Two wineries, no wine

I recently traveled about 35 miles south of Portland (just over an hour in driving time) to Durant at Red Ridge Farms.

The reason for the drive was a book signing (this book) at their gift shop. But my visit was oh so much more than just a trip to the gift shop! There is a nursery at Red Ridge Farms, in fact it predates the olive grove (which produces the olive oil—they sent me home with a bottle!) and the winery (those are their vines with a view shown above). 

Here's my walk into the nursery upon my arrival...

Of course this sign got my interest up, who doesn't want to go where they are told they can't?

I later learned these are cuttings of olives at the farm—ones with extraordinary hardiness and other desirable qualities—that are being grown on to offer for sale to home gardeners. Quite the program!

Agave lophantha 'Splendida'—which I guess is now called Agave univittata 'Splendida'. Whatever it wants to call itself one of them came home with me.

The gift shop was pretty fabulous.

Of course the fact they stock my book means they have great taste, right?

I was so tempted by that black pot on the right. So tempted.

The garden at Durant Farms was lovely.

There were tables underneath a large tent where you could eat, drink, and socialize. This long narrow table ran the length of the space and was nicely decked out.

Elsewhere on the grounds...

I had to walk through the nursery again after the signing event, here's one of my favorite agaves!

And a favorite rodgersia, R. 'Bronze Peacock' 

One last photo at Durant...

Now we've zipped on over to Argyle Winery, a nearby favorite that I've visited before (here and here). The parking lot was pretty full, but I tucked into this spot that was overtaken by a blooming ceanothus. I'm never bothered by plants accosting me and I did love how the blooms were reflected on the side of my car, as though I had one of those bizarre advertising wraps.

I would describe these blooms as being luxurious. 

I just love this space, and it's plants. It's the work of Sean Hogan (Cistus Nursery), who I discovered also had a hand in the garden design at my first stop, Red Ridge Farms

Rhodocoma capensis

This sunny sit-spot is new snice my last visit. I like it.

Seems like they should have culled those tawny grasses by now. Then again what do I know about grasses? Not much.

The Yucca rostrata line-up.

I do love seeing how they've grown.

Libertia peregrinans, I wish this plant liked my garden.

Oh and yes, if you're wondering. That's two wineries visited and no wine drank. What was I thinking!?

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All material © 2009-2022 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

I haven't missed the Ceanothus 'Dark Star' at all...

By the time I act on the decision a plant needs to go I've usually thought it over long enough that I'm confident it's the right choice. When it came to getting rid of the Ceanothus 'Dark Star' last winter, I was a bit concerned I'd miss it come spring, when it really made a garden statement with it's big pink-purple buds. Thankfully I did not, getting rid of it was the right thing to do....

Above is a photo from October 18th of last year, 2020—just before I started to chop off pieces and add them to the yard waste bin. Such a dark and dreary photo! Below is an image of nearly the same space, taken in late August, 2021. The Nolina 'La Siberica' is definitely enjoying the increased light.

Again, Oct of 2020...

Early March, 2011. Even before I started to plant the space looked better without the ceanothus. Sometimes less is more.

And now late August, 2021...

Ha, sorry. I didn't realize I uploaded so many process shots. This one is also from March of this year.

And late August...again...

Things were looking really lush in June (pre heat-dome) when this photo was taken...

Above from left to right: the orange flowers belong to Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer' (in a container), the big leaves belong to Telanthophora grandifolia, an annual in my climate that never really got the water it needed to thrive, but I enjoyed anyway. The bright spikes are Yucca aloifolia 'Variegata' and then you can see some lazy leaves that are Acanthus syriacus, sadly those dried up shortly after our heat dome at the end of June. I think they'll return next year—and hopefully be more successful.

Pointing the camera up, just because. The Paulownia tomentosa didn't miss a beat this summer (photo late August). Its happiness (leafy canopy) is part of why some of the after photos above are darker than others. It takes it awhile to get going in the spring, since we pollard it.

From here on out these are all ground-level close-ups from late August, the Nolina 'La Siberica' has been a consistent star...

With last spring's "super bloom" of several Echium wildpretii in the garden, this is currently the oldest, largest, most gorgeous echium I've got. When it sends up it's bloom-spike next spring (winter-willing) it won't have to battle with the ceanothus for air-space.

This patch of Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop' looks better than it ever has. The increased light is helping I'm sure.

More of the ajuga along with my oldest Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'prostrata', aka spreading Japanese plum yew.

And here's the little itty bitty new guy I planted out this spring, from Secret Garden Growers.

A close-up of the previously mentioned Yucca aloifolia 'Variegata'

Astelia 'Red Devil'

And Comptonia peregrina, aka sweetfern. This poor plant did not like the 116-degree heat in June. Parts of it got a little crispy.

Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’—the red always goes green in the heat of the summer—was a random addition to this area a few years ago. It looks great in the spring, but then kinda gets rangy as the summer progresses. It needs a serious chop to keep it managable.

Seeing more of this beauty—Daphniphyllum himalaense ssp. macropodum 'Variegated'—is THE main benefit to getting rid of the ceanothus. Those leaves still make me weak in the knees.

Unfortunately there was one extremely sad plant death in this area during the heat dome/ ankle break. That trio of Cyrtomium falcatum (aka Japanese holly fern), are hiding the carnage and will be planted in this area once the ground is workable again (with the return of the rain, which has already started).

Here's the sad, sad, death. It's the Rhododendron forrestii ssp. forrestii Tumescens that Roger Gossler gave me last spring. So sad! Was it the heat? Did it not get enough water while I was unable to get around the garden? Both? Ugh.

But here's a plant that managed to withstand it all, the heat, the extremely dry conditions. I should be scared. Instead I bought two more. Pachysandra axillaris 'Windcliff Fragrant'. You'll feel free to remind me I should have known better once it takes over this corner of my garden.

The very back edge of the garden, beyond the former ceanothus-land, got a few aspidistra and black mondo plugs this spring while I was planting. In case you're wondering, the plan is to eventually see no bare ground... crampscaping!

All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.