Elk Rock Garden of the Bishop’s Close, now home to the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon

Back in January of 2023 I wrote about visiting the Elk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close for what I feared might be the last time. The property had been put up for sale and it looked prime for a developer to buy the large parcel and divide it into smaller lots.

Thankfully (surprisingly) that's not what happened! From the Spring 2024 edition of the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon's Quarterly magazine: "Elk Rock Garden is the legacy of Peter Kerr, a grain merchant originally from Scotland, who moved to the land in 1893 and purchased it in 1905. The 1916 manor house was built for Kerr and his family on a site selected for its Mount Hood view. Although Kerr hired John Olmstead of the Olmstead Brothers landscape architecture firm to evaluate the site and Portland’s first superintendent of parks to develop a planting scheme, it is understood that Kerr largely followed his own inclinations in creating what now may be the oldest private estate garden in the Pacific Northwest. It features an extensive plant collection, including rare and native trees, shrubs, and perennials, many of which are labeled. A winding stream, edged with lush plantings, ferns, and moss-covered rock, is a particular highlight."

"After Peter Kerr’s 1957 death, his family made an endowed gift of the estate to the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon. The diocese occupied the two-story mansion for more than six decades, a period during which the public was able to enjoy the magnificent gardens. In late 2022, the diocese announced that it was selling the property, then known as Elk Rock Garden of the Bishop’s Close. For several months, the future of the garden appeared to be uncertain. Then in July 2023, Kerr descendants, through the Elk Rock Garden Foundation, purchased the nine-acre estate, saving the historic garden and generously ensuring public access to this botanical treasure."

My visits have always included a look at these trough planters that came to Elk Rock Garden after the closing of another local garden that I was never able to visit, the Berry Botanic Garden.

As as you may have inferred from the title of this post, the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon has a new home at the garden. This is very exciting news for society members! The HPSO has moved offices a few times over it's 28-year history, most recently to a less than inspiring (but affordable!) office off a main street in South Portland. Now the offices (and someday the lending library) are in the manor house at the garden. It's just such a perfect match. 

My visits to this garden have always seemed to take place in the fall and winter, after all spring and summer are just too busy in my own garden and often include travel plans. In February this part of the garden is alive with color as the hamamelis (witch hazel) are in bloom.

It was such a change to see the trees all leafed out and the area alive with spring green.

The reason for my April visit was a tour with the HPSO Eastside gardener's group. We all descended upon the garden, had a good walk about, and then met up inside the home for a tour and tea. Yes, inside the home! After visiting for over 10 years and wondering about the home I was finally able to go inside!

But first, a few more photos in the garden. I usually catch this Wisteria sinensis 'Alba' after it's lost its leaves and is just a gnarly old trunk. This visit I got to see (and smell) the flowers!

The Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress' here look better than in many gardens around town (winter damage).

Pacific Coast iris

This pedestal (and it's twin across the pathway) is usually topped by an urn, recently planted with a sculptural dark-leaved astelia. 

Well, at least it's still nearby.

Looking across the front parking area...

Maybe Rhododendron 'Medusa'? A Facebook friend posted a photo of his blooming plant by that name and it looked quite similar.

The house from across the garden.

Loropetalum chinense 'Pipa's Red'

I couldn't decide which photo I liked better, so you get both.

Even though I live in the land of ginormous rhododendrons it still inspires awe when I see a house-sized one.

Much smaller than the rhododendron, this pieris was certainly just as impressive, with that blood-red foliage.

A look east across the Willamette River towards Mt Hood, that's a million dollar (+) view.

Laburnum

Their Rhododendron sinograde was looking quite sad too (like mine and many others here in the PNW), still, it bloomed.

I didn't catch the name of this purple rhody, it's color change from the typical shades of pink was appreciated.

Okay, a couple of photos from inside the house. First off, the front entry door is behind me, but the hallway shoots straight through to another door that opens next to the huge white wisteria I shared earlier at the back of the house.

It's a door to that opens to the million dollar view of Mt Hood in the distance (it's there, look closely).

The dining room with its long table and wide mantel.

As a person with a background in historic lighting I couldn't help but be horrified at the many florescent box lights that had been mounted throughout the house. There were several questionable choices made throughout the years as updates happened. What were they thinking!?! 

Ending on a better note, this piece of furniture (which had me thinking of a baptismal font—after all the mansion had very recently been the home of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon—but no doubt I'm wrong) held a great selection of houseplants in a sunny window. 

A big thank you to the Kerr descendants for keeping the property from being sold off and developed. You've preserved a piece of your own history as well as one for all of Portland. I have no doubt there are great things ahead for the match-up of the Elk Rock Garden Foundation and the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon, If you'd like to visit the garden it's open (free of charge) Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. More info here.

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