Category Archives: Plant Portraits
Euphorbia ‘Copton Ash’ in early June
I really like this bit of planting, and a lot of that has to do with the contributions of Euphorbia ‘Copton Ash,’ the dark eucomis, and the tawny leaves of the Arctostaphylos pajaroensis hybrid. The flowers of Euphorbia ‘Miner’s Merlot,’ … Continue reading
Posted in journal, Oregon garden, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits
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Euphorbia ceratocarpa at Cistus Nursery
An HPSO open garden visit on Sunday took me about 20 minutes from Cistus Nursery on Sauvie Island, so I popped in to check on some plants I’ve been eyeing in their catalogue. After parking I wandered into the private … Continue reading
Posted in garden visit, Oregon garden, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits
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scenes from May
A few images from local nurseries and garden tours, courtesy of that incredible team, gardeners and the month of May. Every May this perfectly proportionate, quietly elegant iroid lures me in for close inspection. The Tasmanian Flag Iris, Diplarrena latifolia, … Continue reading
Posted in driveby gardens, garden visit, Plant Portraits
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time to sow biennials
Just one seed of this angelica germinated out of a packet sown February 2024, and to be honest, one angelica is all I have room for, but a couple of backups for insurance would have taken off the pressure of … Continue reading
Posted in clippings, Oregon garden, Plant Portraits, shop talk
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Lunaria annua ‘Chedglow’
In a very mossy, narrow bed against the Oregon house, north-facing, street-facing, this dark-leaved strain of honesty sown from seed was planted out last summer. Germination was quick and robust — I had dozens of seedlings. This spring these biennials … Continue reading
Posted in journal, Oregon garden, Plant Portraits
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soaking it all in
Even though I’m the main instigator, this late-season crescendo of growth astonishes me. While the garden has morphed into a late-season mosh pit, there has been one summer-long standout that still rises above and coolly surveys the garden’s autumnal slugfest: … Continue reading
Posted in journal, Oregon garden, Plant Portraits
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a couple promising zone 10 dry garden plants
Domino’s garden in Los Angeles is slowly taking shape, with everyone pitching in to keep it weeded, mulched, and watered while new plants settle in. (We have availed ourselves of mulch from Griffith Park’s generous compost facility, carload after carload, … Continue reading
Posted in Plant Portraits
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Rosy Rhodocoma capensis
I’m not sure when the rhodocoma started blushing pink. In fact, before this morning I didn’t even know to expect such a phenomenon, but trusted resources have this to say: San Marcos Growers: “Upright growing clump forming (tussock) grass-like plant … Continue reading
Posted in Oregon garden, Plant Portraits
8 Comments
late but great
Some of the feelings about my late summer/fall garden this year can be broken down into two categories: 1) What took you so long? and 2) Wow, you look so fresh! I’ve been both irritated by tardiness and appreciative of … Continue reading
Posted in design, journal, Oregon garden, Plant Portraits
8 Comments
notes on the September garden
September is a big month in this garden…the equivalent of a king’s tide (the highest full-moon tide that temporarily erases local beaches). But this is no act of nature. Big, tall plants have always been a preference. Still, the height … Continue reading
Posted in garden travel, garden visit, Oregon garden, Plant Portraits
9 Comments