A beachy adventure...

We recently celebrated my birthday with a quick trip to the beach, as soon as we were checked in I was on the sand...

It was a moody afternoon with lots of sun as the clouds were quick to move through. We arrived mid-day on a Sunday so most of the crowds had cleared out, and the folks heading to the coast to beat the heat in Portland had yet to arrive.

These dark Gladiolus were rather unexpected...

The twin rocks of Twin Rocks off in the distance.

The next morning we woke to a dense fog. The ocean was out there somewhere...

I went looking for it but chickened out before finding it. Andrew was back in the room and the fog was so thick I quickly lost sight of the hotel behind me. Here in Oregon we're told not to turn our back on the ocean as sneaker waves can change everything very quickly. I was more concerned about finding the ocean but not realizing I was on some strange sandy point and being cut off from the mainland.

So instead I headed back to the room and Andrew and I ventured north to Manzanita and the Wonder Garden.

The garden began in 2014 (a little history here), and I've visited a few times, first in 2022, a return in 2023, and then again last year when I had the honor of speaking at the neighboring Hoffman Center.

Arctostaphylos 'Sunset'

Arctostaphylos pajaroensis 'Myrtle Wolf' 

A few people wandered through the garden while we were there, but nobody stopped to enjoy the seating areas.

The climate in this section of the Oregon coast seems pretty dreamy to me. Unless I'm mistaken this Anigozanthos flavidus (kangaroo paw) has been thriving here for several years.

Pittosporum divaricatum perhaps?

Pseudopanax crassifolius

Eryngium planum

There were a pair of Eryngium growing together here, I think the white bloom is E. yuccifolium?

What I didn't capture in this pulled back shot is the Agave americana var. medio-picta 'Alba' or the Semponium 'Vortex' planted in this area.

Said Agave, which is lifted for the winter. 

I have no idea how they've been caring for the Semponium(a cross between an Aeonium and a Sempervivum). Maybe it's remained planted out?

Oh, this was a nice surprise. One of the fancy variegated Agave ovatifolia...

Normally this color mashup wouldn't be to my liking but for some reason it worked for me. Melianthus major (perhaps 'Purple Haze'), Dodonaea viscosa var. purpurea, and Asclepias tuberosa.

Leucadendron galpinii 'Silver Cone'

A pulled back shot with Kniphofia.

Astelia chathamica 'Silver Spear'

Callistemon pallidus 'Eleanor' (I believe).

Euphorbia mellifera (also an uncertain ID).

Love the dark Aeonium.

Agave 'Blue Glow', the orange petal belongs to...

Glaucium corniculatum

Arctostaphylos 'Howard McMinn'

Aeonium 'Sunburst'

I loved this island and it's succulents, the entire garden was looking especially fabulous this visit.

Eryngium bourgatii

I sat down for a bit to admire the arching form of Rhodocoma capensis...

And then walked around to check out the Chondropetalum elephantinum.

So good!

Eryngium guatemalense

And my final Wonder Garden photos, of their elevated trough planter.

Pretty fabulous.

Back at our beach spot the sky had cleared and it was time for a long walk.

A new city had sprung up in the few hours we were away.

And the sunset did not disappoint. What a way to start my new year...

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