Sunday, 16 July 2017
While waiting for Todd and our friends to return from a walk to the bay, along with reading and thinking, I had been texting Steve of the bayside garden to tell him we would soon be on our way. He said, “Bring Todd,” so we easily talked Todd into accompanying us to the last garden of our tour. Melissa and Dave had gone their own way to get some work done.
Steve and John’s bayside garden
Steve and John were sitting and waiting by the front door as if they had not been weeding before we came. Midway through our informal tour day, I had learned that Evan is a rhododendron fan, so I was especially pleased for him to see this garden. The long driveway up to the house gives a good feel for how many wonderful plants we were about to see. (My note-taking ability disappeared with so many friends touring together. Steve and John helped me out via email, later.)
We started on the bay side of the house.
John by the house (Allan’s photo)
Evan, Ann, John, Allan, Steve, Todd.
Allan’s photo
to the north, the evergreen huckleberry glade
another bayside bed
detail (Allan’s photo)
That bed includes this fabulous rhododendron: R. degronianum ssp. yakushimanum ‘Yaku Angel’ Form
Next to a camellia, this cool wavy leaved rhododendron is ‘Jan Dekans’.
On the patio on the bay side of the house sat this box of succulents. They were a gift from a friend in consolation for the green roof of the pump house having lost its most special plants in our cold winter.
More ordinary succulents are now the stars of the pump house roof.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
at the front of the house: Acer palmatum ‘Ukigumo’ (Floating Clouds Japanese Maple) with Taxus x media ‘Beanpole’
Here we admire an osmanthus that had lost its leaves during the past winter. It is now limbed up and leafed out again, and more light can now enter this area.
shade and hosta garden; note two inviting shares in the sunshine
new foliage on Rhododendron loderi ‘Venus’
purple!
high gloss rhodie and hydrangea
A big old cotoneaster with a ruff of aucuba around its trunk. (They were all grown together when Steve and John took on this garden.)
John and a small rhododendron with finely cut leaves; Evan knew the name, and I have one, and have forgotten, of course. Per Evan: Rhododendron stenopetalum ‘Linearifolium’
Todd by a sunny mixed border (Allan’s photo)
Rhododendron ‘Ever Red’
Rhododendron ‘Sir Charles Lemon’
Newly cleared area now has sprinklers installed and is soon to be planted.
lots of room and nicely contoured ground
My favourite of all. Rhododendron pachysanthum x ??
more gorgeous leaves on R. ‘Cherries and Merlot’
Rhododendron ‘Starbright Champagne’ is a favourite in this garden.
More R. ‘Ever Red’ (easy to remember!) (Allan’s photo)
strolling into an area that was newly planted about a year ago or less.
evergreen huckleberry in a bed of moss
a brand new bed with Taxus baccata ‘Watnong Gold’ to echo the same up near the house.
Rhododendron sinogrande with grand leaves.
Todd and Evan, who worked together at Plant Delights
The irrigation pond
glistening afternoon light
Steve had said that the garden looks best in afternoon light, and that was why we had gone here last.
Todd and Ann looking up a plant
I love the foliage on this genista best when it is not blooming.
Callistemon viridiflorus (Allan’s photo)
after two days of touring
on our walk back to the house, to the south of the driveway: This tree will be incorporated into a bed, and the salal to the right is next for the axe (or pick).
I heartily approve of the continued removal of boring old salal!
And then we had cake and tea, coffee, sparkling water.
The cake was from Bailey’s Café in Nahcotta. Todd, Evan, Ann, me, Steve
When we walked outside again to leave, the evening light was stunning, looking west.
Ann getting the back light just perfect.
Chaemacyparis pisifera ‘Vintage Gold’
Allan’s photo
After this feast of plants, then cake, then light, we parted ways. Evan and Ann had a drive back to Portland and Castle Rock, and Allan had plans to water the community building garden before dark. It seemed like many hours since we had begun touring in our garden, then Pink Poppy Farm, The Oysterville garden, Marty and Steve’s, Sea Star, Todd’s, and the bayside garden. Someone of the group complimented me for having arranged “the best garden tour”.
Next: Back to work…and trying to get the blog back to closer to real time again.
What a beautiful garden and view of the bay. I love how they limbed up the osmanthus. I would give you an A+ for organizing this tour! Your blog will be a helpful reference for when I go rhododendron shopping. Thank you!
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Thank you, Debbie. Their garden completely altered my perception of rhododendrons.
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What a wonder to see this garden later in the day. So lush in greenness and mantled colors, textures, and light/shadows. I saw the garden early in a garden tour and wish I had known to arrive later. Still, it was a delight just to see it then, even in the early light. I think this later light also brings the bay and the forefront and background into play for even an more in-depth pleasure at viewing the garden. I am sure this idea is included in Steve and John’s assessment of their preference for this time of the day for seeing their garden. I am amused by your mini-Pied Piper gathering of additional garden visitors. A great way to tour. A great day’s tour.
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Turns out we could have even had a couple more tour-ers if they’d only known about it.
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A great tour with some beautiful gardens.
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Thanks, Mr T!
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Those huckleberry balls look like a group of foraging creatures moving through the trees. Tribbles perhaps? ‘Jan Dekans’ is pretty neato. I usually like limbed up plants and that osmanthus looks great with its legs exposed. What is that umbrella shaped tree in the photo with Todd & Ann? Is it catalpa bignonioides nana? I’ve been on the hunt down for this tree for quite a while. I fell in love with it after seeing it online in a bunch of Dutch gardens. https://get.google.com/albumarchive/109726537264644092409
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I’ll ask Steve and John!
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