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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.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

A Day in Portland Part Four: What's Black and Blue and Orange all over?

Alternate title:  Let's visit a cool garden located at the intersection of Plant Lust Lane and Style Street!
 

You may remember this garden from Danger Garden's posts here and here.  Loree's posts made a big impression on me and she was kind enough to let me know that the garden was going to be open for the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon garden tour on the same day as Jane's open garden, I jumped at the chance to see the garden in person.

J.J. the gardener here is also the owner of a great shop called Digs Inside and Out. a store as wonderful as this garden!


The strength of choosing a few colors and repeating them is beautifully illustrated in this ever changing space.  I almost called this post, "Theme and Variations" because of J.J's masterful use of vibrant color.


If you checked out Loree's posts, you'll know that these pieces were originally blue.  Nothing that a couple of cans of spray paint couldn't fix.


Love this rusty screen!

This fairly restrained path planting,  leads to the back garden.

Where the color theme continues.


Much of the foliage is also orange or blue.


It's clear from the numerous seating areas that this is a garden designed with outdoor living and entertaining in mind.

 
 





J.J. has an extensive collection of succulents and cacti about which she knows a great deal.

 


In every corner, something interesting lurks.




Notice the beautiful leaf pattern created by the sun shining through the umbrella above the chairs.




The two pots in the background are huge!  The soil only goes down as deep as the rim; the rest of the pot is hollow and lights up at night.  In fact, the entire space is well lit for night enjoyment.
 
I wonder what happens with this great conversation pit during the winter?


Every water feature should have flying shrimp!

While salivating over Agave alba mediopicta, you may notice part of the Gnome Be Gone emerging from the foliage behind.








This set of faux bois chairs is gorgeous!


Black, blue, orange, a little white and of course, green.  Who could ask for anything more?

J.J. is as fun-loving, colorful, and cool as her garden would have you believe! 
 
I'm glad to have had the chance to see this faboo garden in person and meet the equally groovy gardener who made it!

31 comments:

  1. Great tour of this garden with so much to see. It's always different and the updates are so cool with wonderful color, plants, and faux bois too.

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    1. I was surprised in looking back at Loree's posts at how much has changed. JJ does a masterful job of creating a stylish garden that also appeals to plant geeks.

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  2. I love the gardens you people make! they are all so beautiful and full of ingenious things! that gnome be gone is hilarious!!!

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    1. Glad you like our fun gardens! Gnome be gone always gets a chuckle.

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  3. You got some wonderful photos, so many of mine came out blurry. I really wanted a good picture of those flying shrimp, but it didn't happen. I'll just have to come here and look at yours when I want to be reminded of them. This was such a fun and stylish garden.

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    1. I hate it when I get home and find blurry pictures! Sorry about yours. This garden was especially difficult because we had such limited time and we wanted to talk with JJ, admire the individual plants, take in the whole thing and get pictures. Yikes.

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  4. My heart is literally pounding in excitement! I love everything about that garden!!!! Those two big orange pots with the palms are stunning. But I notice one picture with a bench in the background and the most beautiful tree fern planter. Oh I could just go on and on about how amazing everything there is. That is an inspiring garden!!!

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    1. It is an inspiring garden! Glad you liked it Louis! JJ's store, from which much of her garden stuff came, is also a blast.

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  5. I am speechless. This is such an incredible garden. I am in awe of it all. I love the use of colorful pots and artwork with the mix of splendid plants. Wow, I can learn so much. Great post!

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    1. Glad you like this garden. One thing that really hit me was that paved/graveled/decked area does NOT mean a lack of plants. Too often, I think it's a choice of one or the other.

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  6. jj is a force of nature with most excellent taste. gorgeous post.

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  7. I thought Loree's posts about JJ's garden were exhaustive, but you managed to bring something new to the fore. I'm impressed with how she is able to use vibrant color and lots of decorative elements without slipping into kitsch. It all feels amusingly elegant.

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    1. I almost didn't post about it thinking that it would be redundant for people who read both blogs but then thought, what the heck. Placement, context, and limited color choices really pull it all together. Somehow it all fits with her cool brick house. I wonder if she does garden consulting?

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  8. I love the way you captured this garden, Peter. It was cohesive and over-the-top at the same time, and you showed that so well. I loved all the orange and hadn't realized or remembered that the big tub chairs had formerly been blue. What won't JJ do to make the garden "just so"?

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  9. What a great garden! Love all the orange and the outdoor seating areas.

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    1. It was a fun, vibrant, and relaxing garden with seating for a cast of thousands!

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  10. I love seeing this garden through your eyes! It's such an amazing place. I swear I could visit every week and see something new. Great photos Peter!

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    1. I'm so in love with the garden and with JJ! Her sense of style and her plant knowledge are admirable and she's also very fun!

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  11. What an eye-popping, orange-alicious garden! I love it!

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  12. Such a lovely garden! You know, there's something very Finnish in her garden... That black and white umbrella. It's Marimekko's which is Finnish design!

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    1. Wow! What a good eye you have! Thanks for pointing that out!

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  13. Thanks for this tour! Perhaps this garden can be on the itinerary for the 2014 Fling?

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  14. She's the coolest chick. Great photos!

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  15. her is my attempt at a gardening page..i really like yours. http://greengreetings.weebly.com/

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