Visiting the Mardi Gras Gardener

I've shared several photos of my friend Alan's garden on my Instagram page, but I could not find any record of having written about his Portland garden here on the blog. So, in case I haven't, well, now I am.

Alan recently had an open garden for HPSO members, and then an after hours party for his friends.

I wasn't able to stay long, but I did manage to take 30-some pictures. Alan's garden is extremely photographable... gorgeous flowers, plants, and vignettes everywhere.

Alan's Instagram handle is the Mardi Gras Gardener, as he hails from New Orleans and loves a good party.

As you'll see, Eryngiums are kind of Alan's thing. There is an amazing number of them in his garden, all grown well.

The somewhat serene entry to the house doesn't fully prepare you for the plant chaos that lies beyond.

It's wall to wall plants!

With so many sexy blooms passersby have done not nice things...

I think this is Kniphofia thomsonii?

Working my way along the long border...

More Eryngium...

An Oleander with a Tetrapanax backer.

The Verbena were off the charts, mixing and mingling with all the plants.

Oh ya... Agave ovatifolia looking glamourous.

More Verbena.

Another Eryngium, maybe a nice tall Eryngium yuccifolium?

More Kniphofia...

How long has it been since you've seen a free-standing mail box? It's been awhile for me.

Eryngium agavifolium

Clematis florida var. sieboldiana (damn!)

Definitely a Rhododendron, perhaps R. makinoi?

Oh ya, I love me a good stump planting...

And what's that...

Look at that foliage!

Turns out this is very much a danger garden plant! Aralia spinosa aka the devil's walking stick. So named named for the sharp, spiny bits that cover its trunk, branches, and even the petioles and leaf midribs. And of course for the fact it kind of "walks" around the garden, popping up here and there.

I'm hoping Alan will share one of those babies with me, when the time comes to dig them.

It's a gorgeous plant! (and garden)

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