Thursday, October 11, 2012

A quick stop at Lan Su...

Prior to leaving for London I made a quick stop at Portland’s Chinese Garden to pick up a couple pairs of my favorite bonsai snips to take as gifts for Mark and Gaz (if you’ve never used those tiny little scissors they really do come in very handy in the garden). Of course you can’t visit the gift shop and not visit the garden!

It was only late September when I visited, so the leaves weren't colorful yet and the Musa basjoo hadn't yet been wrapped.

No matter how many times I visit this garden I always see a new perspective.

My favorite scene in the garden this time...

Doesn't it look like someone arranged the fallen leaves just so, around the mounds of grass?

But I really don’t think that was the case.

I still have no idea what these are. Each time I think I’ll ask before I leave the garden, but by the time I get to the exit I've forgotten about them. Anyone know?

A favorite plant of mine which I first discovered here, Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla.

Their orange blooming Edgeworthia, I’m excited that mine has small flower buds on it too.

There’s that Metapanax /Nothopanax delavayi I love so much…

From the other side…

And a bloom!

More Lysimachia paridiformis

And this Oak again! Cutleaf Emperor Oak, I love it…and who knew I’d be seeing one in the garden of Mark and Gaz too!

I don’t know how much longer I can stay strong and resist the temptation of this one!

Heptacodium miconioides, I believe.

The Persimmon tree has fruit…

It’s so easy to overlook though when it’s still green. Guess I’ll need to make another visit soon to see if it’s turned that fabulous orange. By the way of you’re a member of this garden don’t forget for the entire month of November each Lan Su Chinese Garden Membership is good for two free admissions to the Portland Japanese Garden! What a deal, the last time I was at the Japanese garden was almost 4 years ago, I can’t wait to check it out again!

27 comments:

  1. I visited here quite a few years ago...and am ready for another tour. I see different things each time I visit a garden, I suppose because I learn more each decade. Thanks for the lovely walk-about!

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    1. You make a great point Marie, as we learn more about plants and gardening in general we are bound to see a public garden in a different light.

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  2. Beautiful! I've driven by the entrance to the Chinese Garden a couple of days but never got a chance to visit it. Something to put on my list for my next Portland trip, which is way overdue (it's been a year).

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    1. You better let me know when you're coming up this way Gerhard!

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    2. Of course! If it works out, I'd love to go to Cistus with you--in addition to seeing your garden.

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  3. Beautiful! Soo much luscious foliage!!!!!

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    1. Exactly, and that is why I renew my membership each year.

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  4. What a difference a few weeks make. So lovely.

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    1. I should have gone back this week and posted the same shots just a few weeks apart, that would have been fun!

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  5. So calming. I think my blood pressure immediately drops several points each time I visit Lan Su - even vicariously through your lens.

    That plant you forgot the name of looks like an oleander to me - maybe some lovely Chinese cultivar?

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    1. It's the magic of the wall Jane, it traps all the bad juju outside!

      Thank you for the Oleander ID! But it's actually the foliage shots after that which I was wondering about. I think Mark & Gaz may have called it. Funny I've never seen it in bloom.

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  6. Yes we've used those scissors already and they're fantastic! Used it recently to trim the lower leaves off a small Yucca whipplei and it made the job very easy and net, a great tool for precision jobs :) Thank you again!

    What a great looking Chinese Garden! From this post alone I've jotted down two more plants for our wishlist; the Metapanax/Nothopanax and the Lysimachia (stunning!). The plant on the 8th and 9th photo looks like an Iris confusa. Another thing that caught my eye is the elegant polished stone (granite maybe?) bench/fence/divider on photo 17, under the willow tree.

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    1. So glad you've found them useful! The only problem I have with them is since they're so dark I sometimes forget where I've sat them down.

      Thank you for the plant ID, I'll be looking for the flower now that I can research what time of year it should be blooming.

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    2. Just to add to Marks comments, what a really stunning garden, loved sharing the trip with you!
      Gaz

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    3. I will take you guys there when you visit Portland!

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    4. Hopefully one day we shall take you up on that

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  7. I'm saying Oleander along with MM. I'm jealous of the Cutleaf Emperor Oak, I lost mine last year. BUMMER!!!!! Guess I'll have to hunt another out.

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    1. Why did it die?

      I've seen a couple good sized ones at Pistils on Mississippi and most recently one at Dancing Oaks, if you're in the mood for a beautiful drive!

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    1. What a fabulous garden!!!! That oak is divine. I can't believe those leaves fell randomly in that pattern. Incredible. Thanks for taking me along..

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  9. I love it when the Persimmons change color...they are stunning.

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    1. Too bad you don't have room for one in your garden!

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  10. This looks like an amazing garden. So much fascinating foliage to look at, on plants I'm not familiar with. I love that emperor oak, and the Lysimachia is pretty cool too. I'll have to look that one up.

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    1. When you do finally make it to Portland you should stop in this garden Alison. It's right downtown, easy to stop at as you swing out to Cistus!

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  11. No wonder you are welcomed with open arms wherever you visit.
    Dancing Oaks had a number of unusual oaks when I was there, and they have been haunting me ever since.

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