flynn070

This Saturday, July 14th is the HPSO (Hardy Plant Society of Oregon) / Garden Conservancy Open Day . Seven private gardens are open to the public and there will also be garden programs at Garden Fever and Thicket Nursery . You can attend authors signings and garden-related classes. Date: Saturday, July 14th - 10 AM - 4 PM Admission to each garden is $7 or purchase a $30 day pass to see all private gardens, on site during the Open Day, or at the following local businesses in Portland (or at any of the individual gardens on the tour): Garden Fever! 3433 NE 24th thicket outdoor living, 4933 NE 23rd Portland Nursery, 5050 Stark Street Portland Nursery, 9000 Division It will be a fun day. I will be volunteering so hope to see you there! Ferrante garden Ferrante garden Ferrante garden Anna's garden Nancy Goldman garden Nancy Goldman garden Nancy Goldman garden Deborah Meyers garden Deborah Meyers garden Deborah Meyers garden Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Thomas Vetter's garden has been on my radar for some time. A few weeks ago, I finally got the chance to see it and it is in a word - FABULOUS! It was raining and the plants were weighted down with moisture so I do want to return on a drier day. Fortunately, Mr. Vetter opens his garden on numerous occasions throughout the Open Gardens program. His garden is packed with beautiful plants in lovely combinations with contrasting textures. There are a lot of plants in this garden and he has displayed them in the most artistic ways. This is the garden I strive for and he used many of my favorite plants too. And what a nice guy - accompanying me in the rain with my mouth hanging open and kindly answering questions. This is a great garden to visit on the HPSO Open Gardens Tour. It will be open again on August 13th. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Happy 4th! The Red - Sweet Peas Rose 'Kardinal Kolorscape' Fuchsia 'Cardinal' Rose 'Home Run' The White - Baby's Breath ( Gypsophila ) Hydrangea 'Incrediball' Clematis armandii Fuchsia 'Hawkshead' Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum) Rose 'Climbing Iceberg' Fleece Flower ( Persicaria 'Red Dragon') Nicotiana 'Fragrant Cloud' Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers' Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake' Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise' Sourwood Tree ( Oxydendrum ) And The Blue - Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue' Hydrangea 'Bloomstruck' Clematis durandii Geranium 'Rozanne' Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

On the drive down to Miranda, California, we bypassed the beautiful northern California coast. It was a bit foggy as we stopped by an overlook to get some photos. Later in the week, we drove back up the coast to Eureka. I have to say that it wasn't a very pretty town like I expected (perhaps we were in the wrong section). We did see the Carson mansion which is supposedly one of the most photographed Victorian houses in the U.S. Too bad we could not see the inside of it. It is a privately owned club now. Another Victorian across the street, "The Pink Lady" was a wedding gift to Carson's son. A bay area along the way - Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy