Today's post features a few places I've stopped to take photos of, but that didn't warrant a full blog post all their own (they're worthy, I just don't have enough photos). First up the Pat Calvert Greenhouse at the UW Arboretum. I did a quick look-see back in July during the last day of
the Fling. You never know what you might find for sale there, plus it's fun to keep an eye on the garden.
The ginormous gunnera, shaggy palms...
... and recovering cordylines. Unlike
the ones I showed last Friday (that are only sprouting at the base), these are also growing further up the chunky trunk.
I have no idea why this plant/pot needed to be chained to the greenhouse structure, but it must be valuable in someone's eyes.
Now we're in Portland, where I happened upon this row of Agave ovatifolia when I turned on a random side street to avoid traffic. Score!
Five sexy agaves all in a row (with a nice Yucca rostrata in the background). I have to wonder, were there more agaves in the empty spots that didn't make it?
The spacing seems like that may have been the case.
Full-frontal shot.
Back up in Seattle now, after visiting my friend
Scott's garden (post forthcoming) he took me to see this nice commercial planting.
That healthy Yucca rostrata with the chunky trunk must have bloomed or endured some sort of trauma because it now has several growing points, I think we counted at least five. Behind it is a blooming crepe myrtle...
... and just a little further down the sidewalk an extremely happy mass of opuntia. Look at all that fruit! It must have been incredible in bloom.
And speaking of fruit, there's also a pomegranate with full-size fruit.
Pulled back view.
And including the narrow hellstrip.
Last week I was on the road again, doing a couple garden visits (
Tangly Cottage being one of them, future posts!) and stayed at The Salt hotel in Ilwaco, WA.
Things were very quiet there during my visit (it is the off season, and it was a Wednesday night), so I had this container courtyard all to myself...
Just behind the hotel, the harbor...
I drove up to Long Beach with the idea I'd stay for the sunset, but I didn't last that long.
The locals came out to say hi though. I like what they've done with the grass...
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That commercial garden is quite impressive! I can't recall anything around a commercial building here that shows that much variation and creativity (unless you count the Disney Hall garden in downtown LA). I love the harbor and seaside views - my harbor views aren't nearly as attractive ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd it's been so well cared for over the years, no mow-and-blow crew hacking at things. As for your harbor and seaside views, what are you talking about??? They are top-notch!
DeleteThe chained pot hardly seems worthy of the effort. Five agaves and Yucca yard have such promise. An afternoon clean-up and that would be a looker! I like your smatter of places post. Gorgeous cloudy sky photo.
ReplyDeleteYa I'll admit I wanted to get in that front yard and do a hard clean-up, plant some different colors and textures...
DeleteI can't imagine why they planted that really big Opuntia next to the sidewalk. That would be a constant fight to keep it inbounds so that no unsuspecting person brushed against it. Ouch!
ReplyDeleteI understand your concern, but they seem to be doing a pretty good job keeping it pruned back, and some of it is growing up, rather than out.
DeleteGlad to hear that. The ones with the big pads like that do get huge: both up and out! I walk my dogs in our neighborhood and give them a really wide berth!
DeleteYou weren't fogged in at the coast! It always amazes me what you Portlanders can grow, even if you did just have a terrible January. I wonder if the missing agaves got taken out by that or a previous event? I can't figure out what that scratchy art piece is in the corner at Salt (3rd photo). Sort of part scarecrow and part waterfall.
ReplyDeleteRain A LOT OF RAIN on Wednesday but it cleared up that evening and Thursday was lovely, no fog. That scratchy art piece is a basalt bubbler with curly willow sticks behind it... basically an abstract scarecrow.
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