Old Germantown Gardens

Old Germantown Gardens, aka the garden of Bruce Wakefield and Jerry Grossnickle, was one of the stops during the Portland Garden Bloggers Fling in 2014. I wasn't able to make the pre-fling tour, and only had the briefest look through on the day of, so I was thrilled to be able to visit, and wander through, at an extremely slow pace, last May 22nd.

If you aren't familiar with this garden here's the description we used in the Fling brochure:

Style/Focus: Creating various habitats so as to grow the most diverse palette of plants possible.
Size: 2 Acres
Age: 23 years, but with many recent changes
Favorite/Noteworthy Plant(s): All of them!

Tucked away on a wooded parcel near Forest Park, Old Germantown Gardens is a nearly 2-acre hillside garden that is a wealth of garden diversity, including ponds, bog gardens, perennial beds and borders, woodland plantings, rock garden, dry hillside garden, and a greenhouse full of unusual tropical plants. Each garden habitat is stuffed full of plants - rare, unusual and common ones, too. Beyond the various types of gardens on this hillside property, visitors will discover a French/Italian-style patio- terrace adjacent to the house. The terrace includes small decorative pools, a fountain, rill, and waterfall, all contained within hand-chiseled stone walls. The garden is always evolving and changing - both naturally and by the owners’ guiding hands. Indeed, the past two years have witnessed much editing and renovation of this 23-year-old garden. After exploring the extensive hillside trails, visitors who may need the added sustenance are welcome to refreshments on the terrace or upstairs deck while taking in a bird’s-eye view of Old Germantown Gardens.

That sustenance mentioned comes in the form of freshly baked cookies. They are amazing.

Love that Cematis...

So excited to explore!

At last, the pond.

I wish I could describe exactly what changed here. Obviously a tree was removed (you can see the stump on the left) and the pavers and grass clumps are new. Was it a decision based on light (desire for/lack of)? Diseased tree? Mother nature?

The garden is famous for its collection of Cardiocrinum giganteum aka Giant Himalayan Lily. I was a little too early for the blooms...

But loved seeing last year's seed pods still in place.

Rhododendron faithiae

Daphniphyllum macropodum

More Cardiocrinum.

I didn't find a label on this Rhododendron.

Schefflera (maybe delavayi?) having just pushed out its flush of new leaves.

Take the stairs, or continue on the path. Difficult decisions!

This! I was told it's Pseudopanax delavayi. Which kind of makes my head spin, like when I discovered this little name game.

I do so wish it were in my garden...

Aesculus hippocastanum 'Laciniata'

Cut-leaf Horse Chestnut.

This garden is fabulous for getting you looking up-close and in detail at the plants and then bam! You look up and the long-view is amazing.

Now we're entering the final part of the garden, and my favorite.

I'm sure you can guess why.

I continue up the pathway and climb those stairs...

To look back down on where I've just been.

Oh, and we must explore the greenhouse.

And back outside to admire the blooming Phormium. You don't see those very often in this part of the world.

Left to right: Euphorbia stygiana (?), Furcraea, Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) and Melianthus.

Leucospermum reflexum

And finally a couple of shots from the deck...

Before it's time to walk out the front door and up the (steep) driveway to head home.

Parting shot, because we must not forget the Bismarckia nobilis.

Weather Diary, April 5: Hi 63, Low 47/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.