Dana's cramscaped urban Vancouver garden (the third BC stop, if you're counting)

Dana Cromie—co-chair of the Vancouver Hardy Plant Group—is the reason I was in Vancouver earlier this month, he asked me to speak at their Study Day event. While up in Vancouver I was thrilled to get to visit his personal garden...

Arctostaphylos are not as widely planted up in Vancouver as they are in Portland, but Dana had one growing along the front sidewalk. Yes, it's hugging it's friend the rhododendron (maybe R. pachysanthum?).

Dana's garden is small, but packed with treasures.

Syneilesis aconitifolia

Containers up against the house, protected by the staircase on their right.

Seeds like candy...

Dana mentioned he had a few different (but choice) Asplenium scolopendrium, and I saw several nice ones on my visit. This fern doesn't like me, or my garden, so I've kind of ignored it. Maybe I need to rethink that stance and try again.

Some sort of Polystichum setiferum (I think?) but I'm not sure which one.

Looking up the plant-filled stairs...

...and now back down.

Here we're looking down on the corner with many of the treasures I noted above.

Standing tall above it all, a Magnolia macrophylla, I wonder if any of you noticed the distinctive leaves earlier, on the ground? What I knew going into this visit was that Dana and his husband Greg cut this tree back to control its height. Dana has sent me photos in the past, and I really hoped to get a couple of good ones during this visit, but the fallen leaves caught in the center of the tree hide their careful work.

By cutting the main trunk back hard, and then selectively pruning out branches each year, they're able to keep the size of the tree manageable for a small garden. Yes, I am thinking about doing something similar.

Climbing the stairs toward the front door there's an interesting rock garden planting to the side. During my visit glass tables were in place to protect the plants over the winter.

Peeking under the glass.

Oh baby! Banksia blechnifolia, be calm my jealous heart.

Now we've walked through the house and come out on the back deck.

Dana's most recent haul from the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, I recognize many as offerings from the Hardy Fern Foundation.

Ah yes, Dana is having success with Bomarea hirtella just like Claude. I'm so jealous.

They're growing in those two large terracotta planters at the back.

Oh! That's a very simiar hepatica to the one I got from Fred last summer. I hope I won't regret putting mine in the ground.

A pulled back shot of the area we were just looking at, notice there is a greenhouse behind it all. We'll visit there before this post is over.

Turning to look at the rest of the patio area, check out those begonia leaves! Begonia silletensis, I believe.

And that low wall...

I saw several examples of great cement blocks—different than are available here in the States—during my short time in Vancouver (approximately 48 hours). Maybe I need to drive up sometime and fill my car with them?

You can grow plants in there!

These narrow shelves were along the back of the house.

An unusual Asplenium scolopendrium?

On the far left Rhododendron changii.

Stepping down to the lower level at the back.

Here I was very aware that fallen leaves in other people's gardens are pretty, where as in my own garden I see them as work. Of course Dana's leaves are like colorful confetti...

Cryptomeria some somebody...

Podophyllum pleianthum I believe.

While I'm not a big fan of conifers I do appreciate this one with the two different colored needles.

Pyrrosia!

Lygodium japonicum, aka  Japanese climbing fern. Yes, I probably need this.

Stepping down to the greenhouse level...

Peeking in...

  Agapetes 

And this! Instant plant lust!!! Pyrrosia linearifolia 'Urakoryu Jishi'. Oh man...

Inside Dana and Greg's home now, I was rather smitten with this 30-yr old Phlebodium aureum ‘Undulatum’.

And the patterns it made on the ceiling when Greg happened to lay his phone on his lap while it was in flashlight mode.

Thanks Dana for sharing your home, and garden, and for a most excellent adventure!

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