Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Street-side container plantings in the Pearl District

Several months before we moved to Portland we made an early winter visit. At the time we had no interest in moving, we were simply here scouting possible art galleries for Andrew to exhibit at. Little did we know just 8 months later the company he was working for would be bought by Schoolhouse Electric and he’d have a job offer here in Portland too good to refuse. Life is truly unpredictable!
During that visit I remember walking around the Pearl District (an area of Portland, Oregon, formerly occupied by warehouses, light industry and railroad yards and now noted for its art galleries, upscale businesses and residences) thinking how lucky people here were. It was winter but yet the street planters still looked fabulous! Back home in Spokane (zone 5) everything was brown and dormant.
Out doing a little shopping a couple weeks ago I realized I now walk right past those same plantings taking them for granted. Time to step back and appreciate what was all around me…I even found myself admiring this color combo, and I’m not a fan of ornamental cabbage/kale!
Hope you enjoyed walking the Pearl District with me, and maybe even got a few ideas for future container plantings. I've realized that I’m starting to think about trying that variegated Euphorbia again after tearing out 3 plants in my garden because I decided I hated them. Of course that orange wall is helping their presentation. And the Creeping Wire Vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris)…I’ve resisted it for years but now it’s a must have after seeing it planted with the bamboo in the white planters at the very top of this post. Check out it's fabulous tiny little white blooms on It’s Not Work It’s Gardening.

18 comments:

  1. Gorgeous container groupings, very elegant combinations.

    Not a fan of ornament cabbage either, but they do look good in those arrangements.

    Terracotta stucco does make those euphorbia stand out beautifully.

    Looks like a lovely place for inspiration.

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    1. It's situations like this where I really wish I had a painted stucco wall, and start to wonder if I should paint the wall around the patio (http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/2009/07/thinking-about-painting.html)

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    2. I went to the post and see you've been thinking about this wall for a few years. I do that a lot too. :-)

      Painted stucco does need to be repainted from time to time, depends on the climate and yours might be harder on it. As far as color choice, If you can do a mock up and live with it for a while that might help with the decision. I think it would look good, especially since you already have some orange in the garden.

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  2. I love seeing street plantings, and especially bamboo in containers! I also love the simple concrete planters. I would have several of these in my yard if I had the equipment to move them. Not sure about the planters on the benches though. Why?

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    1. It's all about the Frenchy-ness! (I think)

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  3. All so pleasing to the eyes, esp. the potted palms underplanted w/ kale.

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    1. I so want all of those!!! They could go up the south side of our driveway and block the neighbors...if only.

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  4. I think it is funny the things you start taking for granted when you move from a cold climate to a milder one. Things that would have stopped me in my tracks 10 years ago I barely give a second glance and I sniff at the thought of having them in my own garden. But it is good to reflect on the very things that had us wanting to move out here in the first place.

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    1. I'm glad to hear it's not just me. I wonder what the equivalent would be if I moved to Southern California?

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  5. Loree, I enjoy walking around in the Pearl District as well. When I was in Portland in early November, I discovered some beautifully landscaped townhouses. Check out these photos on my blog.

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    1. Great photos Gerhard, I've got to go back and study them a bt more and see if I can figure out exactly where you are. I'm looking forward to your visit!

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  6. Oh my...you are so right...and I am just as guilty at taking that for granted. I have to remind myself what a shock it was during our first winter here...when things not only stayed green...but bloomed! It seemed unbelievable to me at the time...and now I've gotten used to it!

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    1. It is good to remember. I get all caught up in jealousy over the gardening possibilities that exist in a California winter!

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  7. It looks like a very nice area indeed Loree, complemented by subdued planters and nice plants. What also strikes me is the resilience of the Trachycarpus fortunei, thriving so well and growing upwards in such relatively small plants.

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    1. So true! I wonder if they were that size when planted and are just stunted there? I know I received many a warning that our Trachy needed to go in the ground if we wanted it to grow (it finally did a couple of years ago).

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  8. Handsome photos. I know exactly where they were taken, as I cast an eye over at those very plants twice a week when I'm working downtown... often swapping out plants in my imagination, and replacing those plants that are getting tatty or slowly expiring... or happily noting interesting additions they make in spring and fall.

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  9. Wow, how pretty! I see you take your camera with you everywhere also! LOL Love that fake cabbage stuff (have no idea what the name is). And the euphorbia is so pretty!

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  10. More and more shops seem to be getting into the act. It makes for a pleasant stroll. Thanks for taking us with you.

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