Recently Evan Bean aka the Practical Plant Geek solicited tree suggestions on the PNW Plant Geeks Facebook page. I love this game, and it seems I’m in good company. He might as well have shot a starter pistol. Tree ideas: Go! (more…)
Okay. I understand the concept of continued maintenance. But dear lord, am I ever going to look out there and not see a mess? Is it like that for everyone? Or is this my particular mental health issue? Our youngest kid had a birthday in July. We celebrated at a favorite haunt, Santa Fe Taqueria on NW 23rd in Portland. Yes, that’s an Oregon Weedery sign in the background. Across the street the other direction, the perpetual line at Salt & Straw Ice Creamery.
Sometimes I marvel when I look back at all the photos. I also worry a little that I missed a lot by constantly taking pictures instead of just using my eyeballs. But that’s not right, because I wouldn’t remember if I hadn’t taken the snap. I dunno. There must be a good balance in there somewhere. What say ye? (more…)
Way back a million years ago, in May, we did a short trek to Santa Barbara. I thought I’d seen it all after going to Huntington Gardens in San Marino, CA. However, see that picture atop this post–that’s the garden at our Airbnb in Santa Barbara. The one below is Huntington Gardens. How about that?
It was a little family trip with my husband Bill, daughter Megan and SIL Justin. Justin had signed up for a 50 mile foot race near Los Angeles, which I can’t explain, but it still seemed a good opportunity to make a long weekend of it. Our son, Elliot, couldn’t come at the last minute, and it’s probably just as well. He wouldn’t have been gaga over the gardens. But Megan and I were crazy happy.
I don’t know how one tells a story about Huntington Gardens. I’m overwhelmed every time I try to sort photos into some logical order. I could make a career of studying the plants here–and which are likely to grow together naturally. Visiting this garden raised so many questions.
Thusly, I’ll give you pictures. For now, they can tell their own dang story.
Do you count losses from pesky winter weather as opportunity? That’s the path I’m taking. This small tree/large shrub for instance. Do you think it’s a sign that I can never remember its name? Oleander? No, that’s not right. It has Rosemary-like foliage. It’s from New Zealand, and I bought it at Xera Nursery. I transplanted it from my Alameda garden. But I have a devil of a time remembering the genus. (more…)
I’m sometimes tempted to write off holidays that seem primarily Hallmark driven. But that’s the curmudgeon in me. When I was a kid, Valentine’s Day ranked right up there with Halloween. I can feel the cramp developing in my right hand just thinking about all those cards for school the next day.
You may have heard that we got an unusual bit of snow here in the Pacific Northwest. This is a rare event, and many of us have no idea what to expect in the aftermath. There are a couple opinion camps on snow itself. Those who abhor it–they’ve often moved here from snowier climes. And those who love it–generally natives who have suffered a lifetime of snow deprivation.
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Gardeners have been known brake hard when they happen upon this scene. It’s an ordinary city lot in the Alameda neighborhood located in northeast Portland. As you can well see, the gardener here employs stealth and magic in the tiniest spaces.
You know when you have the thought that there is no room for your latest horticultural heartthrob? Well I’m here to tell you, there’s always room–as evidenced by Skidmore Woods. (more…)
Recently the Heldreths held an open garden for fellow bloggers. We’d seen snippets of Laura & Charlie Heldreth’s garden in photographs, but most of us had not visited in person–and never en masse. If you’re a plant nerd, you know there is nothing better than kibitzing with other gardeners. No worries about dirt under your fingernails in this crowd. (more…)