I used to be a member and visit
Lan Su (Portland’s Chinese Garden), all the time—not anymore. Now my visits are typically restricted to the annual Chrysanthemum Festival at the beginning of November. It’s a great time to visit the garden though, and not just for the flowers. Lan Su does autumn well…
The garden is a rock-lovers paradise. Not only are the pathway mosaics beautiful, but there are rocks everywhere in the plantings.
Speaking of those plantings, there are also containers throughout the garden. In the entrance courtyard, pomegranates…
And this jaunty bonsai…
The container and groundcover are a great match.
Sadly, over the years many of the larger plants I used to visit (a Daphniphyllum, Mahonia, a large orange blooming Edgeworthia) have disappeared. However, there’s still a lot to love, especially if you look at the details, like this Asarum emerging from the mini mondo grass.
Of course you need to remember to look up at the big picture too..
Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla
Taking in this view I realized I was looking at a Trachycarpus trunk (palm)…
Yep, that’s a tall one.
There were another couple just outside the garden walls.
Their loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) was in bloom.
And the bark of the Lagerstroemia was coordinating nicely with its leaves… bonus moss and ferns!
Their patch of Pyrrosia sheareri has tripled in size over the years I’ve been visiting.
Backside view…
I didn’t catch the name of this conifer, but appreciate its blue and green mix.
My favorite stage of Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’.
Begonia grandis in front, Loropetalum chinense at the back.
Pinus bungeana
Heptacodium miconoides, aka seven sons flower.
It's kind of an awkward tree, but the flowers are interesting.
Persimmon, Diospyros kaki ‘Hachiya’.
I’ve tried and failed to grow Iris domestica, the blackberry lily. I love those seeds!
Finally, a couple of lotus foliage and seed pod appreciation photos…
To receive alerts of new
danger garden posts by email,
subscribe here. Please note: these are sent from a third party, their annoying ads are beyond my control.
All material © 2009-2025 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Awkward describes Heptacodium perfectly. I am still waiting for mine to do something - it was planted several years ago and seems to be stuck. I hope they have someone that likes persimmons and that they don't go to waste. I was there a couple years ago with my niece, but was so busy yakking that I didn't really notice the garden itself. So, nice to see it from your point of view.
ReplyDeleteI bet they do something with all those persimmons, and you need to go back! It's a great place to wander on your own.
DeleteIt's a spectacular garden. The fall color is glorious. I especially loved photo #8. It's much greener - and more colorful in general - than the Huntington's Chinese garden, which puts more emphasis on stone and water and feels a little "colder" by comparison to Lan Su.
ReplyDeleteI've still never been to the Huntington's Chinese garden, there's so much to see there I always manage to fill the day elsewhere.
DeleteA lovely serene garden. Love the pomegranate bonsai. I've never seen one done this way. Wish we could grow persimmons here. I love them and buy them every year at this time but can only imagine what one would taste like picked fresh.
ReplyDeleteSo what do you do with the persimmons you buy?
DeleteThere are some gorgeous fall colors there. Is this the garden that is in the city kind of near downtown? I love the different shades of the trunk on Pinus bungeana. It looks like you had a beautiful sunny day to walk around.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is that one. On a city block in Oldtown. Unfortunately the area has gotten rather rough, back in 2006-09 it seemed to be on the edge of a major revival.
DeleteIt has been years since I've been. I do love it very much. The persimmon is so nice. I need to go look at my loquat now...
ReplyDeleteI did the same when I got home! Mine is blooming, but I wasn't detecting much fragrance.
DeleteBeautiful and picturesque. Some of those photo almost look like they were taken at the Seattle Chinese Garden: there are many of the same elements in both, as one would expect. The mosaic patterns on the paths are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteDo you still have your loquat?
Chavli
I do still have my loquat, two in fact. One is hidden now by the Daphniphyllum and I really should cut it down lest it get too large.
DeleteI'm a member Portland Japanese garden but I.ve never been to this one I need to check it out. thanks for the beautiful pics
ReplyDeleteYou do need to check it out! I think there's a reciprocal admission month where your Japanese garden membership would allow you to visit for free.
Delete