Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Bean Acres is the place to be...

I'm afraid my friend Evan Bean (The Practical Plant Geek) is gonna kill me over that title, however once I thought of it I couldn't not use it — and I smile every time I read it!! Of course the alternative is that he'll claim to not get the reference, but seriously...

Anyway, couple weeks ago Evan held an open garden for his blogging and gardening friends. Evan gardens on family land just north of Portland, near Castle Rock, WA, aka "the gateway to Mt. St. Helens." His garden is quite large by urban standards, about 2.5 acres of gardenable land inside the deer fence. The size and the location ("out in the country") had me a little worried about how it would resonate with me personally. Sometimes gardens on large, rural, parcels of land suffer from too much space — the empty space can be overwhelming and so the gardener spaces everything waaay out, in an attempt to fill it up. Thankfully Evan seems to like his plants touching. Exhibit A...

How beautiful is this? I've never seen Euphorbia Blackbird grown so well.

The rest of this island planting is just as lovely...

Seseli libanotis, aka moon carrot.

This raised, circular planting was originally completed as a senior project in high school. In the years that followed Evan has lived in many places around the country, and done time at well known public gardens and nurseries. He's since moved home and had the opportunity to rework the original (see some early drawings on his blog, here).

Isn't this just the perfect place for Stipa gigantea?

Up against the house is a seed grown Melianthus villosus (I know this because I am lucky enough to have one of my own, a gift from Evan).

And now moving out to the shady planting area to the left, as you turn down the driveway.

I'm insanely jealous of these glossy Farfugium leaves. Evan picked up a handful of plants recently on clearance at a great price.

Now crossing the drive we're starting into the meaty part of the garden, which due to its size — and the fabulous plants within — felt a little like a botanical garden. I believe that fabulous twisty grass is Carex comans.

I think this is Clethra barbinervis, but don't quote me on that.

Rubus lineatus, which I adore and used to grow...until suddenly I didn't any longer.

And my new Magnolia obsession, M. obovata M. globosa (thanks for the correction Evan, the warning still stands though). Big leaves, fuzzy buds, and flowers like that of M. sieboldii. Evan if this plant disappears someday it was probably the deer. Yep, the deer... someone must have left the gate open...

Athyrium some something (love this fern)

And a gorgeous Woodwardia unigemmata...

Next to it is a petite bamboo that I instantly recognized, or at least I thought I did. I thought it was Sasa tsuboiana, which would have been a pass along from Alan in the St. Louis area — who blogs at It's Not Work It's Gardening — to me, to Anna (Flutter & Hum), to Evan. That would have been a well traveled plant! Instead it's Sasa veitchii forma minor, from Anna.

Also from Anna (who kindly gave me some years ago, but mine is now dead), Iris confusa.

Such stunning foliage.

This beauty is a Rhododendron, cut back (you can see the older branches) and putting out new foliage.

Mahonia eurybracteata 'Indianola Silver'

Every once and awhile I remembered to look up and take in the big picture...

But then of course was drawn right back down to marvel at the individual plants.

Mahonia confusa (?)

I may need to add an Alstroemeria or two.

I think Evan said his Tetrapanax are completing their second year in the ground? I love my tall plants but there's something very special about being able to look down at the leaves too.

Gentiana asclepiadea

Apart I'm not fond of either of these leaves, but together I really like them.

Calceolaria arachnoidea

Close-up

Oh ya! I was happy to see Araucaria araucana, aka monkey puzzle tree. Another cool tree I wish I had space for.

Evan is not a fan of spiky plants, but thankfully he's included two Agave bracteosa — the kind and gentle Agave —  in the garden.

And a spineless Opuntia as well!

Being a genius at propagation Even brought a dozen or so of these seed-grown Lupinus sericatus to our last Blogger's plant swap, I came home with three. Two are dead and one is struggling. I am not allowed to try this plant again.

I was mildly infatuated with the dry stream bed and path around the house. Odd, because I usually don't like elements like this — it was done really well...

Heading around the opposite side of the house I spied a deck with what must be houseplants summering outside.

This tree-ferny thing caught my eye very quick like.

What a beauty!

And on a second pass, back at the beginning of the garden, Comptonia peregrina

Another pass-along plant I've received from Evan. I hope mine is this fabulous someday.

A different view of the "stream-bed"...

Grevillea x gaudichaudii

Kniphofia caulescens

If you'd like to see more, Evan just did a comprehensive look at the garden over on his blog — complete with lots of "before and after" shots — see that here. Thanks for opening your garden to us all Evan, I am in awe of the plants and the artful way you've put them together, and in such a huge space! It all felt very cohesive and welcoming.



Weather Diary, Sept 18: Hi 61, Low 53/ Precip .5"

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

32 comments:

  1. Just yesterday I was googling Woodwardia unigemmata, and voila, it appears on your blog today. Wonderful account of Evan's garden. Ah, that moon carrot!

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    1. So many fabulous plants in this garden, as you'd expect.

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  2. Thank you a fabulous tour of Evan's garden! Maybe I get to see it myself some day.

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  3. I keep seeing that smooth-leaved Farfugium for sale. I want it but it is pricey and only Zone 8 and I fear our winter won't be friendly. But I still want it. ... And that Calceolaria. I had it years ago and really want it again. Evan's garden looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing, Loree.

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    1. Happy to share Grace! After talk of a mild winter now they're saying it's going to be another cold and wet one. Ugh.

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  4. Thanks for showing my garden in such a positive light, Loree, despite the harsh lighting that day. With most of the garden so young, it doesn't lend itself well to wider shots, so I tend to focus on individual plants, too. Hopefully in 5 years or so the trees and shrubs will have grown enough and everything will be mingling together to make it worth taking in the larger scene. Right on the Carex comans and Clethra barbinervis. That Magnolia is M. globosa. I have a hard time remembering that name, for whatever reason, so I may have misspoke when you asked me. The Athyrium is A. otophorum, which I rather think I need more of. The second Mahonia is another eurybracteata/confusa (the latter now merged into the former) seedling. The Tetrapanax are coming up on their 1 year plantiversary. I'm not very fond of that dogwood, either, but planted it after one of my parents expressed an interest in it. I do like it with the Pulmonaria, too. There are actually 4 Agave bracteosa in that area, though one is in another bed and the last may be a bit hidden. The tiny tree fern is Blechnum gibbum.

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    1. Four Agave bracteosa! Yay, I hope they start to wear you down so you see the charms of other Agaves. Hey, it could happen. Blechnum gibbum huh? Maybe I will have to keep my eyes open for one of those. Thank you for the fun afternoon in your wonderful garden!

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    2. I think I've seen that Blechnum at PDX Division or some other local nursery, but not trunking yet.

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  5. New York is where I'd rather stay. I get allergic smelling hay... Love the reference! Some seriously great plants and so well put together. It was a joy to see Bean Acres through your lens.

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    1. Hmm, I guess I would have taken you for a country boy.

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    2. Well I really am but I like the Eva Gabor part of the song.

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    3. Earworm now fully loaded.

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  6. Oh no ..now I,ve got to have Moon Carrots ! :)

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  7. Thank you for the tour. What wonderful plants!

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  8. Although I follow Evan's own posts, it's fun to see his garden through another lens as well. He's done SO MUCH with the space - and the amount of space is something I can barely imagine. There are lots of plants I don't have a chance of growing but I can dream! FYI, by way of full disclosure, it seems that I've killed the Tetrapanax seedling you sent me, with some help from our last 2 heatwaves. It's still in the pot as I await a miracle resurrection but that doesn't seem likely...

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    1. Oh no! I'm sorry. But it was just a wee thing. Has Denise ever mentioned getting pups from her plant?

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  9. Wow, he does have an amazing garden. Love the stream bed/rain garden! Such great plant combinations, too. And I can't get that song out of my head now. Thanks. ;-)

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  10. Excellent tour Loree,and so much space ! I enjoy Evans blogposts very much , and another perspective adds to appreciation of what he has created here.

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    1. So much space! But he's managed to fill it up quite nicely.

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  11. Great post, Loree. You picked up on some very interesting plants and I am in no way surprised. Evan's garden looks stunning, something I can certainly learn from - gardening on that scale. That lupine, mine is doing fine so if it seeds about, you will have to try it again. Did you find you have a lot of what he is growing? Was there anything totally new to you? You two are just such amazing plants people, it's interesting to me to compare notes and learn. Thanks for the tour! I am sorry I missed it.

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    1. Ah what kind words! There were quite a few plants that we have in common (thanks to Evan's sharing of his creations and our fun swaps) and a few new things, like that Magnolia and the Blechnum gibbum. Lots of plant I would love to have the room for!

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  12. Like Kris, I find it very interesting to view Evan's Bean Acres from your point of view; I see angles of his beautiful garden from a new angle. I've seen the before and after shots, there is a significant growth going on. I grow Araucaria araucana in a small pot knowing its way to big to fit my garden. I wonder if Evan would like a second tree: I'd be happy to set it free.

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    1. Hmm, that's an intriguing offer...Evan?

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    2. Haha! I would, but I don't know where I'd put it! The trees are largely in place already and I want them to have room to show their individual characteristics.

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  13. Ooh! I love that Gentian!

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  14. Very nice! I can only imagine having all that space.

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  15. Very enjoyable reliving that excellent day through your knowledgeable eyes.

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