Monday, March 28, 2022

A spiky garden discovery in Silverton, Oregon

A couple weeks back Andrew and I were on our way to Silver Falls State Park when I caught sight of a large Agave ovatifolia...

Since Andrew was at the wheel we didn't stop (he requires plenty of notice), but I made note of the location and announced we would be stopping on our way back. Sadly, by the time we were headed home it was getting late and the light was fading. Plus, it had begun to rain and I had left my camera at home, my phone camera was all I had to record this spiky garden.
I would have driven back to take better photos, but Silverton is about an hour south of here, so not a quick adventure. 

Andrew noted the similarity to my plant palette: Dasylirion wheeleri, Arctostaphylos, Agave ovatifolia, Yucca rostrata. If only I had that amazing white-spined cactus and a monkey-puzzle tree, Araucaria araucana...

I counted three large Agave ovatifolia, two of them quite large. There was also what I think may have been an Agave 'Blue Glow' and an Agave parryi. But that's just what I could see from the street. No telling what treasures may have been lurking up by the house.

I love their tall metal panels used as fencing and the short metal box planters completing the border run to the street. The pathway with it's inset metal pieces is also pretty spectacular. I wonder if these folks just love metal, or if there's a professional tie-in? 
In case you're keeping track, I believe there were two Yucca rostrata.

I wish I would have paid more attention to the tree on the left side of this photo, it might be a Quercus hypoleucoides, the silverleaf oak?

Another stunning pathway, I wonder how the green rounds are kept in such a tidy patch? They perfectly mirror the round manhole cover. Check out that big patch of opuntia!

Another chunky cactus

The manhole cover says City of Salem, Oregon's capital city which is about 15 miles west of Silverton.

I am in love with this garden! I wonder what's going on in the back of the house? Fingers crossed they read my blog—or someone who does read it knows the gardeners?—and I can score an invite to tour? Perhaps there are better photos in the future, complete with whatever is going in that large metal planter on the corner...

All material © 2009-2022 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

22 comments:

  1. WOW, what a find! Definitely worth a repeat visit down the line. Maybe you get to meet the homeowners? Likely they're kindred spirits.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? It was so good!!!

      Delete
    2. I live in Silverton for 27 years, passed on to my Silverton groups😁☺️ Hope you can connect with owner! Have a great week 😊

      Delete
    3. This is our home, and my husband would love to share more with you!

      Delete
    4. Brenda Ballinger I would love to see more!

      Delete
  2. I immediately thought this gardener is a kindred spirit, sharing love of all things spiky. It'd be wonderful if through the social media tentacles you'll get an invitation for a close up visit.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What's not to love! What an eye for design, texture, contrast in plants and materials. Love those white-ish cacti.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such great design. I wonder if they are a garden designer?

      Delete
  4. You could just knock ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I could, and if I am down that way again I will. I wasn't able to that day as we had to get home.

      Delete
  5. Looks like an artist at work in this garden. And the garden is at the age where the scale is pitch perfect, like the whale's tongue agave mass balancing the manzanita canopy, silver blue against the red bark. And those amazing paths flowing thru it all building up such rhythm with the plants. It would be wonderful to talk to the owners about the decisions that led to this amazing moment with all the plants contributing at their peak. It shows such certitude and commitment to a vision!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meet me at Sebright Nursery just outside Salem and we can drive over to visit this one together! Oh! Or maybe we meet at the Oregon Garden in Silverton. That would be fun!

      Delete
    2. This is our home! My husband Doug is definitely an artist, and an Ironworker by trade. He would love to share more with you!

      Delete
    3. 😃, Brenda. Isabel and I pass your home just about everyday. Your garden has brought me joy just by looking at it. These pictures showed me that they're more delightful than one can see by driving by. Thank you Foug and Brenda! Gabriella S.

      Delete
    4. Brenda Ballinger I don't know how to get in touch with you, but I would love to see more! My email is spikyplants@gmail.com, I hope to hear from you.

      Delete
  6. What a great discovery! I hope you can connect with the owner. All the silver/gray/blue foliage was a nice nod to the town's name too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha, you're good! I didn't think of that.

      Delete
  7. Hmm. Agaves look great with Arctostaphylos, don't they?

    Beautiful garden--looks like it is and has been cared for for some time. Always nice to see a loved garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I went back and looked at the Google Maps timeline photos, indeed it's established and been well loved.

      Delete
  8. Great looking garden, but not crammed enough to be a danger garden! Ha ha!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!