Friday, May 11, 2018

The O'Brien Vineyard, a stop on the 2016 Salem Study Weekend

Hmm, back in Salem. This garden was adjacent to the owner's vineyard, which is where we all parked, not so bad really. I remember being awe-struck by the spectacular views of Mt. Hood, and took several photos. Unfortunately I was working with a different camera then, one with a smudge on the inside of the lens, hence the fact the mountain looks like it might have just let off a little smoke. Not to worry, it's just an illusion...

There were grapes too, of course.

But let's get to the story of the garden... "Our 1.5 acre garden showcases sculptures, both garden art and fine art. The basic structure that we established about 15 years ago features raised beds with rocks, mostly from our adjacent vineyard, Elton Vineyards. The garden has both shade and sun gardens. The shady areas lie beneath a canopy of native Oregon white oak trees. The main water features includes a koi pond as well as an island and several waterfalls. Other structural features are two gazebos, an accessible walkway, multiple seating areas, a whimsical potting shed, and a musical-instrument water feature beside a pergola at the front of our house. Among the varied plants are rhododendrons, Japanese maples, hostas, hellebores, daylillies and seasonal bulbs — daffodil, iris, gladiola."
It was a warm sunny day and these ladies knew how to carry stylish shade with them.

As the garden description mentioned there were several structures and a lot of "art"...

But a lot of plants too, all grown really well.

I think this may be the "whimsical potting shed"...
But let's look at a few more photos where the plants (and rocks) are the stars...

Time to head back to the vineyard, and my car...

Weather Diary, May 10: Hi 65, Low 52/ Precip .05"

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

13 comments:

  1. A lovely pergola-cover path in the shady area, not to mention the blue "eye" to ward off misfortunes.
    I must find me a "stylish shade"... as silly as they look I can really use one.

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    1. Great eye for detail, catching that "blue eye"...

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  2. I used to have some Chinese paper umbrellas but they are long gone. I can't take a garden tour in weather that is too hot and sunny, so those umbrellas look perfect. Real contrast in this garden between the sun and shade areas.

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    1. Carrying around your own shade seems so sensible.

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  3. Lots of arches, they kind of look cool. Not so sure about the other ‘art’ but it’s their thing so kind of cool too.

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    1. Garden art is such a personal thing, too much of different materials and styles and it feels like the tchotchke aisle at the thrift shop. At least in a big garden like this things are sort of tucked in their own niche.

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  4. Grapes, indeed! I love the art and the hardscaping. That last scene makes me want to jump into my computer screen because we're having a rainy, chilly day today. That looks more comfortable.

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    1. Oh gosh, I know that feeling! All winter long here...

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  5. "Whimsical" art doesn't bother me as much when it's spread over a large area as appears to have been the case here. The sleeping bear brought to mind the giant ape we saw in Texas last week - it was a surprise that brought a smile.

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    1. I wish the ape had been a surprise to me, instead I'd been told to continue along the side of the house so I could see the ape. It would have been so fun to just discover it.

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  6. The shade garden looks so invitingly lush and restful, and so wonderfully full. As for the "art", well, I think the quotation marks confer my opinion eloquently enough.

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  7. A sunny summer day in a beautiful garden; who could ask for anything more? (Well, maybe an agave.)

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  8. I'm curious about the large rocks next to the path shown in one your photos. Is there a reason they are there? The proportions look out of whack to me, but photos can be so misleading.

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