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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

A Day in Portland Part Three: A Garden Party at Longview Ranch

 
One of our main reasons for going to Portland was that Jane, aka Mulchmaid was planning an open garden for the Portland area bloggers.  While Alison and I live in a different state, we're sometimes granted special dispensation to participate in the activities of the Portland group.  Jane's garden is glorious and it was wonderful to see it in person. 

Unfortunately, I didn't include anything here for perspective but this eucomis  (Pineapple Lily) is huge! It's taller than waist high and is the largest I'd ever seen. 

Every plant that Jane grows is given ample space, treated well and responds to her masterful treatment. 
 
 
Jane's use of evergreens lets one know that this is a garden interesting even in the winter when the beautiful splashes of color are gone.

You may recall this calla lily from a Mulchmaid post.  It's really beautiful.  Notice how the silver spots on the leaves are echoed by the eryngium and melianthus in the background.

Beautiful bamboo and a huge tetrapanax ease us into the "Northwest Territory," the Mulchman's garden.  While Mulchmaid is fond of exotics, Mulchman, her gardening husband, has built a garden of Northwest natives.  The shady seating area is situated in the Northwest Territory and when I saw all the Portland bloggers, I put down my camera to say hi and forgot to pick it up again.  Fortunately, you can see some great pictures of the NWT here and here.


Love this Dyckia/Pot combination!
 
 
Beautiful variegated  Echium candicans 'Star of Madeira.'  When it's covered with deep blue and purple flowers, it's even more stellar!

Yucca rostrata
 
I understand that this sweet rose by the chimney was left by the former owners of the house. 
 
Here's the Mulchmaid herself being a fabulous host.   
 Thanks, Jane for a delightful afternoon in your gorgeous garden!  

31 comments:

  1. That is a gorgeous garden and so beautifully maintained. I especially liked seeing the native garden and the use of river rock in the beds. Each plant with plenty of space is not as easy as it sounds when you love plants.

    I've enjoyed seeing your foreigner's view of Portland gardens.

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    1. Jane really does a great job of balancing her plant lust with doing what's best for the plants and her garden as a whole. If I ever grow up, I'd like to be more like her!
      Portland is a great place and I always enjoy visiting that area!

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  2. Jane definitely has that spacing thing nailed, I need to try to be more like her and less my "cram it all together" self...

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    1. But there's always going to be another agave, dyckia, grevillea, aloe, schefflera, etc. that we can't live without!

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  3. I didn't realize till you mentioned it, but, yes, Jane's garden was orderly and well-spaced, and beautifully maintained, and yet still very much a personal statement of the gardener. I was rather astounded by that huge Eucomis too. I wish I had gotten some pictures of her roses. Even though they were left by the previous owners, they are still beautiful. And her Eucalyptus! Didn't get good pictures of that either, but I loved it.

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    1. It was exuberant without being crowded. Full of interesting plants that are well grown.

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  4. What an amazing garden! I always love seeing pictures of Jane's garden. It looks like a truly amazing place.

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    1. It was even more special to visit in person. Speaking of visiting in person, Fling - Portland - July. Do you think you'll be able to get away?

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  5. Such a lovely garden! I especially like those callas. Their color is beautful. Happy Wednesday, Peter!

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    1. That color is so warm! Glad you liked this garden! Happy Thursday to you, Satu!

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  6. I totally did the same thing...spotted the other bloggers and started talking...forgetting to take more pictures...which I didn't realize until I got home and realized that's where the photos stopped...drat! I agree on the spacing issue...I always admire that in other gardeners...but can't seem to emulate it in my own garden...sigh. Both of them have a deft hand...their garden feels so polished.

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    1. Great (or maybe feeble) minds think alike! It was fun to see everyone! Polished is a good word to describe their garden. It's like they thought before they planted, a concept totally foreign to me.

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    2. I always thought it was an urban legend that people thought before they planted. I loved the way the two gardening spaces echoed the gardeners' personalities and energies. Both beautiful!

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  7. You saw some things that I overlooked, but I guess we were all distracted by the lure of socializing. By piecing together all the posts from that day, we can get a pretty good idea, but nothing can compare with being there.

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    1. Wasn't it a fun day?! So nice of them to open their garden!

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  8. It was so great to have you all here, Peter, and I'm especially flattered that you and Alison made the long trip and brought your SOs with you!
    How funny that you think I have the spacing thing down: I really have no restraint - it's just that stuff doesn't seem to fill in for me the way it does for all of you!

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    1. We had a great time, visited another garden after yours and also had a nice dinner together before heading home so it was a delightful day!

      Spacing: You're way too modest! Your plants filled in beautifully but they weren't crammed together. Your garden flows beautifully and is very well done!

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  9. Just checking in while traveling to let you know I'm checking out your wonderful photos, and really appreciate your comments on my posts.

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    1. Thanks Linda, I love reading your posts about your garden your travels. You do the most interesting things!

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  10. Wow, that really is a fabulous garden!

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  11. We're enjoying the different take and angles various bloggers show of the same gardens. Undoubtedly a gorgeous one!

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    1. I agree, it's fun to see different perspectives of the same garden!

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  12. What a lovely garden, I really love all the different types of plants that I can't grow here without a greenhouse. Is that calla hardy?

    I think that rose is 'Sally HOlmes'

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    1. Yes, the calla is hardy. You would have a great time gardening here!

      You're right about the rose. I was just admiring one at a nursery & thought the flowers were really lovely.

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  13. Thanks for giving us this tour of the Mulchmaid's garden. It is, as you say, truly glorious.

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  14. Very nice. I'm so impressed by gardeners that can keep weeds out of their garden! I would love to see that star of madeira in bloom. And I like that they each have their own areas of the garden with their favorite plants. Mulchman must have been very interesting for you to have forgotten to take more pictures!

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    1. There were quite a fewPortland area garden bloggers sharing gossip, snacks, etc. a lot in which to participate.

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  15. The garden does look very neat and orderly. My garden is a jungle. I came here from San Diego where it was a struggle just to keep things alive in the heat and dryness, so wasn't used to the exuberance of plants up here. I haven't tried gravel mulches so I don't know the up- and downsides of that. They look neat... I like the bamboo, I enjoy mine. It is a workhorse.

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    1. Wow, San Diego to the PNW is quite a big change. What made you decide to move?

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.