Monday, November 25, 2019

Jane Kerr Platt Garden, a stop during the 2019 Portland Study Weekend, last June

I'm always a little apprehensive when I see a full grown Magnolia macrophylla such as this. My tree will be this large someday...

It turns out large specimens are what this garden is all about. From our handout: The Platt Garden was started from scratch in the 1940's by John and Jane Kerr Platt. This garden, originally an apple and cherry orchard, is known for its collection of species rhododendrons and a variety of witch hazels, two groups championed by John and Jane and, for the last 20 years, their son David*. The garden is known both as a collectors garden and for its ability to display specimens with an eye to the combination of color, texture, and size. After nearly 80 years, many of the older specimens can be seen in their fully mature form...Also enjoy the Pietro Belluschi-designed home nestled into this wonderful setting. *David and Lisa Platt are the garden's current owners.

The setting felt more like a park than a garden.

Here's a plant I am unfamiliar with...

Can anyone ID it?

Rhododendron pachysanthum, I believe.

I've no idea which rhododendron this is.

Their Paris polyphylla were planted in the sun. I looked around to see if maybe I'd just happened by during a brief bit of sun but no, they were in a very exposed spot. Interesting. I know this as a shade plant.

Now these are sun plants!

This agave and aloe seemed to be recent arrivals, still in their nursery pots. In a historic, upscale garden such as this I wondered what the story was. Someone on the tour dropped them off? They were meant to be planted up before the hordes arrived but missed?

So much lawn, and so green...

That's a perfect swinging tree!

Finally, I spotted this cool old wheelbarrow tucked away in a corner I probably wasn't supposed to be in. Deep shade accounts for the odd color of the photo. Isn't it fabulous!?

Weather Diary, Nov 24: Hi 51, Low 40/ Precip .16"

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

18 comments:

  1. I think the ID for the plant is glaucidium palmatum. Far Reaches Farm has it.

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    1. Yes, the leaves certainly look the same, I wonder why they (and the other nurseries that list it online) aren't showing photos of the purple pod? That would seem a selling point to me.

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  2. That plant, with its purple, peanut-shaped pod, is familiar, I know I've seen it before, either online or in person, but I can't remember what it's called. I bet Peter would know. I've made a resolution to try to find a good specimen of Rhodendeon pachysanthum this coming spring for my garden. I saw so many wonderful plantings of Rhodies with lovely tomentum this summer.

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    1. Perhaps you saw it at Far Reaches? (see above) I love that rhododendron. I got mine at Gossler Farms. Maybe you should take a field trip?

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    2. I was going to say I thought I saw it at Far Reaches, but I couldn't find any mention of a plant with a purple peanut-shaped seedpod. Like you, I figured for sure that would be a big selling point. The ID above certainly seems right.

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  3. Yes, this garden feels a bit like a park or a golf course because of the large swaths of grass, but the first feeling I had was envy: it would be amazing to be able to plant trees that will reach their 80-100 feet potential! (instead of dwarfs or smallish trees and always with the pruning sheers ready). And yes, the wheelbarrow is fabulous, and apparently still in use.

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  4. A large garden means a whole different approach. Fabulous that they decided on trees and allowed them to reach their full potential.

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  5. Finally, i get to see a group of photos of this garden that I have heard about forever...thanks!
    rickii

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  6. Grass = park in my book too. Pretty though.

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  7. Another one that did not make my agenda so I'm glad to get your report.Can you imagine living in a place like this ? Like Hoov said above people who collect trees have a whole different aesthetic. It makes me think of Bishops Close-I always feel so ignorant when I go there-I am bad with tree ID !

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    1. I would have liked to take a few more photos of the house and right around it but the owners were there, chatting with visitors and it felt like an invasion.

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    2. Bishop’s Close is where the Jane Platt grew up. So, great eye!

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  8. It does seem like an arboretum, well-groomed!

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