Driving around Portland you may encounter a few sections of unimproved roadway. No pavement, no sidewalks, no rhyme or reason as to why the pavement stops, just gravel. There is usually a sign that reads "this roadway unimproved." This garden is on one of those blocks.
I visited the garden at
Jeffrey Bale's suggestion. He described it as having an assortment of conifers and at least one of every sedum, that it did! As I walked up I thought the light-colored gravel was a pathway...
But the fact it ended with tall rocks, and appeared to have lights sunk into the gravel at regular intervals, I decided it was a visual break, or maybe a maintenance pathway, rather than a sidewalk substitute.
Let's look at the modified hellstrip along the paved road first...
Interesting how the plants are inside a wooden frame, giving them a sunken look. It should keep people from trampling over them, plus maybe it will decrease pets using the area as a toilet (both issues I've delt with in my hellstrip).
Cool cones.
I wonder if the rocks are purely decorative, or helping to keep the boards from flopping?
Cornus kousa fruit.
Curious. Multifamily? Why is there a key there?
Okay let's look at the garden proper.
While there are a few other plants this garden really is primarily conifers and sedum. I don't know if I've ever visited a garden with such an on point planting.
Inside the fence...
More cool cones...
So fluffy!
This is one of the nicest unimproved roadways I've encountered. Frequently they include car-swallowing potholes.
So many sedum!
I really am curious about the tight planting palette, it's almost like a display garden for a nursery that specializes in sedum and conifers.
Oh! This was unexpected, an Agave geminiflora I believe (only hardy to 25-30F... an odd agave choice for our climate).
So densely planted too...
It sort of has the feel of being newly planted, yet patches of things like the delosperma (ice plant) have obviously been bulking up for awhile.
The elephant in the room that I haven't mentioned, the rocks! There's a small fortune here in rocks.
I was tempted to pull on the chain to see what happened. I did not.
What an interesting drive by!
The Bit at the End
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Oh, this is really cool. So smart to have a working path to be able to get in the bed easily. The balancing of the boards and the rocks on the regular street side make me worry. But it looks like they did it up right. Oh, I love that kind of planting done on the unpaved road side-I've decided it's better than a crevice garden (to me anyway). Some gorgeous specimens of both conifers and sedums. Two thumbs up.
ReplyDeleteOMG, what a cool garden! Thanks for sharing it. The interplay of sedums, rocks and gravel is magnificent!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I'd have the discipline to stick to just sedums and conifers but I like when someone commits to the vision : ) That video of the making of a garden WAS really good....thanks! Sherri
ReplyDeleteBased on your opening comments, I wasn't prepared to be attracted to it but I loved it. If I could mix conifers and sedums so beautifully I might have a garden packed with them too.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very unique garden. Really interesting and lots of small details to appreciate! I think I like it. Hard part would be not stopping to closely look at all the little things.
ReplyDelete(mailbox is a nice variation on a modern delivery mailbox (bigger individual boxes) as seen in many newer neighborhoods. It's more efficient for the mail person and with the locks it's supposed to be more secure. There's usually a package box or two used that's used as needed for any package. If the key is hanging out it means it's empty. When someone gets a package the key is left in their regular box.)
I love this planting. The contrast in textures and colours in the different forms of sedums/ semps and conifers is wonderful. Also a great fence. I wonder if the owner is a geologist. My neighbour is one and also has an incredible rock garden.
ReplyDeleteI am a lover of conifers (and sedums and rocks...), so this is an immensely attractive garden in my eyes. But the discipline, the restraint, gosh. I love Hostas, Hellebores and Ferns too... so very much. It would be difficult (impossible!) not to spread the love when in nurseries or plant sales.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you: this fantastic garden looks both "just planted" and 2-3 years in the ground. (Oh, if my neighbors could be so imaginative and committed)
The 'Bit At The End' is fantastic. So lovely that the Portland Japanese Garden was his inspiration. This your man found a vision and passion for gardening and it's very cool to see.
Chavli
Definitely. a collectors garden, and really neat colour/texture play! The video is really lovely, amazing transformation.
ReplyDelete