This perfect water dish was once a fountain in downtown Portland. I know it's a sin, but I covet this. So very much.
I've sworn to purchase no more Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow'. They look great for a season, maybe two, and then they just cease to be. But when they're good, they're very very good.
This palm oasis is in the center of a circular driveway. I really want to go back and see it in the summer when the Tetrapanax papyrifer is all leafed out (the tall, bare, sticks).
I don't remember if we learned the purpose of this adorable small shed (it makes me think of a pumphouse), but we did learn it has to come down soon, before it falls down. Bummer!
If you look to the the back of the shed above you can see a fenced area in the distance. That's the vegetable garden. Or rather the vegetable prison. Double rows of fencing keep the deer out.
If my memory is correct George (Maurice's other half and an incredible baker, more of that in a bit) said they have 10 acres. Not all of it is this intensely gardened, but there are new planting areas being added.
This photo, looking towards the back of the house, was taken just beyond the clipped shrubs in the photo above. I adore that patio! I am jealous of their large windows and patio access.
Looking to the left across the back corner of the patio.
Nodding Euphorbia wulfenii bloom.
I'm really enjoying getting to see so many winter gardens this year—I know, technically it's now spring, but barely... and remember, it was snowing on my way to see this garden!
I need a mossy, saxifraga covered stump.
Edgeworthia, the star of many of our PNW gardens this time of year.
Looking across the patio again. The first patio shot I took was from a viewpoint off to the left, the home is to the right, and if you could see through that foliage in the distance you could make out part of the doomed little garden shed.
I snapped several shots of this formal part of the garden—does it qualify as a parterre?—but this is the only one that came close to capturing the magic. Tamara got a great photo of this space from the other side, and also identified many of the plants—her blog post on our visit is here.
The small spiky garden...
Agave parryi var. parryi
Group portrait, the sideways was yucca bent under the weight of snow and ice.
I took SO MANY photos of this beauty. Arctostaphylos manzanita 'Dr. Hurd'...
So incredibly cared for, pruned to perfection.
The rain made that smooth, sexy bark shine.
I finally tore myself away from the manzanita and turned to appreciate a new planting in the making—that's the neighbor's house beyond the fence.
Sadly winter wiped out a few of the plants before they really got going.
Oh look, there's Dr Hurd again! I'd love to see what treasures are lurking among the rocks come summertime.
We're in front of the house now—the blooming cherry started off this post, seen from the side of the house nearest the driveway. Those trunking variegated yucca were flawless, and what a great combination with the yellow hellebores.
Moving around to go down the steps now, they're the approach (or in this case departure) from the front door.
And I'm back to admiring this combo!
Looking over my shoulder once I'm down to the bottom of the steps.
The house seen from a distance. I think it was about here that George left our wandering group and headed back to the house to heat water for tea. He also prepared a scrumptious spread of scones and muffins (homemade) as well as two kinds of jam (also homemade), one of which made from mahonia berries! They were so good, that man's got talent.
We walked down towards the water at the far edge of the property. Can you make out the dusting of snow on the hills in the distance?
Walking back towards the house now, I stopped to admire this dark hellebore.
And the view of the driveway palm oasis from the opposite side.
Garrya elliptica arch...
Well there we are, a pyrrosia! P. lingua 'Eboshi' to be exact, and it looks unfazed by winter.
As you may remember I look for an agave and a pyrrosia when touring a PNW garden, if I see both then I know I'm dealing with a like-minded gardener (or in this case gardeners). Maurice and George are all that and more.
Oh! We're back behind the house at the edge of the patio again and the light has gotten even better...
What can I say? I was enchanted.
I'll wrap up this post with a couple of photos I shot from inside the house. These show just how perfectly the house is open to the landscape. First from the front window...
The side...
And the back...
Thanks again to our kind hosts George and Maurice, it was a very special day in a truly magnificent garden.
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