My globetrotting sister-in-law, Kathy, is in town, and her visit provided just the motivation needed to make a trip to the Oregon Garden, finally. Of course it was HOT, because the weather gods must be crazy. Also the phrase that may not be mentioned in Florida politics. So here’s a quick romp through the gardens. Hope you like what you see.
When I started my post last week, I meant to write about a trip to Cistus Nursery with Loree, intrepid Mistress of Danger Garden. But once I got on that Highway, there were so many other fascinating places to visit–at least in my fanciful imagination.
So back to the upshot. A couple weeks ago, I watered for Danger while she was off Blog Flinging in Toronto. I don’t live far from Loree, and I always love the opportunity to look at her garden. And when she’s gone, I can take my time contemplating scenarios in her garden for implementation in my own.
A couple weeks ago, I watered the Danger Garden while Ms. Loree was off at the Toronto Garden Bloggers’ Fling. Before she left, she picked up some glasses for me at IKEA, reward aplenty. But then, she insisted, positively insisted, that we head to Cistus Nursery for an additional plant treat. It would have been rude to refuse, right? (more…)
I bet I don’t need to tell you, there are so many delights in the garden, it’s hard to know which way to run.
I mentioned Darcy Daniels last week as one of our areas many talented garden designers. Well, lucky us–members of the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon (HPSO)–Darcy held her garden open last week, giving fellow gardening enthusiasts an opportunity to ogle her collection in person.
HPSO is $35 to join. It’s a non-profit, volunteer-run organization open to all. The opportunity to visit open gardens alone makes for bargain entertainment, and there are myriad year-round programs and activities. Whether in PDX or another city, do yourself a favor and check out you local gardening organization. You’ll like it, I swear–all the time! (more…)
My brain likes puzzles, and the longer I live in my own flip flops, the more I appreciate this as a bona fide creative strategy. Puzzle working is in my bones. My parents claimed I could work a wooden US puzzle when I was just three–and lickety split.
Now it’s my approach to everything, and especially fun in the gardening. Often it can be serendipitous, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a puzzle to be worked. Danger Garden recently gave me a sweet little Hardy OliveTree. Does that mean I can call my style Plant-Driven? That sounds a little better than ADD, which is what I usually own up to.
I moved it around in the pot trying to decided where to put it, and finally settled on an area I hadn’t given much thought. It’s a strip of yard beside the driveway, opposite the Sea of Juniper. This area has its own smaller Body of Juniper, but there was plenty of room to plant the tree, and it’s a perfect location. (That Juniper should be quivering in its roots.) And now, I have a start for a Mediterranean Garden. I’m so excited to have a new area to contemplate.
Tell me I have kindred spirits out there, please.
I hope everyone is having fun in garden this week. There’s so much happening. I’m surprised, yet again, that it’s all coming back, bigger and bolder. The Eryngium agavifolium above is going nuts, doing it’s best to embarrass its buddy, the Nolina. If this keeps up, soon I won’t be able to see dirt. And according to Megan, that means you’re done. Wouldn’t that be a terrible turn of events?
Fortunately, moving to this new garden has thoroughly emboldened me. I dig and move and divide with abandon, pesky arm permitting. All of this was really born of necessity with the big transplant from our Alameda garden. In fairness, my Garden Blogging Pals did the heavy lifting. I am, however, extremely talented in watching other people work. It was an unexpected boon, and another reason to be grateful for my fellow fanatical gardeners.
I think it might be a thing.
The other day, I found myself looking around in horror at garden, seeing nothing but the work that needs to be done. And then it seemed so ridiculous, because this is self-imposed. Oh sure, the garden needs to be maintained to the point of not becoming a neighborhood eyesore. But stressing out over it, no no no. I garden because I love it. Thusly, I pulled myself up by the collar, reminding myself that I do not need to get crazy over tasks I want to do, especially in the garden.
Plus there are some glorious happenings out there that having nothing to do with task mastering.
I feel giddy and witty and bright. Or at least I did until I woke two nights ago with a super duper sore throat. That ain’t supposed to happen smack dab in the middle of spring gardening season. Nature is a riot of blooms. She’s calling all pollinators. She’s itching to be ogled. And I am spending more time on the sofa than in yard. Dagnabbit.
Hah. I thought I’d pick a simple topic today. Because at least in the Pacific Northwest, it is full-on gardening season, and there is so much to do. As I run hither and yon, horrified by what I see, I periodically remind myself, these are “troubles” of my own making. I’m so lucky with my first-world problems, working from home with animals nearby and mere steps from the garden. (more…)