Return to the Silverton Garden—a real visit this time

Back in March I shared photos from a random drive-by garden I spotted in Silverton, Oregon. The photos were horrid, but I had to share—hoping maybe they would be seen by someone who knew the gardener and I'd be put in touch. Well folks, it happened! In early June I was invited over for a tour, and the garden is even better than I imagined. Plus the gardener is a super nice guy with seemingly unlimited talent. This is gonna be a very long post, but I have a feeling you'll wish it was even longer.

Here's where I parked, right in front of this picture perfect slice of heaven.

Walking up to knock on the door I passed this gorgeous clump of rodgersia.

Here's a little backstory before I launch into photo-overload. Doug Ballinger is the creator of this paradise, Brenda Ballinger is the one who uses social media, reached out to me, and got this visit scheduled. Doug has been working on this garden for 15 years now, he's an ironworker by trade (thus all the cool metal creations) but an artist at heart—as well as an amazing gardener. 

Doug has read my blog over the years, so I wasn't a complete stranger to him, but he's such a nice guy I think he'd happy tour anyone through the garden. To say that I was blown away by what I saw sounds trite, but it's the closest I can come to describing the experience of walking around the garden. Doug and I are obviously kindred spirits when it comes to plant choices, but he's taken them to an entirely different place with the way he's put the garden together. Let's get started...

After we walked out the front door and took a right into the garden Doug casually pointed to this new planting area in progress as we passed. Check out that framework and the expertly placed rocks, what a great beginning! 

The first of of three gorgeous Agave ovatifolia I'll share, and colorful poppies that were a constant throughout the front garden, I'm glad I visited while they were in bloom.

I was so jealous when I saw this old sink used as a planter. We had one just like it but Andrew had to bust it into small pieces to get it up out of our basement. Plus, I just don't think I could have carried it off the way that Doug did.

Tall metal panels separate Doug and Brenda's front garden from the next door neighbor's driveway.

Cirsium somesomething, I believe.

Looking back over my shoulder at the side garden, we'll walk though this space later in the post.

I spotted this line of square planters during my March visit, but they weren't planted up like this then.

I also didn't remember the striking Agave victoriae-reginae. Turns out Doug employs the same technique I sometimes do, lifting a few plants in the fall and keeping them undercover for winter, then planting out in the spring.

Pots are also expertly nestled into the garden.

You've no doubt spotted the pathways. Pieces of metal interspersed with rocks, they are works of art.

From the street I thought this trunking yucca was a Y. rostrata, but it's not. Maybe a Yucca elata? Yucca thompsoniana? Doug didn't know for sure, maybe you can ID?

Close up...

I think he said he's been lifting this Agave 'Sharkskin', if so I hope he'll consider leaving it out in the future. I should be hardy for us here in the greater Portland area. I've had one out for two years now, and Lance had one in his hellstrip that grew to blooming size.

More pathway artistry...

Sempervivum tucked in... 

I walked the garden with Doug, and then again on my own—however I am sure there are things I missed. There's so much to see!

I commented on how unusual it was to have a split trunked Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle tree) and Doug pointed out there are actually three growing points, the third is at the back.

Looking towards the street and the tall Yucca rostrata.

And then towards the second Agave ovatifolia, which was HUGE! Sadly I've just now realized I forgot the name of the sexy—well pruned—arctostaphylos. Oh well. Lack of ID doesn't take away from it's beauty.

More metal pipe planters—round this time—perfectly set-off by the rocks at their base.

But you know what really catches my eye in that grouping? Yep... this amazing variegated agave. Somehow I missed it when I walked through with Doug, but spotted it on my solo pass. It looks like a variegated version of what I know as Agave 'Royal Spine'.

Another view of the pathway...

And the third Agave ovatifolia, and it's equally sexy arctostaphylos partner.

Have you been appreciating the poppies? Who knew agaves and poppies made such a good match.

When I first spotted the garden this big metal planter was empty, but not anymore! (the tree behind it, to the left is a silver-leaf oak, Quercus hypoleucoides—I wish I'd have gotten a shot that really featured it as it's a beauty)

Check out the fun layers of plants and rocks.

I remember working my way around it, touching all the plants and different rock textures as I went. I am horrible in museums, but thankfully gardeners don't seem to mind when you touch their works of art.

Can you even? I still pinch myself at the dumb luck involved in my coming across this garden. What if I hadn't gone with Andrew that day? What if I'd been looking at my phone as we passed, and this ginormous Agave ovatifolia hadn't caught my eye?

There are gardens and gardeners that get a lot of press, ones we all know and visit over and over again. They're on local tours, they have names, they're loved by many. But seeing this garden and talking with Doug wondered how many amazing gardens are completely unknown to all of us, just around the corner? On the next street over? 

I'm backtracking now, you've seen this agave before, but hey, it's so good I'm sharing it again. No, that's not a real snake, although it did cause me pause.

Same agave, different view.

I know this gorgeous number as Agave 'Royal Spine', same as the one we drooled over earlier, but not variegated.

Up against the house now and there are more "upcycled" planters and other artistic work.

I should have done an agave count, I bet there are more agaves in this garden than there are in mine.

I feel like I'm running out of complimentary things to say, but really!? Look at this!

The placement within the over all garden, the plants, the rocks and bits of metal, and, and, and...

Best of all it's authentic to who Doug is and what he does.

Just a couple more shots of the front garden...

Walking through the side garden now, and looking back towards the front. Vegetables are being taking over by flowers (or maybe I've got that backwards?)...

And pots of spikes in waiting are worked in here and there.

Now we've walked through the gate at the end of the side yard and I'm about to discover the shady magic that is the back garden.

I felt so at home here, with the same layout that I have in my garden. Sunny drought tolerant spikes in the front, shady moisture lovers in the back. Even a nice patch of syneilesis.

Asplenium scolopendrium (Hart's Tongue Fern) looking absolutely fabulous.

And damn! That's a nice clump of Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern).

Blechnum spicant/Struthiopteris spicant (deer fern) with a zillion fertile fronds.

Silver Creek runs along the back of their property. Andrew would probably be out fishing every night if he had this amenity.

Turning back towards the garden. Metapanax delavayi on the left, tall Tetrapanax on the right.

Working our way along the north(ish) side of the house now...

Again, I am in awe of the artistry at work.

I feel so lucky to have been toured through the garden by it's creator and care-taker.

Thank you Doug and Brenda! Your garden is a magical place, I am thrilled to get to share it here on my blog, thank you!

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