The Nichols Garden, my last post from the SF GB Fling…

Here we are, my last garden visit from the 2013 Garden Bloggers Fling in the Bay Area. Coincidentally today marks just 3 months until the kick-off of the Portland Fling, on Friday, July 11th. What an adventure we had, and what an adventure we’ll have! I wish you could all be here with us.

This garden figures large in my memory of the SF Fling simply because as the bus drove by and I caught sight of it I was going to do whatever it took to get out and see it in person. Thankfully the bus stopped and I didn't have to resort to extreme measures.

This was one of those gardens that makes me green with envy. Can you imagine growing these plants in the ground?

And this, in the hell-strip!

Look at that tall cordyline! One of a pair, there was another on the left of the house in the first photo.

Notice the oxalis behind the bromeliad. There was too much of it for it to be an accident.

There's my fav plant of the Fling, Leucadendron 'Ebony'..

Close-up

I love a staircase lined with plants.

Ahh...

Notice the palm trunk on the right, it's covered in tillandsia!

Fabulous.

Beyond the palm...Begonia luxurians in the gound...

Mahonia gracilipes, hey I can grow that!

As if the front garden wasn't amazing enough things continued to be interesting as we started up the side garden. Lots of little discoveries to be made...

And the best koi-protecting pond screen ever!

Water followed the pathway down the side garden.

This garden showcased Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa) so well I was thankful I am able to grow it here in Portland.

Those begonia leaves were huge HUGE...

The back garden stepped up away from the house.

And up again.

This is it. The end of a fabulous garden and an amazing three days. I'm not sure if I'll be posting much about the Portland Fling but hopefully there will be many posts from the attending bloggers which you'll enjoy!

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

The Testa-Vought Garden, a stop on the 2013 Garden Blogger’s Fling...

This garden was the last stop on a (long, hot) Saturday of garden fun last June. We were told the garden was designed by Bernard Trainor (a little name dropping, understandable) but it was obvious from the moment we stepped foot in the garden this was also a space loved and utilized by the home owners. Of course I started snapping photos the moment we got off the bus, out on the street.

But things really got interesting once we went behind the wall…

Yes this is a walled garden, something I covet dearly.

While it starts off tame, even a little sparse...

It gradually ramps up the excitement level...

Until you come face to face with this...

Oh California...

I'm not sure the kitty shared my California love on this hot day.

Scott and Peter, they seem to have shown up in a few of my photos from the Fling.

Going through and editing these photos now, 9 months post-Fling, this image (below) filled my heart with joy. Why? I remember everything in every garden as being the very picture of perfection. Not a leaf out of place...but look! There is debris in the plant, on the gravel top dressing and the surrounding paving. My garden is going to be a stop on the Portland Fling this summer and I can say with great confidence there will be a lot more of this, and a lot less perfection. May everyone look with a forgiving (and understanding) eye.

Monster Agave attenuata!

And that banksia! I presumed to know which it was at one time, but now I'm just confused by its beauty.

Amazing.

Oh hey, here's something I can grow! Eryngium, not sure which one.

Okay it's time to leave, I've retracing my steps towards the front.

But not before I look up and spy another monster Pineapple Guava. Wow, these really are trees.

It was the bloom that gave it away.

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