It's time for the Association of NW Landscape Designers Annual Garden Tour, their 13th Annual. I first attended in 2009, which would make this my 8th...oh but wait, I was out of town one year, so only my 7th. Anyway...
I was part of a group that got to pre-tour on June 7th, the actual tour takes place on June 17th (info here). This year's tour is on the west-side of Portland.
My friend, and fellow blogger, Jane (aka the MulchMaid) wrote a great post where she distilled ideas gathered from the tour. My post is much less creative, I'm just sharing a few shots from each of gardens in the order we saw them.
Our first stop was at Terri’s Garden – Designer Amy Whitworth & Lora Price. I was rather shocked to learn of the issues gardeners on the backside of the West Hills face when it comes to water and drainage. The lovely pebble creek here is not just for looks.
Around the side of the house I was surprised to see this (my enemy...Bishops Weed!)...right plant right place? I pray that indeed that's the case and it stay's put. And they never decide to get rid of it. Otherwise...there's gonna be a fight.
Here's the plant of the day, which we'll see in several of the other gardens we'll visit. I believe it's Autumn Fern, Dryopteris erythrosora.
Second garden, Gardner’s Repose – Designers Lucy Hardiman & Susan LaTourette.
Lucy Hardiman met us at the gate to share info on the garden and let us know the owner was quite the plant person. Yep, no mistaking that, so many amazing Verbascum olympicum (I believe) scattered throughout the garden.
I should know what this bulb is, my mom gifted me a pack which bloomed fabulously the first year, not so much the second.
Another Verbascum, but I don't know which one.
Cornus sanguinea 'Compressa'
The upper level seemed so much higher in person, less so here. Oh and that conversation pit area in the foreground...so wonderful!
The Robinia was just gorgeous, it glowed.
Our next stop, Mill Pond Garden – Designer David West, was unbelievable for it's steep (STEEP) lot.
This is the lowest level, on grade with the back of the house.
From there we just went up...
Up...
And up...
Listening to the designer talk about how all this was carved out of the steep hillside was amazing. Standing on the third level up I couldn't help but feel a little dizzy. File this under "anything is possible with the right person leading the way..." (and the budget to support it).
The next garden we visited was the Myers Garden – also by Designer David West.
I was in awe of the green carpet of Bolax gummifera.
And the largest Hosta I've ever seen.
Which was actually three plants, but who's counting?
Great combo...
We then enjoyed a lovely catered lunch at Cornell Farm Nursery (and since they have an on-site cafe you can too) before traveling on to Andora Gardens – Designer Ann Nickerson. Where we saw another amazing Autumn Fern.
Or two...(or maybe this is something completely different? I am not a fern expert...)
And this fabulous grape arbor with grape lights suspended beneath.
The final two gardens we visited on the pre-tour were just a few houses apart. The first one was the personal garden of designer Marcia Westcott Peck. And yes, it's when we saw our first Agave of the day. Finally!
Yep, there was also one of these...
And a gorgeous clump of Impatiens omeiana.
Clever bit of stair embellishment.
And stellar mosaic work by the designer and her husband...
The Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' carpet under their Trachycarpus was sublime.
As were several understated plant combos.
The final stop, just up the street, was the Schmitt Garden – also by Designer Marcia Westcott Peck.
The front garden featured some great plantings and this large water bowl.
But the back garden was even better, with a built up/in planting area that doubled as seating. Since it was being used as such I couldn't get a great photo. You'll just have to check it out for yourself.
I was quite jealous they have a Passion Flower already blooming.
These creative twig tomato supports blended right in with the surroundings. Much more fitting than a wire cage...
So...if you're in the Portland area I hope you'll consider attending this tour on Saturday, June 17 (details here). It's always fun to see what people have going on in their private gardens, and on this tour you get the added bonus of meeting professional designers, and seeing how they've conquered the challenges of the locations and their client's needs. If you're feeling lucky (and reading this post in time) my friend Heather wrote about the tour here, and is giving away a ticket on June 15th. My friend Amy wrote a piece here with her giveaway ending this evening, the 13th. I've already given away my ticket...
Weather Diary, June 12: Hi 60, Low 53/ Precip .03"
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
That super steep garden made me dizzy, too. And no railings! Autumn fern comes up very late and that's why you are seeing them everywhere. Mine has started losing that great color and then it is not nearly so dramatic. Every year I think it has died and then it finally appears.
ReplyDeleteGood to know it doesn't stay that fabulous color forever, otherwise I'd need to add a few to my garden...
DeleteI really enjoyed all the posts about this tour! They look like such fabulous gardens. Maybe next year I'll come down for it. I did it one year, and it was a great tour. Those mosaics in the Peck garden are so creative.
ReplyDeleteYou should come down for the pretour! I bet they'd love to have some press from up north.
DeleteI'd love to come down for the pretour, how do I get in on that? Do I need an invitation?
DeleteYes you do. I'll email the person in charge now, then hopefully I'll remember next year when I get the info to email you and see if you did too. They send out a save the date email as early as February.
DeleteIs your mystery bulb a hymenocallis of some sort? Fabulous gardens in this West Side Story. Love the mosaic work!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I think you're right! And clever you with that West Side Story biz...
DeleteBeautiful gardens. Tell me, what is the plant that leaves looks like saw blades? It is the 36th picture from the top. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh! A question I can answer! It's Saxifraga x geum 'Dentata'. Once upon a time I had quite a bit of this, but I think mine all got shaded out.
DeleteI'm in love w/ that sweet little plant, too, esp. that combo!
DeleteThe bulb might be Pancratium. The Verbascum following it could be 'Helen Johnson' although there are many cultivars with a similar coloration now. And the Passiflora looks like 'Blue-Eyed Susan', which is nearly ever-blooming.
ReplyDeleteGosh, thank you! You're good. And now I know which Passiflora to look for.
DeleteThank you, I just ordered some. I had to have it, it's beautiful!
DeleteOh, dear. I'm falling in love with Portland from afar all over again. Wonderful - BIG! - gardens and wonderful plants. And, I'm chagrined to think how I complain about my back slope, which is insignificant by comparison to that Mill Pond Garden. Of course, money is also the issue here, with the additional complication concerning ease of access.
ReplyDeleteSome of these gardens were definitely much larger than the average city lot. I guess that's a benefit of the suburbs! The designer of the Mill Pond Garden spoke a bit about access, thank goodness they have agreeable neighbors. The part about having to stage everything in the driveway because of HOA regulations though...my gosh what a pain.
DeleteI echo Diane C's question about the little saw-tooth plant. It is so so cute. I think I need one .
ReplyDeleteYou do need one, or two! Saxifraga x geum 'Dentata'
DeleteMy son has a steep backyard, so I sent him this link so he could see the possibilities! Great gardens, thanks for sharing, Loree.
ReplyDeleteAh, so glad you found that worth sharing!
DeleteThanks for this cool post, Loree. So fun to see how others saw the same gardens, same day. Enjoyed the details you spotted. I blogged my impressions of the day as well; just posted today (should I link?). Actually, I'm kind of inspired by your use of links in your blogging--gotta get my mind "there" and do more of that!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting to see what we all "see"? And yes links are good, I found yours and will share it here: https://lansinggardendesign.com/blog/2017/6/10/designers-garden-tour-2017
DeleteI love that about photographs. Especially of gardens, for some reason. I find it fascinating what people's thought process is, on their journey through.
DeleteSo much to love about this garden! Lots of inspiration...it is so big, particularly love the big rocks patio on third level!
ReplyDeleteSo the Mill Pond Garden is your favorite then?
DeleteThanks for sharing your tour. Love the highlights. Just bought my first Dryopteris erythrosa and have it in my hover dish planter. Into the garden it goes this fall!
ReplyDeleteI guess this is where I admit I bought one, or rather one was shipped to me, but I thought it was dead...so I tossed it. Now I've learned they're late to emerge...oops.
DeleteWhat a day of observing special gardens... if I had a garden of my own now I would have been taking notes! I'm especially fond of the insanely sloped garden, David West is one creative designer!
ReplyDeleteIndeed he is!
DeleteI love your sequential photos :) Too many kid events to go to the tour myself, so I really appreciate all the wonderful posts you have done. Autumn ferns are the bomb.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed!
DeleteI would get more out of a tour like this than a gazillion Chelsea Flower Shows. These are real gardens, designed to grow and to be lived in. Each one fabulous.
ReplyDelete