So we're starting in the front garden, of course. This is one of the few times I've visited and not had the sun shining brightly, it's kind of nice to not battle harsh shadows.
Having enjoyed two back-to-back relatively mild winters (2014/15 and 15/16...after the cold of 2013/14) the garden has really exploded. I hate to think what this winter's weather may have done to it...
But let's not worry about that right now, let's just enjoy this beautiful moment in time...
I think that's a crazy happy magnolia Laevifolia on the right.
Two out of three ain't bad!
I'm not going to hazard a guess as to the ID of the Agave on the left, but isn't sporting a delightfully wind-swept look?
Standing in the driveway looking back at the front garden.
Nolina 'La Siberica'
And now entering the back garden...
John said he wrapped the Phormium...I've seen many around town that are already starting to flop from the cold temperatures. Hopefully these big beauties will live on.
Tempting to reverse my usual pattern and head up these stairs...
But no, this passionflower on the back of the house got my attention instead...
Funny there were people there just a moment ago!
WOWSA!
I didn't want to be so bold as to lay my phone on the A. ovatifolia, but needed something for scale so you could see just how huge it is...
Leucadendron argenteum
John has successfully gotten that Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' through other cold winters. Fingers crossed he's done it again.
Melianthus major 'Purple Haze'
A wide-view of the upper garden.
And a slightly different angle.
I love this, so much! Look at all those happy plants.
Hesperaloe parviflora, flower.
Can you even? I can't. So amazing...
Caesalpinia gilliesii
The seemingly random palms planted throughout the garden are really starting to make an impact. Soon I'll be able to walk under them!
Ah, the planted up roof is looking good...
A better shot.
Last year (post here) several of the banana's bore fruit, which of course meant the end of that particular plant, never fear though...there are always more...
Eriobotrya japonica, aka the Loquat.
Daphniphyllum himalaense ssp macropodum 'Variegated'
So gorgeous!
I don't remember noticing the solid green Daphniphyllum before. I guess it's no surprise, in a garden with this many treasures you're bound to miss something...
Weather Diary, January 25: Hi 45, Low 35/ Precip .02
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
It's looking as wonderful as ever. Hopefully all his plants made it through the icy, snowy winter you guys are having.
ReplyDeleteHe was feeling fairly positive about things when I checked in. Hopefully...
DeleteI look forward to your annual visit to this garden which balances design and plant lust beautifully. Can't believe how quickly the agaves in that crevice garden have grown since you first showed them!
ReplyDeleteRight? It's like he's got a heater under there or something.
DeleteSo great seeing those photos and how much it has grown since we were there for the Fling. I'm very curious to see how things will do through this winter you guys have had. And even after seeing all those photos of snow, I still wish I could garden up there. Everything grows so beautifully!
ReplyDeleteFunny...I wish I could garden down there, where everything grows so beautifully.
DeleteThis was a favorite at the Fling. Thanks for the update. Fingers crossed for the survival of all that beauty.
ReplyDeleteI forget that was the only time you've seen this garden. He's opened for the HPSO the last couple of summers...but you've probably been working?
DeleteNo shots of the gunnera? Things are so much bigger, for instance you can barely see the slate "slats" in that one bed now!
ReplyDeleteFunny, I took a picture of the Gunnera, but didn't like the way it turned out.
DeleteAs Ricki said, this was a big highlight of the Fling of which there were many highlights--nonstop highlights.
ReplyDeleteAlways a joy to see this wonderful garden, and it looks better and better and better every time. I hope it gets through this winter in fairly good shape.
"windswept" Agave looks somewhat like A. shawii to moi.
I thought that too, (Agave), but was hesitant to make that ID because it's not a terribly hardy Agave, or so I've read.
DeleteThis has to be one of the best gardens in the world. I love it more every time you post a visit. I was sucked in by the Salvia darcyi flanking the entrance and became more and more entranced. From the huge A. ovatifolia to the great shot of my girlfriend, La Sibirica, to how amazingly huge the agaves have grown in the crevice garden: I'm drooling!
ReplyDeleteYour long distance love affair continues, eh?
DeleteLong distance relationships are so hard! :)
DeleteThis was one of my favorite gardens of the 2014 Fling, and it's only gotten better since then. A truly special place. Looking at your photos, I couldn't stop thinking about what these plants might look like now, after such a harsh winter (which isn't over yet). Hopefully you'll give us an update later in the year.
ReplyDeleteAs for the "wind-swept" agave, I think it's A. montana.
Ah...your Agave ID seems feasible.
DeleteBeyond amazing. I, of course, loved the pots, the gravel, the different levels, and all the different hardscape materials. And just what we need to feast our eyes upon at the moment.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed!
DeleteI wonder if those palms planted themselves, as is often the case here. I hope this garden fared well during the miserable winter you've had. I loved that Nolina photo - I finally put my first one in from a 4-inch pot this fall so I expect it'll be a long while before it looks like anything.
ReplyDeleteNo, they were all planted in various sizes (the palms). And who knows, in your climate the Nolina may take off!
DeleteDrooling! I wonder how it fared in the weather you had recently?
ReplyDeleteThe owner is cautiously optimistic (he protects a lot of things), thus I am too.
DeleteSuch elegant combinations--one of my faves from Fling. I am planning a trip to PDX this year , but will schedule my dates around HPSO open gardens.This would surely be a great one to visit again.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Please let me know when you'll be up this way!
DeleteI can't believe the size of those agaves or that Jubaea!
ReplyDeleteThey're pretty darn happy aren't they?
DeleteIsn't that something ? I'm sure they had Swiss snowfall
ReplyDeleteHmm...Swiss snowfall?
DeleteJust really, really beautiful! Thanks for sharing it, Loree! By the way, does/can anyone do green roofs in the low desert? I keep wondering...
ReplyDeleteSure they do!
Deletehttp://stevemartino.blogspot.com/2011/12/arizona-green-roof.html
This is still my favourite amongst the gardens you visit (apart from Ms Walska's place of course). Thank you for making my day!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. This reminds me I have yet to cover my first visit to this garden last summer. I especially love the front garden. It's very much the aesthetic I'd like to create in my own garden. Of course the back is spectacular, too.
ReplyDeleteAmazing garden. This was included in the Portland Fling, right?
ReplyDelete