I've followed
Auntie Robin on Instagram for awhile now and met her in person while standing in line at
Hortlandia last year (or was it the year before?). I knew the woman loved palm trees but I was not prepared for this...
I visited her garden in person last month and was blown away by the sheer number of palms.
Her garden is large—more than 4 times the size of my lot—and Robin says she's planted 19 different palm varieties and 48 total palms! I'm always curious about the roots of people who live in the Portland area but grow plants that aren't typically found here, so I asked Robin about that: "I am from Oregon but have traveled the world. I love the architectural way you can use palms. I am a sculptor and working with shapes and forms is my element. Throw in my love of plants and my nerdy side and I am a happy girl."
Those raised planters aren't just for looks, she uses them to create a custom planting soil mix and... "
I build the raised beds with heat cables. I know I am on the edge of zonal denial. Plus, online there's a bunch of us that share data on winters challenges. They have taught me a lot over the last couple years." you read that right, she can heat the root zone of these plants!
A few more photos of the front garden...
And then we move to the back garden...
There's a large deck off the back of Robin's home, where you get a great view looking down on the back garden...
As you might imagine, when you've got a thing for palms, you also go all in for tiki culture...
The tiki lounge is tucked under the deck, perfect for enjoying the garden year-round.
I love these three tall planter bases, raised planting bowls are always the right answer to more plants!
Naturally there are big bananas, wherever there are palms, there are usually bananas.
Another covered lounge spot.
Do I see another palm? Yes of course I do...
Schefflera taiwaniana (Heptapleurum taiwanianum) with a Sinopanax formosanus on the left.
Looking back over my shoulder...
And up towards the house.. pretty amazing, right?
Robin was adamant that her garden isn't ready for prime time viewing yet, as she's still working on it (aren't we all?). I appreciate her letting me share these photos as they show just how much work she's done already, and I'll have something to compare to when she has her first big open garden. Thanks Robin!
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Great garden and selection of plants!
ReplyDeleteMost people end up with a slightly hotch potch collection of pots, because they buy them slowly over time.
It is interesting to see what a very collection of mostly the same pots looks like. It makes the place feel very grounded :)
Are you referring to the big metal circles? I can't really think of those as pots, they're so big!
DeleteThe garden looks mature to me! Adding heat cables to the raised planters is next level - I've never heard of that (but then increased warmth isn't an issue in my part of SoCal). It does make me think about doing more to collect rainwater than I've already done, though.
ReplyDeleteI don't wish for cold weather EVER, but I will be curious how she protects the palms if the weather turns.
DeleteI'm not a big fan of palms; maybe it is because there are so many around here! I can't imagine putting heat cables around the roots! This palm lover should live in Phoenix!
ReplyDeleteIt's true that familiarity can breed contempt! Are the palms doing okay there? I would have thought the heat would be too much for them.
DeleteIt's a thermal switch that comes on at 32° and goes back off at 45°. I have a secondary thermal switch at the plug for insurance.
DeleteThe palms here are doing just fine. Many cacti are not making it. Most people here are from somewhere else originally and think cacti can take sun and heat and no water. That surely is not true.
DeleteBeautiful! She definitely has an artists eye. Love the black planters. Any idea where she got them? Thanks for sharing her garden with us.
ReplyDeleteNo idea, but I'll ask.
DeleteAuntie Robin says they're spray painted TEMU kits.
DeleteThis garden is so fun & lively. I'm blown away by the thought of heating the ground/root level. As someone who wants retractable roofing (hahaha) I like that she is thinking so outside the box.
ReplyDeleteI keep asking Andrew to build me retractable roofing, both for the house and the entire lot...
DeleteI love the idea of focusing on one type of plant (such as palms) instead of a mishmash of different things. Where I live it's too cold to grow palms outdoors (Rhapydophyllum hystrix is marginal.) I don't believe I've seen so many varieties of palms in any botanical garden greenhouse that I've visited.
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazing collection, I love it when someone takes a deep dive.
DeleteUmm, Robin, if you're reading this...I think your garden is ready for prime time. This is fabulously different from anything I have ever seen before and your ideas for carrying marginal plants through the winter are really cool. Plus, your tiki area! I hang with some tiki folks and they would absolutely love your lounge too. Great work Robin!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouraging words for Robin, she's definitely making it happen!
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