Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Summertime is the best time...


With big heartfelt apologies to my readers in the U.K. (non-stop rain) and most of the U.S. (recent heat wave), I just have to scream in a bright happy voice…I LOVE SUMMER!!! Our weather the last two weeks has been the very definition of perfect, my definition at least. Blue skies and high temperatures in the 80’s (with only a small interruption of clouds and a few showers to keep the natives happy).

As is often the case here in the coastal PNW the big sprinkler in the sky was turned off on July 4th it’s been (almost) completely dry and sunny since. With a free afternoon hour last week I went a strolling through Pomarius in the NW Industrial area of Portland; it is such a magical place, especially on a sunny day.

As if our summer weather weren’t already enough to have me on a high I am extra excited because visiting my garden today will be Denise from A Growing Obsession, and KS from Gardenbook, along with a couple of ladies from New England that I’m excited to meet. Last year at this time I was preparing to pick up Pam (of Digging fame) at the airport and then spend a long weekend in Seattle at the Garden Bloggers Fling, this little garden party is a nice “anniversary” follow-up to that.

Also I am very excited to share that yesterday my garden was featured on Apartment Therapy! They're doing a new “Garden Tour” feature, styled after their very popular “House Tour” and Evita (The Happy Heathen) contacted me asking if I would consider having my garden on the tour, of course! Just a thought…but if you like this idea you might want to click on over there and give a little feedback, so they will want to keep the Garden Tours coming!

Ah...Summertime and the living is easy...

48 comments:

  1. Wow! So many great garden guests and a stop at a beautiful nursery all in one sunny day?! You must be one happy gardener! The Apartment Therapy tour of your garden is gorgeous!

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    1. Oh no the nursery visit was last week...gotta spread these things out...but yes, I am one happy gardener!

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  2. You are such a busy gardener and host.... I'd love to visit all the gardens in your area,such a beautiful part of the country. I love the white agapanthus and the containerized horsetail.

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  3. Nice, you sound uplifted, since the turning off of "the great sprinkler in the sky". Can't wait to read the apt therapy article, but I want to do a nursery tour of Portlandia...another inspired nursery!

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    1. If you were to visit the plant riches of Portlandia might you not end up wanting to move here? Nah, too much rain right?

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  4. I LOVE summer, too! Great shot of the rusty shafts and the Fremont Bridge from Pomarius. Enjoy your GBF anniversary visit from Denise and the other gardeners.

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    1. I think you, Louis, and I are the biggest appreciators of every drop of precious sunshine that comes our way! It's nice to know I'm not alone.

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  5. So much excitement and happiness!!!YAY SUMMERTIME!!!! Although it is rather tragic the rest in the country and the UK. Second, Congrats on the tour. That is really cool and DEFINITELY deserved from what I have seen in pictures.

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    1. Thank you Louis...hope there are still blue skies above you, the clouds have momentarily returned here...

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  6. Have I mentioned how much I love your shade pavilion? Well I do. As well as the rest of your garden. Congrats on getting a little recognition; it's well-deserved.

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    1. Thank you Mike! A similar structure would look great in your backyard! Painted orange of course, to match your chairs.

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  7. Beautiful weather and beautiful plant places. This is when our gardens go dormant for a few weeks so it's nice to see these gardens looking so green.

    Great views of your garden too. Apartment Therapy has been limited in the garden department until recently. I love that they are showing more gardens now.

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    1. Me too, I remember in the days before so many garden blogs I would flip through the apt therapy posts just praying for a little glimpse of a garden.

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  8. I was SO excited to see you on AT. Brava, lady!

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  9. Makes me kinda homesick for my old neighborhood...used to be able to stroll a few blocks to Pomarius. Happy summer to you, too...and congrats on your growing fame.

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    1. Thanks ricki! Are you within strolling distance of Joy Creek now? Probably not...

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    2. not quite strolling distance, but only a slight detour on my way to the store....talk about danger!

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  10. LOVED seeing you on Apartment Therapy yesterday, home town hero! What a thrill--your garden looked amazing and it was inspiring to hear about how the garden evolved bit by bit. A good reminder that I must be patient!

    Thanks for reminding me to visit Pomarius again--it IS an enchanting place. I always get the feeling there that each and every plant has been coddled and pruned and trained into their most perfect self.

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    1. Yes! That is exactly the feeling that I get at Pomarius too, and since everything is so large and specimen-like (and priced accordingly) I don't end up wanting to take everything home with me! (well okay, I want...but it isn't remotely possible)

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  11. Well done on your Apartment Therapy feature. I liked the pictures and reading your answers to the questions.

    Look at those lovely blue skies! Summertime is certainly the best time of year, just a shame that the weather can sometimes take the edge off it.

    Eldest was 13 today and we have a lovely party, but it has rained heavily all day. It is supposed to be better tomorrow, so I will lift my spirits by visiting my local nursery.

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    1. Yes the weather can be friend and foe...beautiful one day, not so the next. (especially when "the next" is the one you'd planned an outdoor event for).

      Have a lovely nursery visit...hope you find a couple of treasures!

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    2. Our only planned outdoor event of the year takes place this Sunday as it is my son's 9th birthday and we are hopefully having a barbecue. The weather forecast is a bit touch and go at the moment. The morning is set to be fine, but there is wind and rain coming in during the afternoon, maybe (hopefully) later.

      The nursery visit was successful. A couple of small, variegated Hostas, a Heuchera and a little Euphorbia plus the sun was shining :) I know they are not "spikies", but they should like my climate and I have given up fighting it.

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  12. Just had a look at AT ...amazing ...amazing. Of course you've turned the weather gray today by posting about the great weather ?

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    1. If only I had such power! Although your right it certainly was a grey day...and today is looking the same although they are saying it's supposed to clear up!

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  13. AnonymousJuly 18, 2012

    Hi! I am curious; what type of agave was the small potted one with the very long spines in the photos on AT?

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    1. Agave utahensis, isn't it amazing!? I got it at Cistus (cistus.com) and last time I was there they had a couple left!

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  14. Great feature on Apartment Therapy! Who knows what other opportunities might be lurking out there. I think your garden is 100% Sunset-worthy; have you contacted them?

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    1. 100% Sunset worthy sounds like a testimonial on an infomercial, I love it! No I have not...maybe I should? I'm more of a let them come to me sort of gal though. The garden was on a couple of their blog posts, back with they had "fresh dirt."

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  15. Wonderful! so many great plants.. congratulations on the Apartment Therapy feature.

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  16. Congrats on the feature...thoroughly enjoyed it...and the pic of Lila was TOO CUTE...she looks so sassy! I've never been to that site before, hopefully they do more garden coverage...perhaps you could consult ;-)

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    1. Sassy is exactly what Lila is for sure. She's got strong opinions!

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  17. How fun, Loree. Congratulations. Dangerously beautiful about sums it up. I hope you'll be sure to get a picture of Denise, you and all the visitors.

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    1. You know I didn't Grace, that would have been smart wouldn't it? I owe you a BIG thank you because your the one that led me to Denise's blog!

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  18. So lucky you have 'perfect' summer weather, even better you got featured on Apartment Therapy, well done! Pomarius nursery looks fab!

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    1. Thanks guys...I hope summer shows up for you soon!

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  19. Loree, it was incredible. Grace, Jane, Scott, Ryan -- so many we would have liked to meet up with but it's a whirlwind, on to Seattle, etc. -- what a garden mecca you live in.

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    1. See you just have to come back again and plan it for a weekend so we can all get together, I know...come up next spring for the Hardy Plant Society plant sale!

      Thank you Denise, I enjoyed every minute of it! Have a wonderful rest of your journey and I can't wait to read all about it! (well, almost all)

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  20. Yeah! Congratulations!!
    ...and Happy Birthday!

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  21. How fun to meet Denise! I've been thinking about my visit to meet you and see your garden last summer--what fun that was! And wow, congrats on the Apt. Therapy profile! I'm off to take a look.

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