flynn070

  With a pulled muscle in my back and a hideous heat-wave upon us, I am taking a break from the garden. Aside from planting, I have not worked on any projects lately. The terrace project (above) awaits me but for now, the flowers planted in the raised beds are doing great. The site here is dry and full sun. I have been watering this area about once a week except for the Katsura Tree (located in the top bed) which gets more frequent water. This is a good learning experience to discover which plants can take these conditions. Some of the plants here - California Fuchsia ( Zauschneria septentrionalis 'Select Mattole') is a plant I have never grown before. It has grown rapidly and just now started to bloom heavily. The hummingbirds love it. Rudbeckia ('Goldstrum" I think) - you can't go wrong with it! The Penstemons have become one of my favorite perennials. This is 'Blue Midnight'. Coreopsis 'Red Satin' Eryngium 'Jade Frost' Ornamental Or...

  Vanessa Nagel's spectacular garden is just a few miles from our house. I saw her garden for the first time last year when it was on the HPSO Garden Tour. This year her garden was on the Clark County Natural Garden Tour. Vanessa is a garden designer and writer and her talented skills are fully on display here. It is just one beautiful scene after another! This is the patio area that sits underneath a massive Redbud 'Forest Pansy' tree. As you leave the patio area, there are various pathways to explore. The garden is located on the south side of the house (the north side is currently being developed into a Ravine Garden!). The large garden is divided into various garden rooms. Hydrangea 'Annabelle' and hostas are surrounded by Japanese Forest Grass. The grass in the foreground covers a large circle (seen in the photo below). I am not sure which grass this is. There are several stunning hydrangeas in the garden, including this unique one. Of course I don't ...

  While visiting the Hardiman garden, I did not realize that their next-door neighbor, Kurt Beadell, had an equally impressive garden open as well. Stepping through the garden gate at the back of Hardiman's garden leads you into Beadell's tropical-like oasis. It was like being transported to New Orleans. This is a very small garden, packed with lush plantings, like palms, bamboo and other exotic plants and vines.  Pathways and steps beckon   The garden gate that leads from one great garden to another I sometimes have nightmares about Houtuynia cordata (Chameleon Plant). I would never grow it again but it looks quite tame and happy here. This garden is clearly a spectacular site for entertaining. The narrow side garden that winds around the house. I absolutely LOVE these doors. The front of the house Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

I was very excited to see the garden of Lucy and Fred Hardiman. Lucy Hardiman is a garden designer at Perennial Partners . This garden certainly did not disappoint. Full of vibrant rich colors (purples, blues and pinks, a favorite combination of mine) and accented with artistic architectural structures and art pieces, as well as some favorite plants like hydrangeas and lilies. Note the big crape myrtle ( Lagerstroemia 'Zuni') in the above photo. They do grow here! Just look at these lilies! I was intrigued by the blue flower and she told me that it is a perennial that she herself introduced to Joy Creek Nursery . It is Galega 'Lady Wilson'. It was near sunset when I toured the garden and the diminishing light gave it a magical quality. Perfectly placed art pieces Yarn in the garden? Why not? This is the front entryway garden that leads back to the main garden. A big thank you to the Hardiman's for including their garden on the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon Ope...