Tuesday, October 22, 2019

A small garden I drive by...

We have a default Thai take-out place not too far from home, it seems I pick up food there at least once a month, maybe more. Headed home I drive by this house and it's tiny front garden. I finally had time to make a quick stop and the light was decent for photo taking, so...

Normally I'm not a fan of the garage out front style of home-building, but at least this one has a cool door, less garage, more funky old warehouse window. And that tree! It makes everything okay.

The scene to the left of the driveway. Looks like they're in the process of building a nice wooden corral for their waste bins, I love that and wish my neighbors would do the same.

Here's the garden I check out as I drive by, it's to the right of the driveway.

There's some sweet yucca action going on...

And some choice little succulents. Some of them are not going to last through a typical Portland winter...

Whereas others will be fine...

When I see a garden with plants like these I wonder if they made choices understanding hardiness issues, or if the rotting death of the tender plants will be a surprise (either due to poor labeling/signage where they bought them, or their not knowing what hardiness zone we're in). Of course someone could walk around my garden right now and ask the same question. I have plants in the ground that are tender here. I may lift them or I may not, so I wonder. Obviously this sempervivum will be fine.

Some of their other plant choices have me concerned for size, however, again there are examples of this in my own garden too.

The Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle tree) and Japanese maple just a couple of feet apart could become a problem, someday. Or maybe the maple is just there until the monkey puzzle grows up?

The opuntia though, pure fabulousness!

And another shot of the yuccas at the top of the mound, love them. I'll definitely be watching this garden to see how it develops.

Weather Diary, Oct 21: Hi 62, Low 52/ Precip .01"

All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

13 comments:

  1. Lucky for them, the monkey puzzle tree is slow growing. This is one of those places one wish it was possible to peek in the back garden too...

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  2. I love all the small succulents tucked into nooks and crannies and am hoping to do the same if/when I get back to work on my bromeliad/succulent pocket garden. You'll have to report back on how this garden handles the winter conditions. My BIL who lives on Vashon was here yesterday and took home some succulents to try up his way. He says he moves his succulents - all 12 pots of them - under cover each winter. I laughed and told him about the great migration you and others in the PNW undertake each year.

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    1. Wow what a time for him to visit, during the remodel! And I am impressed he labors for 12 pots, a lot of people wouldn't even do that.

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  3. Interesting mysteries & a cool house/garden to enjoy monthly.

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  4. At least you can tell where to find the front door which is critical. Even knowing how big things like trees will get, it is easy to overplant. Especially if you find interesting things; they make it hard to accept reality!

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  5. Wouldn't you love to see the rest of the garden??? Maybe some day...

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    1. I would. "Excuse me, I'm a garden reporter, I just need to have a little look around..."

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  6. Imaginative use of the little driveway side strip. A lot more interesting than the weedy grass of the neighbouring garden.

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  7. Nicely done. The rocks could be better arranged. (I sure don't know how.)

    Someone in the neighborhood on a small lot planted 8 oak trees, each about 5 feet apart. People need patience where tree planting is concerned.

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