26 June: HPSO weekend—Lost Lagoon Farm

Friday, 26 June 2015

Hardy Plant Society Study Weekend, Portland 2015

Lost Lagoon Farm, Sauvie Island

From the program: Jane Hartline and Mark Greenfield, Lost Lagoon Farm.  See what happened when two seasoned gardeners unleashed their energy and passion for gardening, wildlife and native plants on 3 acres on Sauvie Island.  A decade ago, we researched what plants were truly native to our land ecosystems, ripped out agricultural weeds around our 1/4 acre pond and planted more than 2,500 native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and ferns to provide habitat for songbirds, amphibians and other wildlife.  The self-guided tour of our habitat restoration project is the main event, but the gardens around our house are charming, with lots of interesting (non-native) plants and garden art, a rain garden, an awesome vegetable garden with a work space that will make you envious, and several cozy, verdant nooks for relaxing.

on the way into the garden

It was too hot for wearing wool coats.

Because of the heat and extreme contrast from sun to shade, I’ve decided not to try to fix the contrast on the photos.  Walk with us; this is the experience that we had, back and forth from deep shade to blinding sunshine.

Start Here: the walk toward the house

a woodsy approach

One of several shady sit spots.

The path becomes more formal.

We could go this way…but…

We turn toward the barn.

another sit spot

I like the mulch of fallen cones.

the barn (Looking through, you can see the resting flock of sheep.)

Inside the barn, with a view of the chicken coop

chicken coop view

Allan’s photo

back to the shady path…well planted along the sides.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

We are seeking the house.

light at the end…

a bright circle

We turn right to inspect the kitchen garden.

delicious compost!

tour goers and veg

 

 

purple martin houses on a tall pole

Allan’s photo

purple martin pictures: Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

The weather was so hot that a jug of water by the veg garden workshed was hot like from a recently boiled teakettle.

Perhaps I exaggerate slightly.

tools in the kitchen garden shed

work area

artfully screened

 

Allan’s photo

looking across the lawn to the house

lawn surrounded by garden

a familiar shed

We toured this garden on the Garden Conservancy tour in 2009.

photos from 2009

Redwing blackbirds were all over this feeder by the kitchen garden fence.

Small birds flew all around the house patio, where many feeders served them.  They flew up onto the roof when we approached.

 

Allan’s photo (hats)

the patio

The birds decided it was safe to come down.

They kept a close eye on us.

Ah…icy cold water

patio corner

 

lemon tree

looking back toward the veg garden

Verbena bonariensis

Allan’s photo

A path leads around the house.

 

another example of a house with lovely, big garden embracing windows

Allan’s photo

in a side yard: native plants for sale…

Darmera peltata (umbrella plant) is one that I do like to have in my garden.

tour guests

We’ll now leave the house gardens and walk the self-guided tour of Lost Lagoon.  As we followed the path, we made every effort to take photos that will share the experience and information with you.  We were both impressed with the high quality of the information signs.

 

 (Allan’s photo)

Raccoon Camp

snags

path to Lost Lagoon

Warbler Tree Bench

turtle highway from the farmland irrigation ditch…

to the Lost Lagoon.

Lost Lagoon

wildlife corridor

 

Allan’s photo

We continue around the lagoon.

 

 

view to the bridge from behind the pond

from the backside of the lagoon path: Sauvie Island bridge. (This is slightly telephoto)

 

viewing bench

an idyllic life

The path goes under a weeping willow.

Looking back through the willow: magical

 

Allan’s photo

tour guests view the lagoon

(Sorry all blurry, and the beaver lodge was in shade too deep to photograph.)

a bit about frogs

Having circled the lagoon, we return to the house.

arbour at front of house

“Variegated climbing hygrandea!” said another tour guest.

front door

more of those enviable windows

I think this is just a regular garage door, but painted…which I would like at our house.

another bird feeder (Allan’s photo) in a front garden area with fewer tour guests

Joe Clifton was selling artwork near the Raccoon Camp

Joe Clifton: Allan bought a screwdriver flower sculpture, which would have been my pick, too.

 Allan’s photo

birds on the Raccoon Camp fence

As we drove out of the parking lot, we saw Todd driving in, and had a conversation through our vehicle windows.  He’d gotten a late start due to having to do watering back on the Peninsula, and was running one garden behind us.  Because Allan and I were not going to go to all five tour gardens, we had time to make a side trip to Cistus Nursery.  That will be a comparatively short bonus post tonight, since I hope, for my own sake, to get caught up to the present day before the end of summer.