Back to the Heldreth's to see their tropical makeover

Last August I shared photos of the "foliage paradise at the Heldreth's," the Heldreths being my friends, Laura and Charlie. I think many of you agreed with my "paradise" assessment, as that blog post was very popular. I had the great fortune to return to Laura and Charlie's Vancouver, Washington, garden last month and things are looking very different out in the front garden, it's now a tropical foliage paradise. This is the inviting view from the public sidewalk...

Looking down the front of the garden as it borders the sidewalk...

And starting up the steps (which are new and take you up into the front garden on the far side from the driveway)...

I remember this Anemone (A. × hybrida 'Honorine Jobert') from the back garden, now it's a connector plant between the front and back.

As I climbed I was completely enveloped in the foliage (a feeling I love).

There was a stylized "not a thru pathway" blockage that told visitors the rest of the rock stepping stone path was not open.

So I turned to the right. Wow.

Double WOW.

Thanks to Facebook I'd seen what Laura and Charlie were up to with the big metal rings from BBC Steel, but nothing compares to seeing it all in person. I asked Laura about the tropical bananas (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' and others), the big-leaf Colocasia, and the general re-design of the front garden. Here's her response: "When I learned that I have an internal injury that puts me at high risk and my surgeon said, “You shouldn’t be alive right now.”—I decided that I wanted to finish my front garden design that I’ve been sketching for the past decade. My husband insisted that he wanted to continue growing the garden if I don’t survive this injury, so I tweaked my design into a big leaved tropical love letter for him."

"I mail ordered massive Colocasia from Brian’s Botanicals to see how big we could grow them here in our climate. Then, we continued buying tropicals from Hughes Water Gardens, N&M Herb Nursery, and the Rare Plant Research sale. I spent the summer teaching him how to tend it, just in case. And we’ve had the best summer playing out in the garden watching the big leaf tropicals grow and grow past our expectations."

"For the first time, I’m watching my husband grapple with the upcoming winter and what it means for the new plants that he loves. He initially wanted to bring them all inside the house for the winter. And now, he’s researching other methods for overwintering them which has led to lively discussions. A greenhouse? A massive grow tent in the garage? Do we really need to use the second bathroom? We’ll get there." 

In case you're worried about Laura and that internal injury, she's at a point where surgery can be scheduled and we're all somewhere between hopeful and confident she'll be sticking around, helping Charlie tend their beautiful "new" garden.

Turning back towards the landing of the stone steps, that variegated vine on the right-hand side caught my eye.

Laura says it's Lonicera japonica ‘Mint Crisp’. I think I'm in love...

Of course the rusty metal tubes planted up with succulents spoke to me.

And I love Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' leaves!

Turning to look back at where I'd been. 

Melianthus major

And now towards the driveway, which is just on the other side of the Petasites japonicus and Tetrapanax papyrifer. That's Charlie visible on the left, he was in conversation with a garden visitor.

A handsome dark-leafed Ipomoea (sweet potato vine).

If I were to pan to the right here you'd see the driveway (and Charlie) but I was still transfixed by the plants... 

Colocasia 'Pharaoh's Mask', C.  'Redemption' and at the back Canna 'Cleopatra'. Damn! 

I'm growing a few 'Pharaoh's Mask' but they've yet to do that strong veined curl back thing.

A look back towards the sweet potato vine...

And then we turn to walk up towards the front of the house.

To the left side of the above photo.

The Heldreths have a tucked in sit-spot where they can admire the results of all their hard work and eavesdrop on passers-by.

The view directly in front of those chairs.

A metal and plant carpet...

And Laura's succulent table planting...

I saw this metal piece (the base) on a visit to BBC Steel's remnant yard and thought long and hard about bringing it home. Oh the possibilities! I'm glad I didn't buy it though because Laura has made magic with it.

On the tilted metal base she placed countless metal circles, squares and rectangles and then planted them with various succulents. It's so good!

Okay, time to make my way over to the driveway to say high to Charile (I'd already chatted with Laura) and get around to their back garden...

Oh! A special treat, Bella is posing in front of the mural Laura painted with her on the garage door. Good dog!

Working my way around the side of the house...

I had to laugh, something else I'd almost bought! I had my eye on this metal hanging pot/shelf at Garden Fever for quite sometime, it was wonderful to see it (and another) looking fabulous here.

Calligraphy on the green door reads "parallel universe"...

Shade shack off in the distance, lots of interesting plants between here and there...

Turning back towards where we came from...

I suspect Bella regularly has a tummy full of Azola since the stock tank is right about at her drinking height.

Pyrrosia! I'm going light on the back garden coverage in this post, since I did a deep dive last year (here), but I had to include a close up of their pyrrosia trio again! (Pyrrosia sheareri, P. lingua and P. hastata).

Laura was also kind enough to take me and a couple other garden visitors inside for a look at her anthurium collection...(girl's got it bad!)...

What a visit! Thank you for sharing your gorgeous garden and your love of cool plants!

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All material © 2009-2025 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Rare Plant Research 2014 style...

I’m a sucker for tradition, especially traditions that involve plants. Last weekend was the annual Rare Plant Research open house, I haven’t missed a single year since my first back in 2006! This year I was greeted by a new gate…

Planted with opuntia.

Okay, let’s shop!

There were aeoniums…

Eucomis…

Colocasia…

Bromeliads…

This one was labeled as Alcantarea Odorata and I took note. I bought one last year but it wasn’t signed then and I’ve wondered what I had.

Canna (many others which I didn’t photograph, I was partial to this one).

In short many many fabulous things.

I was tempted by Echium Mr. Happy, but passed.

Several of my agaves have come from Rare Plant Research, but it’s been years since I’ve bought one here.

I found myself trying to convince other shoppers that this was a plant worth having. None of them took me up on it.

An acacia mash-up (the fine leaves).

I take this shot every year…

And consider trying another Furcraea every year (I’ve killed a couple, I resisted…again).

I almost bought one of these Aralia spinosa. Perhaps I should have…

Not tempted by these but love looking at them…

This one I almost bought, and wish I would have.

Look at all those blooms!

I was joined at the sale this year by the dynamic duo in their traveling plant-mobile from Tacoma (that’s the Outlaw and Bonnie Lassie in case you didn’t know). Here’s the Outlaw after deciding against purchasing one of those handsome opuntia…

His purchases (below) were on the less prickly and more colorful side of things.

After looking over the goods for sale we wandered up to the owner’s home on the hill, Villa Catalana. It’s been fun to watch it progress over the last 8 years.

This year there was a bit of vehicular eye candy parked out front.

All of us “zone-pushing” gardeners in the Portland area have losses from the winter cold. This poor Pineapple Guava lost a lot of foliage.

And this cordyline (maybe? on the right), looks like it might have been wrapped for protection what with that damage to the leaves. Or maybe they're bent from the ice storm?

Did anyone notice the long, hard, protuberance on the ground level? Alison noticed and pointed it out, with a giggle. Those of you that know Alison won’t be surprised (and that’s why we love her).

I'm not much for mixed planters but this one really had my attention.

The covered dining area off the kitchen has a view across the pond...

And they've finished the covered atrium between wings of the home. There was a wine tasting going on inside (as if running a nursery wasn't enough work now the owners have started a winery) but the line was too long and I did not partake.

It was fun to look around...and the haze you see was a cooling mist being circulated through the air.

Back outside...

And the view from across the pond.

So what did I buy? The photo below shows the assortment that was in my cardboard flat for the longest time, do you think I was stuck on dark foliage? Canna 'Australia', a pair of Ricinus communis (Castor Bean), and an Aeonium 'Silk'. I was the lucky recipient of a trio of seed grown Castor Bean from Alison at the spring bloggers plant swap but decided you can't have too many big leaf poisonous plants in your garden, right? Besides I have terrible luck with these plants (getting them to grow big) so why not hedge my bets?

I also picked up a striped bromeliad...

And an Acacia dealbata. Perhaps the best acacia for our climate? It can resprout from the base if it freezes back (when it freezes back?). Now where to plant it...

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.