Monthly Archives: September 2025

West Coast views from a train in spring

Posted on September 26, 2025 by Denise

Late May 2025, Los Angeles to Portland. Though I’ve taken lots of trains in Europe, this was my first long-distance train trip in the U.S., working out to roughly 29 hours. My companions were game as they come, charming 2-year-old … Continue reading →

Posted in journal | 7 Comments

the littles

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Denise

This longer east view of sunrise-haloed Chionochloa rubra was not available two days ago. Stipa gigantea spilled onto the rock at the west end making the path impassable, comprising overall about 5′ in circumference with half of that path obstruction. … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, Oregon garden | 7 Comments

town and garden

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Denise

Sometimes I get the sense from an offhand comment that gardens are considered escapist entertainment. My experience has been the opposite, and maybe this is what comes with small gardens in crowded neighborhoods. Because I’m constantly outside, I know to … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, Oregon garden | 6 Comments

9/20/25 Wonder Garden Fall Plant Sale

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Denise

An in-depth article on the origins and evolution of the garden recently appeared in Manzanita Today here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15nPmWR_pZV7KrmEUPQa56DhIPrWTdhv4/view .

Posted in plant sales | 4 Comments

give it up for Lobelia tupa

Posted on September 14, 2025 by Denise

Any description of Lobelia tupa is bound to contain words like “huge,” “robust,” “monumental,” and it’s all true. Which would seemingly indicate it’s not a perennial for a small garden like mine. Except this mega-perennial here at the Oregon Coast … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, Oregon garden | 5 Comments

first week of September

Posted on September 6, 2025 by Denise

The garden’s third September of its fourth year. The biggest change September brings is this mid level fizzy layer provided mostly by deschampsia, sesleria and Scabiosa ochroleuca that envelopes the plantings in a gauzy champagne scrim. The scabiosa is an … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, Oregon garden | 8 Comments

thoughts while strolling a local dahlia grower’s field

Posted on September 2, 2025 by Denise

On a visit to a local dahlia grower’s field in August, I find the range of flower shapes and colors head spinning. Apart from the variety of shapes and sizes, what amazes me is the range of color on offer … Continue reading →

Posted in commerce, cut flowers, design | 6 Comments