Longing for a walk on the beach with agaves, I headed to Kalama, Washington

Where's Kalama you ask? It's 38 miles north of Portland on Interstate 5, as it veers a little to the west along the Columbia River. It's the home of McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge, which of course is why there are agaves. 

This grouping of large containers is at the front entrance to the lodge. The tall plant at the back is a Daphniphyllum.

On the opposite side of the entrance is this crazy group of foliage fans, being held back by a squiggly bike rack. I see concert goers at the front of the line pushing to be let into the venue, is that just me?

Growing in that group is a fruit-bearing Daphniphyllum, somewhat rare.

Moving around to the north side of the lodge, and walking through what I'm guessing must be a privacy and wind break...

Big cinnamon buds of Magnolia laevifolia.

Aren't they grand?

My part of Portland finally had a killing freeze in the days before my visit to this garden, it looks like they'd recently experienced similar. At the back the mostly unfazed foliage of Melianthus major, in the front toasted stems of what I think must be Hedychium coccineum (ginger).

Most of the Melianthus major was still looking positively grand, it's such a fantastic plant.

Looking out to the river...

Did you notice the agave in the photo above? It's caged for protection against some sort of critter. I saw a lot of browsing damage on the plants. I can imagine how disheartening it must be for the gardener(s) to watch their work be destroyed by hungry animals, and probably people and weather too.

Looking back at the Melianthus.

Yucca linearifolia

And down closer to the river's edge. This sandy beach wasn't always here. When I first visited in 2019 it was all rocks, then *POOF* in 2020 there was sand. I like the beachy feel, it's much more of a destination.

Grevillea some somebody, maybe G. victoriae?

Metal barrel rings as protection from humans (for humans?), as this agave is up next to the pathway.

Monster restio.

Euphorbia rigida

My prior visits always included a stop to pay my spiky respects to a clump of Agave americana that—against all odds—continued to grow in this location. Sadly it is no more. However, I was thrilled to see this new planting of Yucca rostrata, opuntia, Agave ovatifolia, and other characters.

Agave ovatifolia is much better suited to this location and should grow ginormous with time.

This Agave 'Blue Glow' continues the "growing on the edge" spirit of the Agave americana. I'll be rooting for it.

Oh! Who's that spiky fellow? 

Phlomis seed heads are a good look along the river.

More agaves on the beach side...

Love their red spines (and wish I knew what they are).

A beefy vine-covered tree trunk section on the beach.

Around in front of the lodge is an herb garden with barrel-ring edging, and the last photo I took at this location.

Headed back towards home I made a stop at McMenamins Ahles Point Cabin just down the road from the lodge. Last time I was up this way (2023) I discovered a few agaves on the rocky slope behind the building, I wanted to see how they were doing.

Yep, still there!

I don't remember the Lyonothamnus floribundus from my previous visit, but it could have been there.

There was also a Genista aetnensis (Mount Etna broom).

And a Fremontodendron (flannelbush)...wonderful!

If the Agave parryi continue to do so well here, maybe one day there will be large colonies.

One can hope...

The view from the pub, looking down at where the plantings are...

The Bit at the End

McMenamins establishments have a bit of a 'more is more" sort of feel to their gardens and interior decor, so I thought it fitting to link to this Desire to Inspire blog post today; Mall House – a wildly eclectic cottage with cabins and yurts in the Cotswolds, page down slowly. There is a lot to see!

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Agave hunting at Kalama Harbor Lodge

It had been a good long while since I put eyes on the gardens at McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge, so here we are.

It's pretty amazing how mature the plants are, then again when I stop to do the math I realize this garden is over five years old. I first visited late in 2018, and posted about it in early 2019—here.

The Hesperantha coccinea / Schizostylis coccinea (I think?) were amazing. I rarely see this plant massed and in bloom. Well done!

I think this is a Franklinia alatamaha flower?

Flawless Melianthus major.

I was going to call this Woodwardia unigemmata...

Until I saw this, which looks even more like Woodwardia unigemmata. Even though they look a little different, I think that's what they both were—they were growing at opposite ends of the building.

Lots of repetition in this part of the garden. It's powerful.

Now we're looking at the border along the paved walkway. On the other side of the plants is a strip of sandy beach and then the Columbia River. The City of Kalama is in Washington State, the land visible across the water is Oregon. I rather like what they've done with the barrel rings here.

I wonder what creature has been eating on the Yucca rostrata to get the leaves bound up like that?

The large, dense, shrub on the right is a Fabiana imbricata.

At least that's what I surmised based on the flowers.

Grevillea some something

Yucca linearifolia and Agave parryi

The day was as chilly as it looks, so that (plus it was a weekday) helped to keep the beach clear of people.

I didn't realize I was holding my breath, wondering if this big guy (Agave americana) would still be here, until I saw it and relaxed.

Last winter was a very bad one for agaves in the area, I was worried.

I see spikes! I guess I'm going to have to go down and walk along the other side of the border and see what's hiding down there.

But first there are a couple more agaves to admire up here, a pair of Agave 'Mateo'...

And a trio of Agave parryi.

Over on the beach side I found an Agave ovatifolia...

Along with a blooming colletia, for extra spiky fun.

Agave parryi v. parryi, maybe? (are you starting to understand the title of this post? It really did feel like the agave version of an easter egg hunt)

The Euphorbia characias 'Tasmanian Tiger'  were the best I've ever seen.

Now I've walked out on the metal "pier" visible behind the first photo of the large Agave americana. The pier is new since I last visited, and provides a great view of the lodge and the narrow garden that separates it from the beach.

Walking back to my car I spied this arctostaphylos being grown as a single trunked specimen.

Headed home I pulled into the small McMenamins Ahles Point Cabin just about a half-mile down river from the lodge.

I'm not sure why, maybe I was still in agave hunt mode, but I walked around to the backside of the cabin. Curious if the plantings extended that far.

Look what I found...

Judging by their looks (the pups for example) I suspect they've been there awhile, which probably means they were planted by Ryan Miller. Ryan is the gardener responsible taking a chance and planting the big Agave americana. Ryan is also no longer with McMenamins, I will miss running into him when walking through the gardens at Kennedy School .

My favorite weed, verbascum.

This poor fellow is alive, which if he was in place thru last winter is an accomplishment.

Better from this angle.

There were lots of opuntia tucked in the rocks too...

It was pretty amazing how many agaves there were, I'm really glad I wandered down. 

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All material © 2009-2023 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.