Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Things you really should be doing – if you're in the Portland area

It’s summer! I know, not technically – but Memorial Day serves as an unofficial startling line and I’m happy to celebrate it. And you know what…there is so much going on right now! The next two months are filled with gardeney goodness and you really should be partaking…

First of all it’s sticky beak season! You know, open gardens. Who doesn’t like to get out there and take a peek at what other people are up to? Stick your nose in where it doesn’t "usually" belong…but it’s been invited! What could be better?
The garden of Vanessa Garder Nagel – one of the Garden Conservancy gardens in 2016, photo from my visit in 2013 
 
Coming up on Saturday June 11th is the annual Garden Conservancy/Hardy Plant Society of Oregon open garden day. This year the tour features five gardens in Clark County, WA (you know...just across the bridge). If you're a HPSO member and buy your ticket in advance (til June 3rd) it's $20, non members pay just $25. The day of the tour (at the gardens) it's $30, still a bargain!
The garden of Vanessa Garder Nagel – one of the Garden Conservancy gardens in 2016, photo from my visit in 2013 
 
On Saturday June 18th it's the annual ANLD (Association of Northwest Landscape Designers) garden tour. This year the tour will visit seven gardens on Portland's east side. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or: at Garden Fever, Portland Nursery, Al's Garden Center (Sherwood location only) and Cornell Farm.

But for the ultimate in garden touring though you really need to become a HPSO member. Why? Because for the paltry amount of $35 you get (among other things) a member book that has the addresses of multiple open gardens every single weekend from now through September. Yes, seriously. Just imagine getting to visit these gardens and many many more! (the name is linked to my prior visits to these gardens)...

Linda Ernst and Joanne Fuller June 6th
Jim Gersback June 12th and August 14th
Old Hurlburt School Gardens June 18th
Beth Hansen-Winter and Merideth Hilderbrand June 18th and 19th
Bob Hyland June 19th and July 25th
Eric Peterson July 10th
John Kuzma July 16th
Thomas Vetter August 6th
Vignette from the garden of Linda Ernst, during a visit in 2013
Vignette from the garden of Beth Hansen-Winter, during a visit in 2015
Vignette from the garden of Eric Peterson, during a visit in 2014
Vignette from the garden of Eric Peterson, during a visit in 2014
 
Then there are the events...here's a list of the Hardy Plant Societies upcoming events, some are open only to members (join already!) some are open to all. First up are the "after-hours" events at local nurseries. Previous after-hours gatherings have occurred at Cornell Farms, Garden Fever and Cistus. The next event is coming up at Xera Plants and Contained Exuberance on Thursday, June 16th at 6pm (details).
photo from a Pacific Horticulture event at Xera and Contained Exuberance 
 
The next up after that is at Thicket in NE Portland on July 14th and then Sebright Gardens on August 20th.
Photo from a visit to Thicket in  2012
 
And deserving of special recognition (and excitement!) is "Fergus Fair"...3 days worth of events in July via the Hardy Plant Society. From their website: "HPSO proudly announces the visit to Portland of Fergus Garrett, head gardener and CEO of Great Dixter House and Gardens, one of England's most famed and beloved gardens and the home of the late Christopher Lloyd.  Fergus perpetuates the groundbreaking work of Lloyd, his mentor, and at the same time leads Dixter in new and exciting directions only dreamed about by Lloyd while he was still alive.  Together with is staff and the Great Dixter Charitable Trust, Fergus maintains Dixter's pivotal role in educating and inspiring passionate gardeners around the world.  A frequent speaker and leader of intensive workshops, Fergus is an accomplished teacher.  His knowledge of plants and planting techniques, along with his charming personality and willingness to share information, makes him an exciting presenter."

Fridays's workshop is already sold out but there is still room available at Saturday's program: "Designing with Plants the Great Dixter Way" and the special event later: "An Afternoon with Fergus Garrett" (details here page down to July 23rd). Sign up already! What are you waiting for!

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

19 comments:

  1. Alright already, I'm signing up! You're very convincing!

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    1. I hope you do! Any chance I'll see you at the Fergus talk?

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    2. Maybe. I'll have to check the calendar.

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  2. Oh, I love the moss man! Enjoy all the fun events in your area!

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    1. Thanks Beth...they almost make up for missing the GBFling this year.

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  3. Ah ! if only I lived nearer!

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  4. Wow you do have a busy summer ahead. That is a seriously good selection of plant related summer fun.

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    1. Indeed, and that doesn't include a 3-day weekend of touring I've got coming up (it's sold out so no sense including it here) and a special plant sale I'm going to!

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  5. There's possibly no better indication of the difference between our climates than the fact that your "sticky beak" season is just starting while ours, such as it is, is largely over. However, I'm happy that I get to enjoy the PNW gardens through your posts and those of other PNW bloggers.

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    1. Actually ours has been going on for a couple of months, we like to start early around here...and yes, we'll definitely share lots of photos!

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  6. Any idea what the variegated plants are under the tree in Vanessa Garder Nagel photo?

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    1. Yes! I belive it's Persicaria virginiana 'Painter's Palette':
      http://plantlust.com/plants/persicaria-virginiana-painters-palette/

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  7. Oh my, so much going on, so much to do, so much fun!!

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  8. So much great stuff happening where you live. I've heard Fergus Garrett and know he is great. The director of a nearby Wi public garden will be talking to our hardy plant group this fall about his experiences working as a volunteer staffer at Great Dixter this last year. He did a daily blog about it and their level of daily maintenance is mind boggling.

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    1. FYI, the Open Days program also has tours scheduled in the Milwaukee region on three dates this year! See the schedule page at www.opendaysprogram.org and search by state.

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  9. Portland should be called Garden City of the US, by all accounts. What fun. I was just thinking the other day how they have the National Garden Scheme, open gardens for charity in England. Spaced throughout the summer. I was wondering if we could do that in Austin but I don't think we have enough gardens here or enough interest. Considering the Wildflower Center cancelled their annual tour because it was too much work for not enough reward. I think it was a darned shame. It is a thought for the future though because it is just the homeowner and he/she doesn't need to make $25,000. Have fun.

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  10. I knew we were rich in events but seeing it all laid out like this makes it feel positively decadent.

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  11. Thank you for sharing details about Open Days! We love working with HPSO!

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