Lake Oswego open gardens last June

The last weekend in June I visited a pair of Hardy Plant Society of Oregon open gardens in Lake Oswego, an upscale suburb about seven miles south of Portland. It was a rainy cold weekend—which might explain why the third garden that was supposed to be open in the area cancelled—and I only ran into a couple other people touring these two gardens.

The first garden as billed as "Rita’s Private Garden" and the description said "Tropical-Mediterranean best describes the vibe of Rita’s numerous garden rooms". I asked Rita how many palms she had, if I remember right the number was 13, including this one supporting a very happy Clematis.

Looking back across the cul-de-sac at the other homes.

And the same, only across Rita's front lawn.

Into the back garden now, with its blooming black bamboo.

And explanatory signage; "Our black bamboo is flowering. It's NOT pretty but it's a once in a century occurrence."

 

This small shed roof is what I was most captivated by during my visit, Sempervivum!

Sempervivum, aka houseleek. I remember reading years ago that Sempervivum species historically grew directly on thatched or tiled roofs in Europe.

Of course this roof isn't thatched or tiled (it looks to be some sort of rubber coated material) but it is gathering moss and debris witch gives the Sempervivum a nice place to take hold.

From Wikipedia; "The common name "houseleek" comes from the Anglo-Saxon word leac, meaning "plant", since these are literally plants that grow on houses. Some Europeans believed it would ward off fire and lightning strikes. A Welsh tradition holds that having it grow on the roof of the house brings health and prosperity to those who live there."

On the back side of the roof was another spectacular Clematis. Because why not, I mean if you can grow them then why not grow them everywhere?

I really do want a Sempervivum covered roof...

I finally tore myself away from that marvel and walked over to the patio and it's many containers.

Including this amazing mossy business...

And another Clematis, with more Sempervivum!

The property backed up onto a greenspace, what a nice borrowed view.

One more palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) and Clematis combo before I leave this garden.

The next garden was a bit of a head-scratcher in that there was nobody there to great visitors or answer questions about the garden. I came, I walked, I left... and never saw the gardener. I figured those big windows were looking at a view...

 

So I was sure to climb up the back side of the garden in an attempt to see what they saw...

Back down to the beginning now. A nice big Loropetalum.

And a NoID Magnolia. I planned to ask the gardener which one it was, but since I never saw them...

Yes, you guessed it. Another Clematis, this one growing on an arch over the garden gate.

This garden was sort of carved into a steep hillside. Everything was up, up, up.

The curvy vegetable beds were at the very top of the garden.

And this was in the corner behind them. I don't know what to think.

One last photo before I returned to my car and headed home.

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The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden at the end of September

On my way back to Portland from Seattle in September I paid a visit to the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way. Since I've written about this garden numerous times I tried to photograph things I haven't shared before, or if I had to capture them in a new way. Then of course there are a few old favorites that I can't help but track...

We start at the planting area in front of the Rutherford Conservatory.

Growing over the rock wall is Microcachrys tetragona, aka the creeping strawberry pine, which doesn't produce strawberries and isn't a pine.

It's in the Podocarpaceae family and those are cones, not fruit. Such an unusual plant.

Adiantum aleuticum var. subpumilim

Something about the leaves of this plant reminds me of a Banksia, do you see it?

I had to ask Emily Joseph (assistant nursery and retail sales manager at the garden) what it is... Lysionotus pauciflorus, it's a Gesneriad (African Violet family)! The Cistus Nursery description: "Another intriguing gesneriad, this with deeply lobed shiny leaves, to about 18” frequently adorned with lavender-purple "snapdragons”. A very good plant indoors anywhere, or outdoors where temperatures do not fall below the upper 20sF. We find it is vigorous enough to make a very good pot stuffer for shady situations. Keep from the hottest of sun and place on a saucer of damp gravel if used as an indoor plant. Frost hardy to 25 F, USDA zone 9b." 

I guess I won't be planting it out in my garden. Oh well...

I love the low-growing assortment of textures in this area (still in front of the conservatory).

And who wouldn't want a rock wall you can plant in?

I also love these trough planters and they were looking especially fetching during my visit. Asplenium ceterach...

Cheilanthes argentea (on the left)

Cassiope, maybe C. ‘Askival’

Such cute little dried blooms.

I think that's another Cassiope on the left, and Adiantum aleuticum var. subpumilim on the right.

We're inside the conservatory now, the strappy plant in the middle of this photo is a Curculigo sp.

I believe that grass-like plant growing on the tower is Pyrrosia angustissima...

It was offered through the RSBG Fall Catalogue, but I'm not a member and by the time it was open to the public it was sold out. 

I wasn't too sad about it, since I wasn't 100% sure I liked it. Then I saw it at a friend's garden (she'd received her catalogue order) and instant plant lust and jealousy washed over me. Photo of her plant...

Moving on, big sigh, moss makes everything better.

I do not know what this sweet fern is, but since we're still in the conservatory I wonder if it's not hardy?

Pyrrosia species SEH#15113 (in the catalogue and still available).

I love this Pyrrosia so much!

Another Pyrrosia, maybe P. sp. SEH#12547.

Out of the conservatory now, Kirengeshoma palmata, I think?

Pyrrosia sheareri, of course.

Wowsa! I still sometimes struggle with pink and orange together but this Magnolia sieboldii cone is working it.

Okay yes, I've shared these before, Pyrrosia logs.

I reminder to myself that I need to do more of this!

In the stumpery...

Goodyera oblongifolia, aka rattlesnake orchid.

Rhododendron cardiobasis

Another of the Pyrrosia log/stump plantings that I must visit.

We're back in the RSBG nursery now where I was admiring the increased offerings (including some Little Prince plants). Love the backlit Eucomis with Cheilanthes sieberi.

And it was great to see Pellaea atropurpurea there too! I shared my haul back in an earlier post, but if you're curious I came home with a Rhododendron yuanbaoshanense, a Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum and a Aeschynanthus sp.

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