Friday, February 19, 2016

Well, it was a long walk...

The problem is, when I start walking...well I could go forever. Then I realize a couple of hours have gone by and I've only been walking in one direction – away from home. I guess it's time to turn and head back...here's the second half of the walk I began posting about last week.

I could smell this before I could see it. One of the Hamamelis, but I don't know which one.

Catkins, of some variety, pretty aren't they?

So that's really a thing then? I had no idea. I thought it was just something older people said.

I wonder if this front garden is the work of Darcy Daniels? It has her style...

Nice hellstrip treatment, no need for tall plants.

Curving rusted metal barrier, Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow'...

Another peek at the rusted metal, and lots of tasty plants...

Nice combo!

The green, fallen leaves, glowing twigs...they all work very well together.

On another street. I think I've shared this before, although there used to be bananas...

There are now chickens. Several.

Standing on the sidewalk, looking at this, I felt like I could see an entire thought process...that's problem solving.

I've shared bits of the landscape around the green house on prior walks. The tall new construction is going up behind them. An ADU? A flag lot?

Like that last example this is the kind of new construction I feel has some soul.

The rose is nice...

But the style can stand on it's own.

Where as I feel like this kind of infill is just about squeezing in every square foot possible and trying to look like everything, while really looking like nothing.

Ditto.

And this...OMG this! Infill of the worse kind. I think this model typically has garages under each unit, accessed from the front. However since there are alleys in this part of town the garage entrance is from the back and the front, and where the entry would normally be, is left with a hideous wall of lattice and cement. Oh and a place to park the obnoxious recycling and yard waste containers that the city provides us with. U.G.L.Y.

Let's breath deep and appreciate the foliage...

These...I want these.

Yes, yes I could really do something with these.

Normally Blue Atlas Cedar grown like this kind of give me the creeps. This one however did not.

Wait, who's that? Tanuki is that you?

My what big &@!!$ you have...

And these guys! OMG...you have no idea the noise. It was bath time and they were carrying on like it was Mardi Gras. Wings flapping, songs being sang. I accidentally broke up the party, when really all I wanted to do was enjoy it.

This. I've been scratching my head about this for awhile now.

This however is a new head-scratcher. The house recently got a good scrubbing and went on the market. It sold fast, and for a lot of $, that's how it works around here these days. The tree however, it's getting the heave-ho.

"Yes I'll buy the house, for $75,000 over asking. Just make that ridiculous maple go away..."

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

32 comments:

  1. Maybe, if we don't quite give up on humanity, we can imagine that the maple is moving with the previous owner. As in, "$75,000 over asking is't enough to make me throw in the maple! It is coming with me!"

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    1. I like that idea, but...had you seen the condition the house was in prior to it's "make-over" you'd know there's no way. As in I don't think those people even ever noticed the tree was there.

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  2. So in the 8th(?) photo with the container combo, do you know what the shrubs are? I particularly love the tiny-leaved silvery blue number. I'm crazy about the new standing-seam sided house. Lots of nice, modern details yet with a 6-year-olds' idealized house shape for the front. Smart.
    Sure hope that poor, gorgeous maple survives its move. Maybe they're off-setting the price of the house by selling the tree.....

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    1. I believe it's a Hebe "Quicksilver "Tim I love mine easy to grow full sun and looks amazing with black Mondo. Glenda

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    2. I think you're right, Glenda. I've been drawn to these before with same disappointment I feel now; not hardy for me. But, they're growing it in a container, so maybe it might be a good overwintered container candidate for me. I really love it! cheers

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    3. Sorry it took me so long to reply...I've been up in Seattle at the NWFG Show. Glenda is right about the Hebe and the other plant is a Coprosma I believe - perhaps C. 'Tequila Sunrise'. And yes...I wondered the same thing about the maple, could be!

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  3. I have a question. If there is an alley behind the duplex, why are the trash containers out front? I loved being along on your walk with you. Your neighborhood is so interesting.
    ~SuePip

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    1. That's an excellent question! The alleys are very very narrow, not passable by your average car these days let alone the huge monsters that pick up the cans (they have long arms that come out and grab the cans). I think they've suffered from lack of maintenance over the years, they're very overgrown and jungle-like in some spots.

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  4. The red house had a really beautiful landscape. We should go on a walk together sometime and post about it. It would be fun to see how different our posts would be!

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  5. Nice walk, some good, some not so much. Maybe they'll put a great succulent garden in place of the maple.

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  6. I kinda thought there was something obscene going on with Tanuki. Didn't know it was a "thing", though.

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  7. Fun walk! Look at salvage yards for concrete pipe. Or you could search for a company that makes this stuff. I got a few many years ago from a company and it wasn't horribly expensive. Are those ducks or chickens - just add sempervivum et voila hens and chicks in hens and chicks.

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    1. My eyes saw chickens, my brain thought chickens, my fingers typed ducks. Thanks for the catch!

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  8. No wonder your walks are long...so much to see! I love getting to see it too, complete with editorial comment.

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  9. Ain't life grand? Lots of great stuff to see and lots of unanswerable questions! I love the plantings by that rusty curved metal piece. Someone has a great eye. Those trees that were chopped off is a case of that's all the money they wanted to spend. Solved whatever their problem was and now they've left us with the problem of looking at that eyesore. Ugh. It is so difficult to grow a maple like the one being taken out in our climate that the mind reels at the idea of buying the house but not the tree.

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    1. I'm sure you're right about the trees. I'm so glad I don't live near enough to see them daily.

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  10. Yes, I like that hell strip treatment, and the amazing plants, and the ceramic pots and tiles. As for the Crepe Murder and the tree removal ... well, I'm not sure what to say. Portland seems like a great place to take a walk. Thanks for sharing the highlights!

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    1. It is, no matter what direction you head out in you'll have plenty to look at.

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  11. I want those concrete pipes too!

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  12. Enjoyed this post Lori, I also like to walk but am careful about how far these days in case I may not feel up to the hike back home.

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  13. If I had a maple that nice, I might take it with me too!

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    1. Can you imagine how much it costs to move that thing?

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  14. I had to look up "Tanuki" - I don't know whether to be charmed or appalled that there's a raccoon-like dog. I wonder if adopting one would send the destructive monsters here packing?

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    1. Either that or he'd put out the word..."Party at Kris's place!"

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  15. I love the carpet of cyclamen under the Hamamelis! And....I hate infill.

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  16. Oh those topped trees are horrible. Someone must have thought they were blocking the skylights.

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