Everything looks better with a wall around it...

My in-laws were visiting a couple weekends back and we decided to take them to Portland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden. A few years had passed since we’d visited the garden and it was a lovely day to wander in and out of the dappled sunlight.One of the most striking things about the garden, for me, is that it’s right in the middle of downtown Portland yet feels so secluded (especially if you don’t look up at the tall surrounding buildings).

The walls surrounding and enclosing the garden elevates everything inside to a higher level.

When placed in front of a white wall even the simple leaves of a Cast Iron plant look more elegant than usual don’t you think?

During the visit I added a few new plants to my lust list, and put a couple others back on the list. You know, ones I’d passed up when I had the opportunity to purchase, but after seeing them here I won’t make that mistake again. The new plants I’m lusting after:

Impatiens omeiana (Mt. Omei impatients)…“Introduced in 1983…this herbaceous perennial is a welcome addition to any deep shade area. The red and green foliage makes it a great contrast companion. In late fall small bell shaped yellow grace the plants growth tips. It was collected from Mt. Emei, in southwestern Sichuan Province, a place that has long been a favorite of plant hunters…”

Paris polyphylla...from the Garden’s monthly plant guide “rare Chinese native…relative of the Trillium it is grown for its unusual solitary spider-like flower and bright seed pod. It has a whorl of narrow green leaves below and another whorl of 4-8 narrow green tepals above with long whisker like stamens” (that's it on the right in the first pic)

And the last one, well unfortunately I don’t know what it is! There was no sign but a kind volunteer looked up the name in her gardens species list. She said it was a Lysimachia, which my research shows includes Creeping jenny and Loosetrife which look nothing like this plant.

The full name she gave me was Lysimachia paridiforus, which turns up no search results. Does anyone know what this plant is?

And the ones I won’t pass up again include Podophyllum pleianthum, Chinese Mayapple. These are everywhere in the gardens, shown to great advantage.

And although I left without a picture there were several large leaved Rhododendrons in the garden. I will be getting one.

Although this specimen wasn’t labeled I saw one at Pistils Nursery a few days ago….Japanese Emperor Oak, Quercus dentata ‘Pinnatifida’ an extremely rare oak $50. I won’t be adding this one to my list, but I do love it.

Here it is at Pistils...

I also left the garden with the strong desire to go home and get creative with some of our rocks. Look at all of these wonderful patterns!

In addition to the plants there was another treat. The graphic design junkie in me loved the booklet they gave us when we entered.

It was not only full of useful information but so well designed.

If you find yourself in Portland you really should visit the Lan Su Chinese Garden!