year at this time. Of course, some of that is due to the fact that things are more established than last year. We've had some pleasantly cool, overcast days the past week (even got a smattering of rain a few days ago), and the garden is loving it...and looks great.

Here you can see the definite palette of the spring garden tends to be in the yellow/gold and purple/blue spectrums. Some of it is by design, but a lot of it is just luck!

Here is the same border from the opposite direction. Some of the sections of this garden were re-planted last fall, due to my growing realization that the light and soil in certain parts of the bed are totally different than the rest of it. I'm hoping that by the end of this season, everything will have filled in, so far, the new plants are much happier than their predecessors (more on this in a later post).

Pink hybrid Lupine
I posted about this pink Lupine in a previous post...and how it was stolen late that same day! There are now a few new blooms coming up, so I guess I can forgive whoever that mean, awful, horrible person was...sorta ;-)

Iris 'Gerald Darby'
I was really surprised that this Iris bloomed this year, but I'm not complaining! It's a very soft, opalescent blue/purple with nice contrasting veining. It looks smashing blooming on top of it's near-black stems. I can't wait to see this plant bulk up and fill in its space in the coming years. As a bonus, it looks great in contrast with Astrantia 'Ruby Wedding' that grows nearby.

Astrantia 'Ruby Wedding'
And here is 'Ruby Wedding', one of my growing collection of Astrantias. I was unsure how I felt about these darker-colored Astrantias, thinking they might be too dark and fade into the background. True, they are a bit more somber than many other flowers, but I find them to be lovely and sophisticated. As a bonus, this Astrantia also has foliage that is flushed with a deep maroon-red, a wonderful accent. I've also found that so far, Astrantias seem very vigorous and easy-going. For some reason, I thought they might be very persnickety...then again, we haven't hit summer's heat and wind yet...so their resolve WILL be tested eventually!

Pimpinella major 'Rosea'
I actually just purchased this from Joy Creek Nursery a few weeks ago. I was surprised at just how floriferous it turned out to be. One little plant has expanded to fill a decent amount of space, although airily, and has started throwing out these delicate umbels of softest pink flowers.

Centranthus ruber with Nepeta 'Walkers Low'
These are both wonderful, traditional, cottage-type plants. They are vigorous, free-flowering and wonderfully informal. I have them planted in a patch together with Geranium 'Rozanne' and they grow together to form a mass of color.


Columbine 'Tequila Sunrise'		Astrantia major

The Columbines have gone crazy this year, with some plants pushing 4'tall. I always love their loose, informal branching and how their blooms seem to float in the air. The Astrantia is an unnamed variety I have growing in a difficult spot...so far, they seem very happy. I may have to re-arrange them a bit, as they seem to be especially vigorous, but I'm giving them a year or so to settle in and then I'll re-assess them. Love those pink and green-tinged bracts.

Astrantia 'Abbey Road'
I have this interplanted with the above Astrantia, and while it's much bushier, seems to be a bit shorter. I think this is the Astrantia color I like most, a deep wine-red...not terribly noticeable from a distance, but stunning up close and en masse.

Nepeta 'Walkers Low'
Again, you can't really go wrong with Catmint...beautiful in its own right, and a wonderful companion to other plants, softening hard edges and easing transitions.

Knautia macedonica 'Mars Midget'
The shortest of the Knautias I have planted and the first to bloom. I was unsure how I would feel about the color of these last year, but they are very different in bloom than how they appear in many photos. They aren't pure red, but more of a claret color...much prettier and easier to work with. They harmonize well with almost everything I can think of. A bonus, they bloom from early June until frost!

Allium 'Purple Sensation' and Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'
I have about a dozen of these Allium scattered throughout the garden, and plan to ad MANY more this fall. Along with the later-flower drumstick Allium, they add great vertical accent and wonderful points of color throughout the garden.


Linaria purpurea		Geranium 'Ann Folkard'

I was intrigued by the Linaria after reading Andrew Keys wonderful post on them at his blog last year. So far, they are a bit spindly (it is their first year), but have attained a nice height and are now blooming. I really hope they do reseed as they are ephemeral enough to be allowed to grow up around other plants, adding their delicate verticality and stunning red-purple flowers. Geranium 'Ann Folkard' is one of my garden standbys...it grows rampant in my garden in spring/early summer, weaving the garden together with it's wonderful chartreause foliage and now, it's intensely-colored flowers. The blooms are small, but the color is outstanding. Violet-magenta with a contrasting black eye and veining.

Dutch Iris with Persicaria 'Lance Corporal'
I got a bag of these Dutch Iris at a Box Store this fall. I forgot about them and planted them in a guilty frenzy just a few months ago. Amazing, they all seem to have emerged, and in a lovely array of colors. This is a purple one, which I think contrasts nicely with the foliage of nearby Persicaria 'Lance Corporal'

Geranium 'Katherine Adele'
I'm really guessing at what Geranium this really is, I bought it at the HPSO sale a few years ago, and realized after I got home, it didn't have a label...oops! Does it really matter, however, when the foliage is as stunning as can be...and the flowers are so light and delicate...I think not!

Oxalis crassipes
This has to be the bloomingest Oxalis ever. It will truly bloom at this rate all summer long. I never know how it manages to save enough energy to make it through winter!


Ligularia 'The Rocket'		Astrantia maxima

Two new plants in the "shady" portion of our backyard. The Ligularia surprised me a few weeks ago by sending up blooms spikes. I considered cutting them off, so the plant could focus on getting established this year, but thought, "What the hell", might as well enjoy them! Astrantia maxima is a bit different from my other Astrantias...the leaves are divided into 3 leaflets (rather than the more typical 5) and the flowers have much wider bracts...it's a very interesting effect.

Amsonia hubrichtii
While the flowers of Amsonia are not its claim to fame (that would be its glorious fall color), they aren't bad. The color is the palest, milky sort of blue, and are easy to miss on smaller plants (like mine). Still, they are pretty in a very understated way.

Geranium 'Rozanne'
Geranium 'Rozanne' is a plant that most gardeners are familiar with at this point. She is the unstoppable superstar of the Geranium family. While this is a pic of one of the new plants I planted this spring, the plants that returned from last year are enormous already, almost 2' x 3'...and are just on the cusp of blooming...can't wait!


Rodgersia aescufolia		Sidalcea oregana

The fist bloom is of Rodgersia Aeuscufoli, and while not terribly impressive, is the first Rodgersia bloom I've had in my garden, so I just had to share it! While grown primarily for their range of stunning foliage, Rodgersias do bloom, with the blooms resembling those of Astilbe. The Sildacea, or Checker Mallow, is a quaint native plant I got at the Audubons Society's annual Native Plant Sale last spring. It really 'slept' last year and didn't do much of anything. This year, however, it's already pushing 3' tall and has sent up numerous spires of these delicate blooms. Not a show-stopper, but definitely a nice accent.

Tiarella 'Pacific Crest'
I'm surprised this Tiarella is still blooming...it's been pumping out flowers for over a month...and is spreading in all directions at the same time. Love it.

Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Taurus'
Ok, so this is barely a bloom, but I wanted to include it because I was surprised it was starting to bloom so early (a good month before when it usually blooms for me).


Sanguisorbia 'Pink Elephant'		Clematis recta purpurea

While I love the crazy, spontaneous way that Sanguisorbias tend to sprawl all over and lend their little buttons of color, I'm hoping that mine gets a little more self-supporting next year. It gets about 6' tall and then flops all over. The Clematis is really grown for it's outstanding purple foliage (which is now starting to green as the weather warms) but the flowers are nice and airy, if not terribly showy. They are supposed to have a sweet fragrance, but I haven't noticed any yet.

Blue hybride Lupine
It figures that the one blue Lupine in the mixed pack I bought would show up in the middle of a huge patch of Catmint and Geranium 'Rozanne'...hmmmm. Oh well, I'm still crushing on it, and it was a surprise, as it didn't bloom last year.

Front Garden
And here are the front and side gardens in (pretty much) their entirety. The back yard is actually starting to take shape and will get it's very own post soon. Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Garden for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day each month. I can't wait to start making the rounds to all your other blogs to see whats blooming. Also, check back later this week (maybe early next week) for my Foliage Follow-Up...lots of good stuff there too!

Down but not out

2011-06-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

You can only eat so much Catmint before it's time for a catnap.

Sorry I've been totally MIA for a while...I've had an awful, awful cold...and honestly, with so much going on in the garden, haven't been able to sit still long enough to post! I'll be back on Wednesday for GBBD...until then, just wanted to let everyone know I've still around...even if I'm a little sniffly.