Hortlandia Fling Garden Tours / Day Two, Garden Two; Bella Madrona

The next stop on Saturday of our Hortlandia weekend adventure was Bella Madrona, aka The Garden of Sampson and Beasley, aka the home of Caper and Olive...

These two have been a constant for me since my first visit to this garden back in 2013 when the team was planning the Portland Fling. My heart broke a little when I learned this would probably be the last time I got to love on Olive, the black pug. They are such soft sweethearts.

Gerhard had requested this visit (he was one of the 2014 Fling visitors, and also did a great write-up on this visit, here) and I was thrilled when Geoff Beasley said yes to my request. This shot is looking back at the entrance, sans Caper and Olive.

This is the third spring in a row I've visited (2024 here, 2025 here), there's a certain kind of comfortable thrill (I know, that doesn't seem to make sense, but just go with it) when you visit a garden consistently enough to really know it. You know what lies "just around the bend", you anticipate favorite spots and vistas, and you are jolted out of that ease when you see something new. 

Marcia Donahue, Gerhard, Geoff.

This visit, on April 4th, is the earliest in the year I've been in the garden. Thanks to a mild winter, established plants, and tons of interesting hardscape and artistic elements it didn't feel early at all.

It was fantastic.

Marcia was right next to me when I paused to appreciate her face sculptures...

Melianthus major blooming, thanks to our mild winter.

I love this fountain!

Here it is in motion...

Gerhard, Max, Jerry.

Looking up at the waterfall.

And another view with the water in motion... (that's Jerry and Jeffrey Bale at the end)

Oh! Man down!

Bowling? Shot put? (sports never was my thing)

Yes the gnomes were out...

And the trees were in bloom.

Such a great visit...

Caleb, Jerry, Geoff and Max...

Our merry band of garden travelers continued on to a stop at the Kuzma/Halme Garden (I was playing garden tour guide and didn't manage many photos, so there will be no post) and then to Cistus Nursery and a gathering at Rancho Cistus, the home of Sean Hogan and Preston Pew, where I also did not take photos. I suspect Gerhard will have a fabulous post though, so I will link to it when I can. Just one post left in this series for me! (it will be up next week)

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