Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Walking (slowly) and agave hunting...

I hope that by now you all have experienced the overwhelmingly joy of getting together with family (and friends who are family) after the long COVID pause. Because of my ankle break, and the resulting surgery, I had not—life had still been on hold—it was all getting old. That is until my friend Julie's visit last week. Heading to the airport to pick her up was an emotional experience, and on the way I spotted this...


Very near my home, but an area I'd not been by since last winter—more agaves in the hood! There are seven I see in this section, a few look to be Agave ovatifolia, but I'm not sure about ID on the others.

I've passed by this home many times before, but the new landscaping had me looking at it in a different light.

More agaves on the other side of the front door!


I love the stylized cut-outs on the fence...

And continue to wish that Portland gardeners would embrace something more visually pleasing than a summer-dormant lawn spotted with weeds.

Walking—because I can! (kinda)—up the other side of the house to the garage yielded this container vignette.

Their potted conifer looks to be suffering the same burning we're seeing all around the area, from our extreme heat event back in June.

Another day, another garden. I photographed this one last September based on a tip from Matthew. Recently an Instagram friend (opunita_12) tipped me off to the fact the property was for sale so I did another drive-by...

Depending on where in the country you are this price must seem either extremely affordable, or rather insane. I'd have to call it pretty much right on the money for Portland these days.
 
Especially with such a fabulous garden. Although—sadly—not everyone will see that value.

Agave ovatifolia

Yucca rostrata (x 2)...

Because the house is on the market I broke my rule about staying on the street-side sidewalk and ventured up into the garden.




Seeing these plants up-close was worth the risk of alarming someone.

I stopped this side of the gate into the back garden though. Why? Well it just seemed a little rude, and I pushed on the gate and it didn't easily give way. That's the only NO I needed. If you're curious click on over to the realtor's photos here, the back garden is pretty fabulous.

I think I could be happy here. A sale is already pending though, so I won't be packing up.

All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

20 comments:

  1. The near-by home has a lot of charm. The new landscaping may be just the first step in more elaborate garden, in which case the lawn will shrink with each of your future visits. The cut-outs on the fence are a fun idea.

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    1. Oh... you may be on to something here! One to watch for sure.

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  2. $599,000 would be the deal of a lifetime in our neck of the woods--sadly!

    I loved seeing all those agaves (and yuccas), but most of all, I was so happy to see that you're able to get around more.

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    1. It's amazing really, being able to move about some what normally.

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  3. And the current owner's loves books too! All right up my alley!

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  4. I'm glad you're getting to walk about, even if that's still in the "kinda" category. The new landscaping at the nearby house looks like a work-in-progress to me and I'm guessing there'll be more to admire in the future. My husband caught me looking at the real estate listing for the home for sale, forcing me to explain! As Gerhard said, the price is a major bargain by California standards - and the house is bigger than mine, although the lot is much smaller. My husband said, if we were to move, he'd want to go further north...

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    1. North like Seattle? Or north like Alaska?

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  5. Ditto what Gerhard said. Lovely plantings. Happy you are on the mend!

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  6. Lovely garden with some impressive specimens. Hopefully the new owners will appreciate how spectacular they are. It would be very hard for you to leave your garden as you have put so much of yourself into it.

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    1. Yes indeed. I can't imagine leaving my plants behind, at least not yet...

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  7. The last agave is esp. beautiful... Glad you getting out and about once again, Loree.

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    1. Isn't it? Those dark margins are just dreamy...

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  8. I'm so happy you can go for walks again! I would find it very hard to leave your garden - even for *that* house.

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    1. Well, "walks" not quite yet... but soon!

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  9. 599k is so last year.I'm just waiting for the bubble to pop-my house is not worth what its worth. On another note, what a great house and garden, and how fantastic that you could stroll about !

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    1. Bubbles are interesting to watch aren't they?

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  10. I'm surprised by the lowish price too, by LA standards anyway. I'd take down the low box hedging and open up views of all those amazing plants...thanks for the fantasy! And glad you're walking, even if slowly!

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  11. Urban/suburban house prices anywhere in the country are crazy. The neighborhoods I'd consider downsizing to, all have smaller and older houses than our current one. But they are all more expensive than what we'd get for our house. That garden makes the house; would hate to see it go.

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