Wednesday, July 17, 2024

A couple gardens in East Clark County, Washington

Back on Saturday June 22nd (almost a month ago, why does summer go so fast?) I visited a couple of HPSO open gardens up in East Clark County, Washington. I live in Northeast Portland so Washington State is just a quick jaunt across the bridge over the Columbia River. My first stop was Karen Palmer and John Emmett's garden.

When I arrived the owners were out greeting visitors in the driveway and I overheard mention of the "yucca garden". I asked for clarification, a yucca in the garden? Nope. A section of the garden devoted to yucca! Unexpected!

They've been gardening on these 5 acres for 27 years. I didn't catch where the petrified would collection came from, but since they travel frequently to Tucson and bring back plants, I wonder if maybe they came from the SW?

The stems on this potted succulent were remarkable.

I think this was a Burkea purpurea not quite ready to open?

The view was breathtaking.

And the yucca garden was tons of fun.

They weren't labeled and I'm not going to venture a guess. They all definitely had their own personalities.

Petrified planter.

This one looks to be a nolina, rather than a yucca. Perhaps Nolina matapensis (ID from a friend)



A final glance at the yucca...

There were lots of veggies and fruit trees in the garden, but I failed to take any photos of those, other than this artichoke.

Monkey puzzle! Araucaria araucana

What a fun greenhouse off the back of the garage (I think?).

There were several dry-loving container plants that must spend winter in that greenhouse.




Just across the street was Lucie and Mike Friedlander's garden, also open for touring. This was a very different aesthetic...

Oh! But with another greenhouse, this one detached.

Quite detached!

Looking towards the house and pool, across the ginormous lawn.

Sweet!

Deer are an issue here, hence the tall fence around a fruit and vegetable garden in front of the greenhouse.

Containers outside on their summer vacation.

Peeking inside...

And the edibles...


Heading towards the pool now, looking back over my shoulder.

What does one call a structure like this?

The pool, and bbq.

The tennis court, and it's not your imagination, the "lawn" has turned into a lawn substitute on this part of the property.

Wow. Such a different way of living, I do appreciate them opening their garden though. 

It was lovely...

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All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Monday, July 15, 2024

It was a summer extravaganza!

Party invite, image borrowed from @cistusnursery 

Last Saturday there was a big party at Cistus Nursery. I didn't make it out to the island until early afternoon and the crowds had thinned a bit by then, but there were still a lot of people shopping and touring and having a grand time.


This was a great opportunity for people to see the garden around Sean and Preston's home, at the back of the nursery property—normally off limits.

Speaking of! There's Sean. He was looking quite festive and I didn't think to take his photo, so I'm using this one that @sauvieshrubs posted (they were a vendor at the event) and Cistus reposted.

The desert island bed was a big hit with the crowd, and for good reason, it was looking HOT! (and not just because the temps were in the mid-90's)

There were lots of food and plant vendors...

There's Nanthawat, manning both his @theothersidenursery table and that of @pdxplantpanions.

Matt and his spiky plant offerings, as well as a (mostly sold!) selection of his metal containers as seen on @aridalter.

Time to take a quick spin around the garden, I love the proportions of this Yucca rostrata and it's trunk/skirt.

Speaking of Yucca rostrata, the gang here looks like they're all trying to squeeze into the shade at the front of the house.

Agave x ocahuata 'Sun Glow', maybe?

Stipa barbata blooms, I think? (there was no grass nearby, just these glowing filaments)

I love these containers!


Pseudopanax crassifolius

And another fab container mix...

A tempting spot to spend the afternoon.

Tetrapanax at this height are so cute.

Agave x 'Ciela Linda'

Dreamy... 

Ditto

Looking back over my shoulder.

I won't lie, part of me still misses gatherings at Sean's old house/garden. But I can't imagine he and Preston's plant passion contained on that small urban lot ever again.

The crevice garden! No close-ups though as it was roped off to keep plant treasures safe on this very busy day.

On to the nursery proper!


Agave ferdinandi-regis 'Saltillo Splendor' (NFS, trust me, I've tried)

Training the opuntia?

Romneya coulteri

There was a plant purchases holding area in front of the retail nursery and I wandered up there just to see what was what. That's where I caught this kniphofia taking a nap.

So my haul! It was just four small plants, but a fabulous collection that I'm quite happy with.

From Cistus, Agave pelona, one I fell in love with thanks to Gerhard's coverage. This tiny plant is a long way from the massive beauties he's shared photos of but hopefully I can grow it on to a decent size.

Also from Cistus, Pseudopanax crassifolius

I was casually perusing the selection of these cool, but bizarre, plants when I pulled out this one already branching. Freaky! These are usually just a single stem until after flowering or some other drastic event (like last winter's cold on my Pseudopanax ferox), sold!

From Dan Hinkley/Windcliff Plants (I asked Dan to being these down for me); Cheilanthes argentea "A handsome dwarf species from a wide range throughout Eurasia, with clever three-lobed triangular fronds backed in silvery white, excellent for crevices or ancient rock walls should you find one in your garden, or in any humusy rich soils in full sun or partial shade with adequate drainage. Spore raised at Windcliff, ours cultivated in a hollowed log."

That silvery white back...

And, because I'm a sucker for a blechnum, Blechnum sp. #3; "From the spore bank of the British Pterological Society, with no collection data, I will confess to knowing virtually nothing about this fern other than, yes, it does appear to be a Blechnum, a genus from which I have never met a species I dislike. And, of course, it is Numero Trio. You might easily enough bet on shade and evenly moist soils." Fun!

Finally a bonus video that has absolutely nothing to do with the fun event with Cistus, but it certainly is the very definition of a summer extravaganza! My blooming Disocactus ackermannii (possible ID from Kris) was a floral explosion over the weekend...

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All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.