Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Another Portland garden I’ll be stalking…

Once again I discover that taking a new path home, through an unknown residential neighborhood, yields big dividends. Stopping at an otherwise unremarkable four-way stop a Monkey Puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) and it's Yucca friends caught my eye. Then looking across the street I noticed a palm and monster yucca clump, and the colorful house behind the strip looked like it had been remodeled by someone with a little attitude. Something told me to stop and look closer. Danger! Oh ya…this garden is good! There was color, via Crocosmia And an electric blue Eryngium. Spot! A hardy Mangave Blooming Hesperaloe, arching ever so nicely over the sidewalk. In front of the Palm is a big, the biggest I’ve seen in a Portland garden, Callistemon. Gorgeous, even though in the photo it looks like an ugly green-brown blob. This is an interesting group. I’d love to know how long the Aloe saponaria has been in the ground. And there is no way they leave this Sago outside over the winter, is there? Another angle on the same planting bed. And a close up of the beautiful blue Agave. A Fig Tree with a gorgeous hot pink bloom (I've learned it's an Oleander) next to it… And a mature Yucca rostrata, I wonder if this is a relative of my Y. rostrata, Sammy? (purchased from the same batch at Cistus I mean) I wish I had this photo when I did my post on plant shadows This garden got me thinking about photographing in the sun. While these photos would have had much more depth if taken on a cloudy day, there is something so right about seeing this kind of garden on a blasting sunny day. Here are a couple additional views back up the parking strip. Another large agave… And the Yucca rostrata again. Stepping back to take in the house and the balcony. Another agave… And a beautiful bloom, tropical in looks. Anyone know what it is? (turns out it's a 'Double Yellow Oleander' from Plant Delights)... A better shot of the balcony, with its Agave, Palms, and other potted plants. I’m in love… This planter is perched on the corner. More of the plantings… I headed back for another peak at the steps leading up to the side yard…praying perhaps someone might have been watching me and come out to see what the heck I’m up to so I could chat them up, but no such luck. Hopefully someday our paths will cross (after all Portland is a small town), I've got questions! ***Update...I've heard from the owner (I love the Internet!) and hope to post more soon***

13 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tour. It looks great. I especially like the electric blue Eryngium. Cool plant. I've never seen it before....looks like a great day to be outside:)

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  2. I should think with proper stalking you will eventually run into the mastermind behind this striking house and garden. I keep being amazed at the wealth of gardens in almost any neighborhood around here.

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  3. AMAZING!!!!! those agaves are spectacular!!!!!

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  4. The pink flowered plant near the fig looks like an Oleander to me - also the yellow one.

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  5. The plantings go perfectly with the sleek styling of the house. I'm sure someone will put a word in their ear about the star treatment of their garden. On your question about sagos; I left my sagos out when we had temperatures in the low teens. They browned but came back. They are pretty tough. They were in pots too.

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  6. Danger you think they leave those Agaves out year round?????What a great garden was it around in our area?

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  7. Loree, one of my posts mentions how the Japanese provide winter protection for their Cycas revoluta. Maybe you can adapt it to your climate? You'll have to scroll down a bit (5th and 6th pictures from the bottom of the post).

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  8. Go back and dig up that pink flowered Oleander and beam it down here to me, will you please? I'm sure they won't miss it. :) Great garden. Looks like it's been around for awhile. I'll be interested to know how well the semi-tenders do.

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  9. Ah...that's one of the things I love about Portland...there are so many interesting and varied gardens all over town...sometimes in areas just off the beaten path.

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  10. I agree with Scott, although only through blogging, Portland has some very unique gardens... Garden Stalker, could be a new blog title!

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  11. Wow. That actually looks a bit like Ruth's place over in Walnut Creek. That's super impressive!

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  12. Looks a lot like Austin. Only without the brown, drought-stricken plants. Pretty!

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