The City Living Display Gardens are always among my favorite things at the NWFG Show. They have an urban design focus, unlike the huge display gardens with waterfalls, McMansion sheds, and rocks the size of my house. The much smaller spaces (6-ft by 12-ft) allow for an attention to detail just not feasible in the big gardens...
My two favorites this year were right next to each other, first up is Beneath the Jungle Sky from Patricia Ruff at Rocky Bay Garden Creations. I want to live in this display (well, if you changed out the pink accents for orange), it was plant filled and oh so creative.
On the left a lounging swing under a small shade pavilion, on the right a small dining spot.
I've shared this idea with Andrew in the past, a swing, or large platform with cushions under our shade pavilion, instead of chairs.
He's not sold on the idea, but I see the possibilities.
There were so many plants included in this display, from the rhipsalis cascading down from the top (shown above), to the many plants grouped on and around the black framework.
The table base is a terrarium, with a cut-out for the tall plants. Notice how the sand in the terrarium plays off the area rug underneath. That's attention to detail!
Suddenly I need a few industrial pulleys for my hanging plants.
Next up is The Botanist Balcony, from Kim McCarthy of Urban Soule.
I loved how absolutely packed this display was, if I lived in a condo, and the only outdoor space I had was a balcony, it would be this full. I stood there forever taking in all the details and I still probably missed a few.
Of course I loved the plants, but also that neon and the tiger rug!
On the other side there was another rug...
And more plants.
Plus a side table filled with curiosities...
The next display, Croissants and the City, was by Portland's own JJ DeSousa of Digs Inside and Out.
I think anyone familiar with her shop instantly knew she was behind this creation, her style is rather distinctive.
And she was definitely calling out her city...
With a large touch of France for good measure.
Next we have Earthling Oasis from The Witchy Woman of Urban Earth Nursery.
I loved this pallet-esque wall display. It has the re-use feel of a pallet garden but looks a little tidier than any old pallet you'd pick up off the street corner.
The galvanized and rusted metal planters were good.
My one quibble would be with that chair, it looks so uncomfortable and out of step with the rest of the display.
But of course I loved this planting.
The final display I'll feature is from Grace Hensley, of Fashion Plants, it's called Krukker Have, which roughly translates to Garden Pots, from the Danish.
Grace took advantage of the small space to recreate an urban front porch complete with pots—lots of them—as well as imagined brick buildings on either side of her front door.
The fact I'd been following Grace's creation of the booth and it's contents on her blog definitely lead to a better understanding and appreciation of what she'd done (read the backstory here)
I love the wreath she used on the block door.
And of course I appreciated the fact she personalized the display just for me, warning that I should not sit or stand on the top step.
Weather Diary, Feb 27: Hi 36, Low 29/ Precip trace
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Wednesday Vignette; that was then, this is now...
Yesterday I took you on a visit to McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge and shared photos of a large Agave (and its pups) planted out in front of the lodge, along the Columbia river. Since those photos were taken last October—and we've had some real winter weather over the last few weeks—I stopped last weekend on our way back from Seattle to have a look...
Yay! It's being protected from the elements with a coat of needles. I've not seen this particular method used before, but I bet it's great at staying in place with the winds that whip through. According to Ryan, the McMenamins gardener for this location, the lowest temperature so far here has been 23F, and I assume they've gotten some snow too. Fingers crossed the worst is behind us and this beauty will live to enjoy the sun and warmer temperatures.
Weather Diary, Feb 26: Hi 40, Low 27/ Precip trace
Wednesday Vignettes are hosted by Anna at Flutter & Hum. All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Yay! It's being protected from the elements with a coat of needles. I've not seen this particular method used before, but I bet it's great at staying in place with the winds that whip through. According to Ryan, the McMenamins gardener for this location, the lowest temperature so far here has been 23F, and I assume they've gotten some snow too. Fingers crossed the worst is behind us and this beauty will live to enjoy the sun and warmer temperatures.
Weather Diary, Feb 26: Hi 40, Low 27/ Precip trace
Wednesday Vignettes are hosted by Anna at Flutter & Hum. All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Kalama Harbor Lodge
Last year a new McMenamins opened in Kalama, WA. This one is a change from the traditional McMenamins formula of rehabbing an existing property. I guess when a great location right on the Columbia River offers itself you do what you've got to do, even if it means building new...
I finally stopped last October, on my way up to Seattle to tour the Amazon Spheres, and checked out the plantings.
Looks like this Gunnera is going to be happy soaking up rainwater run-off from the parking lot.
And that's a lot of sedum!
The sky kept flirting with blue, but then the fog would settle back in.
That's a big container grouping!
I've walked around to the north side of the lodge now, the river is in the distance.
The plants here are still small, I'll have to make this a regular stop to, or from, Seattle, so I can watch them fill in. That tall gangly guy is a Magnolia macrophylla.
And here's a little Magnolia laevifolia.
The tiniest Schefflera delavayi I've ever seen.
Schefflera taiwaniana
Isn't this Melianthus hilarious? It looks like it can't decide how it wants to grow.
Moody river scene...
A Beschorneria? I even think I asked McMenamin's gardener Ryan Miller (he also cares for the Kennedy School gardens and I happened to run into him up here) about this plant, but that was 4 months ago and my memory fades...
Love this combo, the colors especially.
Looking back the direction I came from. That brown building is the Port of Kalama.
The fog, the river, it was all very photogenic that morning.
Check out the tunas on that Opuntia!
Tiny baby Agaves...
Phlomis
These two appear to be best friends.
Finally, I'm not going to lie, my jaw dropped when I saw this. Agave! Columbia River! My signature plant growing on the edge of my river. My heart was happy.
I know there were little Agaves before I spotted this one, but a mighty river deserves a mighty Agave and this A. americana (I'm assuming) definitely fits that description. Can you imagine the massive clump this could become with time? I'm giddy!
Moving on...
These are pretty sweet.
Agave bracteosa
I think that's a Grevillea...
And that's a charming wrap around balcony, or two.
The Port of Kalama Marine Park is to the south of McMenamins.
They were installing an amphitheater.
Lawn gets no respect.
I'd seen an Instagram photo of this Aloe cooperi, aka “Grass Aloe” — so I knew to walk around into the empty outdoor dining area to get a close up look at it.
It's foliage is good looking too.
Annie's Annuals says it's hardy to USDA Zone 8. I think I may need to try this one out.
Okay, my fingers were frozen and it was time to get back in the car and warm up! Hope you enjoyed this visit as much as I did.
Weather Diary, Feb 25: Hi 38, Low 32/ Precip .01"
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I finally stopped last October, on my way up to Seattle to tour the Amazon Spheres, and checked out the plantings.
Looks like this Gunnera is going to be happy soaking up rainwater run-off from the parking lot.
And that's a lot of sedum!
The sky kept flirting with blue, but then the fog would settle back in.
That's a big container grouping!
I've walked around to the north side of the lodge now, the river is in the distance.
The plants here are still small, I'll have to make this a regular stop to, or from, Seattle, so I can watch them fill in. That tall gangly guy is a Magnolia macrophylla.
And here's a little Magnolia laevifolia.
The tiniest Schefflera delavayi I've ever seen.
Schefflera taiwaniana
Isn't this Melianthus hilarious? It looks like it can't decide how it wants to grow.
Moody river scene...
A Beschorneria? I even think I asked McMenamin's gardener Ryan Miller (he also cares for the Kennedy School gardens and I happened to run into him up here) about this plant, but that was 4 months ago and my memory fades...
Love this combo, the colors especially.
Looking back the direction I came from. That brown building is the Port of Kalama.
The fog, the river, it was all very photogenic that morning.
Check out the tunas on that Opuntia!
Tiny baby Agaves...
Phlomis
These two appear to be best friends.
Finally, I'm not going to lie, my jaw dropped when I saw this. Agave! Columbia River! My signature plant growing on the edge of my river. My heart was happy.
I know there were little Agaves before I spotted this one, but a mighty river deserves a mighty Agave and this A. americana (I'm assuming) definitely fits that description. Can you imagine the massive clump this could become with time? I'm giddy!
Moving on...
These are pretty sweet.
Agave bracteosa
I think that's a Grevillea...
And that's a charming wrap around balcony, or two.
The Port of Kalama Marine Park is to the south of McMenamins.
They were installing an amphitheater.
Lawn gets no respect.
I'd seen an Instagram photo of this Aloe cooperi, aka “Grass Aloe” — so I knew to walk around into the empty outdoor dining area to get a close up look at it.
It's foliage is good looking too.
Annie's Annuals says it's hardy to USDA Zone 8. I think I may need to try this one out.
Okay, my fingers were frozen and it was time to get back in the car and warm up! Hope you enjoyed this visit as much as I did.
Weather Diary, Feb 25: Hi 38, Low 32/ Precip .01"
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
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