Last week I shared the spiky side of the Kennedy School gardens, but there is so much more to see! Walking the grounds is always a mix of checking in on old friends, to see how they’re doing, and discovering new things. Sometimes I have a pretty good idea what they are, other times I don’t have a clue. (more…)
In its former life the building, and the surrounding grounds, served as an elementary school for my neighborhood. Students for miles around came to what was then known as the John D. Kennedy Elementary School – from it’s opening in 1915 – until it shut down in 1975. After its closing the building stood empty for many years, until the time came to tear it down and the neighborhood, along with those who had attended and taught at the school, together with the Portland Development Commission, fought to save it. Several proposals were considered, but the winning offer came from the McMenamins, founders of a thriving local chain of brew pubs, hotels and theaters. They started renovation in the spring of 1997 and on October 22, 1997 the doors reopened… (more…)
Our love affair is over.
It started out intense, as these things do – pure powerful lust. (more…)
Q. How do you know you when you’ve crossed the line and officially become a plant collector, rather than “just” a gardener?
A. When you buy a plant just because it’s so darn bizarre and the words written to describe it, “truly a plant magnet for the plantaholic,” seem to insist you must, simply must, have it.
Aesculus hippocastanum ‘Laciniata’ has been on my radar for a while now. I’ve always regarded it as a peculiarity. Interesting – but not something I “needed.” However there I was, at a plant sale, not looking for anything in particular when I spotted a nice looking little specimen. Then I read what our plant lust nursery partners had to say about it and – just like that – it jumped into my arms! (more…)
Last week I shared a few of my favorite yellow variegated plants, the soft ones. The ones that don’t want to draw blood or poke your eye out. This week stand back, grab a band-aid and (hopefully) enjoy as we look at the spikes…
This gorgeous Agave lophantha was a gift from a fellow Agave-addict, Gerhard. It was a pup from his plant, and just a year into living here, in my garden, I see it’s already sending out four pups at it’s base. You’ve got to love a plant that makes you more free plants. (more…)
In February I wrote about my love for green on green variegation. While that particular combination is still very much an obsession I thought I’d showcase a few of my yellow (or cream) and green variegated plants. I love how they draw your eye, break up the sea of green and lighten-up darker areas of the garden.
Interestingly I’ve noticed a few of the same plants I saw as green on green in February have now taken on more of a creamy yellow hue. Must be the sun? Or maybe just because I see shades of both and can’t ignore a plant I love no matter what the supposed focus? Probably both! (more…)
Touring a gorgeous garden is always a nice way to spend an hour or so – but when things get personal, and you discover the gardener shares a passion of yours, well, it’s even better. I bet you can guess what passion I am referring to? (more…)
As those of you who read my personal blog (danger garden) know – and are probably sick of hearing about – I opened my garden as part of a fund-raising tour last weekend. One of the frequently asked about plants was the Callistemon viridiflorus. Some of those asking expressed shock it was hardy here in Oregon, followed by a sort of disapproving grunt and something about “growing them in California, why would I want to grow it here!” I’ve heard a similar reaction from others who’ve grown up surrounded by “bottlebrushes” they don’t feel the attraction that I do…
I snapped these photos at Cistus Nursery last week. The vignette was so beautiful it stopped me, and then gave me a sort of melancholic shiver. Turning the calendar page and seeing the word August is a wake-up call. Summer is packing its bags, do not take it for granted.
What’s the point of having an opinion if you can’t later circle ’round and contradict yourself? Exactly. So while I did write about the importance of using botanical names (here) I now want to give a shout out to the excellence of some common names, in this case Bladder Senna.