Thursday, July 31, 2014

Visiting Old German Town Gardens (finally)...

This is a garden I've heard many stories about, but had never actually visited. Seems every time they open for Hardy Plant Society of Oregon members I'm out of town. When the GB Fling planning committee visited last summer to qualify the garden as one we wanted to include I was off celebrating my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. So finally the Friday of the Fling I was here!...

I'd anticipated this vista, and knew the garden was huge, but reality far exceeded my expectations.

Also, I need to mention this garden isn't tended by a huge staff, it's all the work of the owners; Bruce and Jerry. Two very talented and hard working gardeners (rumor has it Jerry makes a mean batch of cookies too, I've still yet to experience that part of the visit...).

They've obviously perfected the art of the well placed container...

My memory is a little hazy (I did have to hurry through the garden) but I believe there is a series of small, shady ponds.

And then you're back out in the bright sunlight...

And just like that right back into the deep shade.

There were tall sentinels, both natural...

And man-made...

A lovely crimson blush.

And HUGE schefflera leaves.

In too dark of shade to get a great shot of the entire plant.

Oh, back out into the light...

Thirsty? I love the rock tucked in just so to keep the water flowing.

Now we're approaching my favorite part of the garden, the steep hillside climbing back up to the house level...

Annette up on the patio with a sea of agaves below.

The conifer next to the Yucca rostrata has an exotic protea family-like look about it, don't you think?

Up on the patio a tall, tall, tall, tetrapanax tops out next to a low wall.

Once upon a time blooming phormium were everywhere in Portland. Not so much these days (cold winters) so seeing these twisty seed pods was extra special.

Then I turned just a bit to my right and POW!

Looking back down to where I had been...

There was a green house too!

And finally before leaving I tucked into the house (cookies were just going into the oven) and back out on the deck to look down on another monster tetrapanax...

What a new way of seeing a beloved plant!

A better sense of the area below the patio and even the greenhouse (on the far right)...

This garden is truly breathtaking. There is something for everyone here and it's all magical. I am thrilled to finally have seen it!

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

41 comments:

  1. Such a fabulous garden, thanks for posting about it. I don't think I'll get to see it this year, but maybe next year, if it's open for HPSO, and if I remember to join again.

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    1. With opportunities to visit this garden and Floramagoria you'll have to join again!

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  2. What an amazing garden!

    It has loads of plants and details that interest me.

    I was down with my in-laws over the last few days and my mother-in-law reckoned that you guys in the U.S. weren't very good when it came to gardening. I promptly told her about your blog, garden, and the nurseries and gardens that you visit and she changed her tune!

    Oh, another thing, whilst we were away we went and picked up a new addition to the family. A few weeks ago my wife said that she would be happy to have a puppy, this came as quite a surprise because she isn't a dog lover at all. However, she knows how much our three children like dogs, particularly our youngest Claudia-Lily and so she decided that we would buy a pup.

    We now have an 11 week old Coton de Tuléar called Zac. He is great fun and so far it looks like he isn't going to destroy my garden!

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    1. Thanks for supporting gardening U.S. style. It's true though that it's not a national pastime here like it is there. Mark (of Alternative Eden) was telling me about the prime time television coverage of the garden shows there. That would NEVER happen here.

      Congrats on the newest member of the family, and glad to hear Zac is a good boy with no interest in garden destruction.

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  3. An awesome garden. So many great plants and areas to enjoy! Sorry you didn't get a cookie as they were fabulicious. their greenhouse was an inspiration to me - that basically one wall and the roof replaced with glass/plastic would give sufficient light for plants is great and what we're planning on doing with our garage, hopefully before the rains come!

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    1. Oh have I got a green house picture for you! I visited an amazing garden just the other night and you'll love the garage greenhouse!!!

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  4. Loree, I swear that some of these shots came from my own camera! Such an amazing garden for hour upon hours of discovery. Bruce and Jerry were so welcoming and relaxed, and I just figured out why: a garden full of visitors means no working out there in the 90-degree heat! ;)

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  5. That's an absolutely amazing garden. I see lots of plants and elements I have in my fantasy, someday garden. Please tell me Bruce and Jerry are a wealthy retired couple with lots of free time so I don't feel quite so inept.

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    1. Sorry to tell you but I think they are both still working, at least part time.

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  6. Wow. That is a breath taking garden!

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    1. I hope to visit again someday, to enjoy it at a slower pace.

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  7. You're absolutely right - this garden was incredible and well worth the visit. However, have to say I'm simply grateful to have survived the climb back up the driveway. It was NOT for the faint of heart or limb.

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    1. Ya that was pretty incredible, I just kept wondering what it's like in the winter time...

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  8. HOly WOW!!!! that is one outstanding, fantastic, fabulous garden, I absolutely adore the lilies that appear to get blooming on the Ensete maurelii. Magic! I didn't even know that Phormium bloomed. Very cool. that hillside is extraordinary. I'll be back to ogle these photos again.

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    1. "Holy wow" is my new favorite exclamation of appreciation.

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  9. I'm impressed all over again every time I see pictures of this garden. What an incredible effort and what wonderful attention to detail! And the conifer next to the Yucca rostrata does indeed look protea-like.

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    1. Thank you for seeing it too, good to know someone who lives where they'll grow agrees.

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  10. This garden and its gardeners are truly a Portland treasure. What a good choice for the Fling. Their hospitality is as much of a legend as their garden.

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    1. I assume you've visited prior?

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    2. Many times, and there is always something new to drool over.

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  11. I garden on a similarly steep slope. I'd love to have seen that one, it looks truly inspiring.

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    1. If you're ever in Portland perhaps we can swing you an invite.

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  12. Yep, to the conifer and protea thing. What an amazing, breathtaking garden it was Loree, and thankful to all you lot for including it on the itinerary. It's an inspiring garden on so many levels.

    When we were all on the balcony Jerry just bought out a fresh batch of cookies but somehow still missed out on them. We got so enthralled by their garden that we had to rush going through about a third of it when they reminded us that we'll be boarding the bus in ten minutes.

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  13. Shade and light, shade and light - I like the repetition! And the plants, of course!

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  14. Of course I enjoyed it all, but the area of the patio / rock / agaves, and the stone wall blows me away. I'm enjoying your photos' blue skies almost as much as our cool-damp morning here!

    I hope you got a cookie by not leaving right away...

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    1. I'm starting to feel like I'm in your part of the world what with all the blue skies we've been enjoying...

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  15. I had no idea this place existed. Such inspiration for my shady spaces.

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    1. Are you a member of the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon? I realize you're a little outside of Portland but with your membership you get a book with loads of open gardens in it. Chances are you'd be able to visit this one next summer...

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    2. Been meaning to look into that. Thanks for the reminder! That's a membership that will serve us well as we fill in the spaces during spring.

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  16. I spot at least two Bismarck palms in pots, they must be quite busy in the late fall.

    It's a beautiful and amazing garden, I'm following all the posts from the fling. The gardens were great.

    Interesting discussion about gardening in the US, there are pockets of gardeners and some great private gardens that have gone public like Winterthur but I agree we have more of a lawn culture. Our neighborhood garden club is more of a lunch club because most members are not gardeners.

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    1. Good eye, yes I focused on those beauties right away too and was told they were wheeled into the greenhouse for winter! Thank you for the reminder that I live in a great part of the U.S. to be a gardener. There is great community here.

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  17. What a beautiful garden! now I have the impression I missed some part of it. Good you took the pictures!

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    1. It was so big with paths darting here and there I'm sure it would be quite easy to miss part of it.

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  18. Lovely photos. I love those mossy steps and the aloes in the greenhouse were monstrous!

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    1. Monstrous indeed, I wonder if they ever take them out?

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  19. This was such a beautiful garden; I'm so glad it was included on the Fling itinerary. I'm enjoying revisiting it through everyone's posts and seeing things I must have missed--I did make it inside in time for the cookies fresh from the oven, and yes, Jerry is the cookie master! The one thing I'm noticing is that everyone seems to have taken a similar photo from the deck--what a spectacular view of this amazing garden!

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