Heading home one day, I realized I was near "my" Mediterranean Villa and the partly cloudy sky was good for photos, plus it wasn't raining, which is always a bonus. So I detoured...
And I was rewarded with Agave happiness. I should have come by here in January, once the roads weren't icy, just to take a look. But I didn't. Oh well, it all seems happy now.
I doubt these guys went to any heroic measures to protect their plants, they just don't seem like the type.
But they're all looking quite healthy, almost as if winter wasn't a factor over here..
What a dreamy micro-climate.
In case this garden is new to you here's my first post on it, when I stuck to the public sidewalk. And then here's when my friend Patricia and I were invited into the garden for a tour with one of the kind owners, John.
I almost leaned up against that large rock to get a close up photo.
Luckily I looked down and saw these spikes just in time to stop myself.
I should try to make another drive-by visit since our little heat wave last week (two days in the 80's!) has my Magnolia laevifolia busting out in bloom. There's (between the two columnar conifers) looks to be covered in buds.
Such a great garden...
Weather Diary, May 8: Hi 72, Low 46/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I see now why my Bergenia are unhappy!
ReplyDeleteBecause they're no living in Oregon on a rocky slope?
DeleteSeriously though, there's another patch I regularly drive by in a very similar situation and they look just as happy.
Wow! I'm amazed at how happy and healthy their big Agaves are. They must have a great micro-climate for them. And I'm sure that slope with its great drainage is a big plus too.
ReplyDeleteThat rocky slope is magic, plus it's south-facing so lots of sun, well, when there is sun to be had.
DeleteFrom the bottom of my heart I thank you for this perfect post. This garden is dreamy and perfection in my world. I needed this today.
ReplyDeleteGosh, glad to be of help!
DeleteThanks for doing a post-winter check-in. That is an amazing garden and I'm thrilled to see that their Agaves are doing well. Hard to believe this is in Portland!
ReplyDeleteSo true, about the location.
DeleteThose do look happy don't they. I dont know if I would be more or less happy if i saw so little damge close to my garden which had been badly hit.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm happy, I want these guys to keep looking fabulous. And I realize they have a much better set-up than I do.
DeleteAn awesome slope garden with beautiful Agaves, but what blows my mind is Bergenia in full sun! I am amazed!
ReplyDeleteSurrounded by rock the Agaves probably have a slightly warmer, slightly drier place--enough to keep them healthy.
Warmer, drier, and they are in a position to take advantage of any sun that shines here.
DeleteGood to see that the agaves at your villa are doing so well! Such a mervelous garden.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, those guys I hired to live there and tend to things do a marvelous job!
DeleteGreat garden indeed, and I never get tired of your features of it. The agaves look unblemished, and yes thankfully you didn't lean on those spikes!
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine? That would have made for a painful drive home.
DeleteYour earlier posts on this garden were in my pre-blogging days so I'd missed the opportunity to see "your" Mediterranean villa prior to this. It's fabulous but even I'm surprised at how well it fared in comparison to the other gardens in the PNW this past winter. I guess all those rocks and the steep slope itself provide considerable protection. Maybe you need to invest in several tons of rock...
ReplyDeleteThat was shocking to read Kris, as far as my memory serves you've been blogging "forever"...and you made me laugh at the idea of us hauling in big boulders for the front garden. I do have a slope, but nothing like this. I'm picturing the house completely hidden behind a big pile of rocks.
DeleteThat is pretty impressive!
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteI've got to think the great drainage on that slope has to be their saving grace! Beautiful garden!
ReplyDeleteThat's definitely it, plus a little "rock heat" and the south-facing orientation.
DeleteI'm certain the owners of the villa don't mind sharing: they get really good press on your blog. I'm glad you didn't lean in to get the picture... I covet that rusty glob!
ReplyDeleteAnd they're nice guys, although I doubt they'd want me moving in.
DeleteI'm amazed at the variety and arrangement of all those great plants on such a steep incline. Immediately my mine went to concerns about erosion. Obviously, the plants and rocks help to keep the soil and the whole collection in place, but what if there was a sudden downpour? It must happen sometimes, so they must have it expertly designed. Very nice. The Agaves are awesome! I like the metal pieces, too.
ReplyDeleteThis year there has been more than one sudden downpour. I don't think anything is going anywhere, it's all been there for ages and is part of a big ridge that runs all along that part of NE Portland. Now if we get that big earthquake...
DeleteThe agaves look great. Even more surprising, so do the phormiums! I love hillside gardens. So much opportunity for creativity. But I say that never having had to maintain a steep slope myself.
ReplyDeleteYour borrowed villa is sublime and, being borrowed, you don't have to worry about maintaining that steep slope (to Evan's point).
ReplyDeleteI can't believe all those Agaves lived. I suspect they may be plastic fakes.
ReplyDeleteThey must have instant drainage... maybe rooted in gravel. I'm jealous.
From now on, all my Agaves will be in pots with the exception of the exceptional 'JC Raulston'. And all pots will be moved under cover for the cold, rain season.