The Sheng garden, a Study Weekend stop

The next stop during last June's Study Weekend was Sherry Sheng's; a 25-year old garden on 1/3 of an acre that borders the Willamette River. It also has a rather unusual driveway...

The driveway borders were packed with plants, like these tall palms, Trachycarpus fortunei.

And a big beautiful Rosa glauca with gorgeous hips.

On the other side of the driveway a lily found support from a nearby shrub pruned up to show off it's legs.

Sadly, I paid no attention to the identity of the shrub...

Because my eyes were drawn to the agaves!

The agaves in tall containers, and the variety of blooms behind them, successfully drew my eyes away from the neighbor's RV parked next door. It was only in these still photos that I noticed it.

With these next few photos I attempted to capture one of my favorite things in this garden, a rusted metal arch over the pathway to the back garden. Because of both the sun, and the fact the arch is covered in a flowering clematis, it was nearly impossible to photograph.

Another attempt, with no people this time.

Looking up...

Up and back...

I have no idea if this was the clematis growing on the arch (we're talking about photos from 7 months ago!), but it's a beauty.

As are these Impatiens omeiana. From the Study Weekend program: "Sherry began gardening while in kindergarten. Lacking mentors, she learned by doing. After becoming an Oregon State University Master Gardener, she initiated the 10-Minute University™ program as a shortcut to research-based gardening content."

The OSU Master Gardener program is how I first met Sherry. Back in 2007 (ish?) I enrolled in the Multnomah County OSU MG program and met Sherry when she came to talk to us one afternoon. Overall the MG program was a good experience, but I ended up frustrated with how little attention the organizers paid to people working jobs with normal M-F hours, as I was at the time. Most of the volunteer opportunities (which is a big part of being a certified Master Gardener), were only available 9-5, Monday-Friday. My working within the program did not last long.

This view was from the pathway to the back garden, but also looking underneath an "L" shaped part of the home that jutted out towards the river. I've masked the faces of a few of the garden visitors out of respect for their privacy. I wonder which pattern came first, this one, or the one painted in the driveway?

Yellow for the win.

Unexpected.

And more clematis...

My first view of the river...

Sweet! I could get very used to this...

Turning to climb the steps back up to the house.

More blooms...

A bit of hardscape.

And we're back up at the house, on the other side of the photo where I masked people's faces.

Thanks for opening your garden Sherry!

The Bit at the End

I still have four gardens to write about from the 2025 Study Weekend, but I want to take this opportunity acknowledge all the hard work of the Study Weekend Committee, members of the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon. Not only were there open gardens spread over four days, but they put together a great line-up of speakers (Giacomo Guzzon, Marilee Hanks, Sean Hogan, Michael McCoy, Rebecca McMackin, and Lucie Willan), an onsite plant sale, and so much more. It was an amazing event! The next Study Weekend will be held in 2027 in Victoria BC, watch the VHS page for more information.

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