2018 Spade and Wade Garden Tour: Magical & Mystical

Saturday, 21 July 2018

2018 Spade and Wade Garden Tour

Sponsored by the Tillamook County Master Gardener Association

garden six: Magical and Mystical

(Note: I remove the gardeners’ last names, not at anyone’s request, just because it seems like a polite privacy protection.)

Spike and Randy weren’t members of the Tillamook County Master Gardeners; as with the recent Grayland/Markham tour, that is not a prerequisite for having one’s garden featured.

Based on the description, I had high hopes for this garden, hopes which were increased when I saw a Lobelia tupa across the street at the edge of the neighbours’ yard.

Then I saw the Romneya coulteri (Coulter’s Matilija poppy) on the upper slope of the tour garden.

Romneya coulteri

My socks start rolling up and down, as Ciscoe Morris would say.  Here we go, my kind of garden!  Google tells me the house was built in 2008 so the garden is, I assume, less than ten years old.

on the slope above

a view to the ocean

from the street

path to the front porch (Allan heard the red is roof shingle granules)

Lobelia tupa!

a massive specimen

The town across the way at the base of the hills to the right is Garibaldi.

big chimney on one side of the house

Allan’s photo

Check in table.  The friendly garden dog’s name is Sidney.

I like the soothing tan bark colour of the garden mulch.

tomatoes on the east side of the deck

At the beginning of his walkabout (different from mine), Allan realized people were buying plants.  I had not taken the “plants for sale” sign seriously.  He tried to call me but we had no signal there.

Allan’s photo, buying a treasure

Allan’s photo

enticing side garden

and a shed

Yes!

Sidney is also having a fun afternoon.

The outbuilding is potting shed in front and sauna in the back.

Which way to go first?

The boardwalk to the sauna is enticing.

special acer off to the side

another Lobelia tupa on my left

On my right, the garden drops off down the hill to the woods.

Allan’s photo

Agapanthus and a cool plant that Danger Garden will recognize instantly, I am sure.

going back to a covered roof area by the house (and a second stump with plants up on top)

There I meet garden owner Spike, who tells me that her husband has “escaped from the front yard, where he was supposed to stay.”

ligularia on the downhill slope

at the corner of the house, a hollow stump

looking down

Allan had explored down there.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

a path outside the fence (Allan’s photo)

Be ye friend or foe? (Allan’s photo)

below the sauna (Allan’s photo)

sauna shower (Allan’s photo)

mystery paver with my Grandma’s name (Allan’s photo)

Meanwhile….

pink flamingos on a nurse log below the north side of the house

Now I am on the west side.

Allan is overhearing owner Randy, in the white cap, telling the tour guests something.

Allan tells me he heard Randy say we had to walk down a road to the north, so we do.

road of mystery, a place the neighbours share (Allan’s photo)

a path awaits

Allan’s photo

??

 

Allan’s photo

telephoto because the beach is way far down

Allan’s photo

Allan goes further to the south and finds a castle in the woods.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Back up the path, and the road, and back to the nurse log.

Allan’s photo

Deer and elk respect the electric fence when it is on. The charge is more intense because it protects a small area.

along the west road, more donkey tail spurge to plant

a prostrate redwood, left, that Randy says will get enormous

west side

I am well chuffed to be able to be the one to tell Randy that the center plant is a leptospermum.

cannot get enough of this

I pore over every detail.

huge phlomis, cool curvy bricks and rock chimney

Now I will go up the inside of the west garden.

tour guests carefully coming down

interesting bricks

Allan’s photo of this is better than mine.

looking at everything as I ascend the round rock stairs

Allan’s photo

at the top again

Sidney

back along the north side to the holey stump

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

resolved to miss nothing

back in Spike’s domain

Let’s see what is up on the deck.

view to the boardwalk garden

in a corner of the deck

I politely avert my eyes from looking in the windows of the house.

Spike says that beardlike plant is alive, and she had lots more of it draped on the porch, but decided it was too much for the tour.

treats

some of Randy’s creations

Everyone must be utterly gobsmacked. Botanical expert friends Evan and Ann and Bob tell me the plant is Tillandsia usneoides. Spanish moss, a bromeliad.

The view is incidental. The garden is everything.

Magical, mystical Spike (Allan’s photo)

Spike has a seed packet bracelet that she got at Goodwill thrift store.  It had belonged to someone who came to the tour today.

Allan’s photo

Allan tells me folks have been buying all kinds of little plants from the green house (which Spike and Randy are going to replace soon), so I have a look.

mermaid birdbath like ours!

greenhouse, one aisle

Wow…

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

potting shed right across from the greenhouse

It is after four, past tour closing time, and it would be rude to not leave.  I do ask Spike if I could possibly move into her shed.

don’t want to go

last look

my treasures from Spike’s greenhouse, mostly just $3, big one was $7.

The tour was officially over.  However, our own tour day was not over, because we were going to visit Seaside Pam’s garden on the way home.

 

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2018 Spade and Wade Garden Tour: nursery and garden

Saturday, 21 July 2018

2018 Spade and Wade Garden Tour

Sponsored by the Tillamook County Master Gardener Association

After garden four, we realized that we had about a half hour drive to the next two gardens, so we had better put lunch at Hidden Acres Greenhouse next on our agenda.

from the tour program

I had been to Hidden Acres before, on a visit to the Sylvia Beach Hotel and looked forward to revisiting.  It was only two minutes from the previous garden.

Hidden Acres Greenhouse and Café, Tillamook

arriving

Now that is a cordyline I could love.

Oh! (Not complaining when I think it must take several hours to make.)

Allan’s photo

in the restroom

Allan’s photo

noisy nest in the breezeway (Allan’s photo)

out back

hanging basket greenhouse

good signage (Allan’s photo)

perennial house (Allan’s photo)

Small herbs were just $3.95.

Allan’s photo

In the café, where we had our lunch:

The ingredient in hummingbird cake is bananas, just so you know.

I remember loving this café and shop, and I still do.

I want this chandelier, but without the bed springs, which would get too dusty.

Allan’s photo

Allan found a cute pop up book with which I amused myself till lunch arrived, which was soon.

Allan went to get me my specs so I could find a certain rabbit, but then our tasty lunch came and we forgot.

tuna melt and French onion soup and Mediterranean pasta salad

my plant haul

We then were off on a drive to Cape Meares.

The drive looks lovely.  I found it nerve-wracking because of my recurring nightmare of going off a road into water.

It is curvier than it looks, and I was so glad to get onto the cape.  (Going back, on the inside, was not too bad.)  Allan noted that the water was too shallow for kayaking.

Garden Five: A Walk in the Woods, Cape Meares

Allan’s photo

unusually handsome phormiums in front

front porch

around to the side

Crinodendron seed pods

Higher, one crinodendron flower remains. (Allan’s photo)

I used to have a crinodendron at my old garden, from Clarke Nursery, wish I still had it.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Coprosma, maybe hardy here?? (Not where I live)

Pacific wax myrtle

at the back of the house

And now into the woods we go. I passed the garden owner sitting with tour guests at a table talking about wild critters, including elk who come into the back garden.

chatting around the table (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

a most clever idea for a garden tour with rough ground

The tree below had been cut decades before and other trees had grown around the stump.

Allan’s photo

I turned back from a steep path and Allan later went down it.

nurse log (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo, docent with tour goers

Back in the garden, there really were artichokes with the aprons.

and paintings by Jenny Stanley

Allan’s photo

the ocean side of the house

the family dog comes home from the beach (Allan’s photo)

I regret I was not in that part of the garden at that moment to meet that dog!

Barbara had put many of her favourite gardening books out.

on the back porch

On the front porch:

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Just a few blocks down the street is the ocean.

We now drove a block over and a couple of gravel blocks uphill to a garden that I could hardly bear to leave at closing time.  It is glorious, and will be tomorrow morning’s post.

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2018 Spade and Wade Garden Tour: two creekside gardens

Saturday, 21 July 2018

2018 Spade and Wade Garden Tour

Sponsored by the Tillamook County Master Gardener Association

Garden three: Garden by The River, Tillamook

I would love to have Fawcett Creek running at the bottom of my garden.

right: the bridge onto the property

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

the sound of stones rolling and clunking underwater

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

looking uphill toward the greenhouse

herb and kitchen garden

in the greenhouse (Allan’s photo)

 

This long-necked insect rode on Allan’s shirt for awhile. It was reluctant to get flicked off.  That is not a stinger; it’s an ovipositor. (Allan’s photo)

below the deck

purses for sale (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

behind the house

behind the house

sit spot

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

We left the Fawcett Creek garden and crossed the quiet highway for a two block drive to the next garden, passing some front yard cattle along the way.

Garden four: Jardin Chalet, Tillamook

along the driveway

driveway circle

the animal compound

Because of the warm weather, I only saw one hen.

and one goat inside the shelter

Allan noticed the kayak. I did not.

Allan’s photo

“Jardin Chateau”

Allan’s photo

well protected berries

productive kitchen garden

Allan’s photo

Each garden had some treats and cool drinks on offer. (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

one of the docents (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

I yelped with joy when I saw the name badge while writing this, because this is the same gardener who is having a Hardy Plant Society garden open in Manzanita that we hope to go to later this summer.

I would love to have Simmons Creek running at the edge of my garden.

The garden owner told Allan that he enjoyed the sound of the creek in the winter when it is running higher.  I would spend a lot of time sitting by it.

I bought four beautiful cards from Jane Wanell.

Jane Wanell and her cards

I asked where she was from when I heard her accent.  Born in Leeds!  Of course, I told her I had been married to a Leedsman and recommended Chris’s historical mysteries set in Leeds.

I asked her why her own garden, pictured in her cards, was not included in the tour, and she explained that it is in Manzanita.  That’s where the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon garden open is later this summer, and I hope when we go that I can finagle a visit to her garden, as well.

Jane’s cards

The card, upper right, is made up of photos of her garden and makes me long to visit it.  I also found, in an article about her art, that she is friends with June Kroft, a gardener in south Cannon Beach who I much admire.

 

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Spade and Wade Tour 2018: Vegetables and Glorious Trees

Saturday, 21 July 2018

2018 Spade and Wade Garden Tour

Sponsored by the Tillamook County Master Gardener Association

garden two: Vegetables and Glorious Trees, Tillamook

garden greeters under one of two enormous liriodendron (tulip) trees

the pair of liriodendrons

liriodendron leaf

Allan’s photo

Allan said, “It was a hot day, and trees are good.  It was the only garden where I laid down on the lawn and looked up at the trees and was just happy.”

Allan’s photo

Every tree has a story.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

pump house and hypericum

next to the barn “nestled in the foothills east of Tillamook”

“Stone sculptors from the Bay City Arts Center will be demonstrating the art of stone sculpting.”

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

stone carving

Allan’s photo

By the barn, in a pen, a bunny was getting much attention.

Allan’s photo of Harry, the bunny

Allan’s photo

Harry liked Allan. (Allan’s photo)

“The house is over 85 years old and surrounded by large fir trees to keep the property private.”

Allan’s photo

“Ruth’s specialty is bonsai.”

Allan’s photo

local bonsai club (here is a ten year old article about them)

Garden owner Don’s pièce de résistance is his vegetable garden, with a view of the foothills.

the always interesting compost pile

“He believes in simplicity, using tools from his grandfather to hoe and weed the grounds because they still work!”

“….neat, wide rows of beans, peas, potatoes, corn, squash, lettuces, cabbages. blueberries, and more…”

stone fence toppers

Don said that he grew everything from seed except for tomatoes and peppers and that he hand waters the vegetable rows only, which is why there are few weeds between the rows.  He made a hose guide so that the hose stays in place.

A cut piece of jug of some sort keeps the hose from sliding back.

The back yard:

back yard (Allan’s photo)

As we departed for two nearby gardens, we admired some cows right across the highway.

 

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Tillamook County Spade and Wade Tour: A Haven For Birds

Saturday, 21 July 2018

prelude

On the two hour drive down to Tillamook (harrowing when a vehicle suddenly stopped in front of us due to the driver’s sudden decision to go to the beach!), we did a quick driving tour of Pam’s Seaside gardens, which we will include in a post-tour visit to her own garden.

We stopped ever so briefly at Seaside 7 Dees garden center.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

And, in Tillamook, at Five Rivers Coffee Roasters for a comfort stop before touring.  I like their garden, with tables, at the back of their coffee shop.

from the tour booklet

The five rivers are the Tillamook, the Trask, the Wilson, the Kilchis, and the Miami.

planted garden benches

Allan’s photo

inside

It’s on 101, so don’t miss this charming place if you are driving the coast road.

Guess which comment on their chalk board is mine.

I expected the tour to be farm and food garden oriented because it is in a dairy cow and corn farmland area, famous for its Tillamook brand cheese and ice cream.

We passed many fields of corn on the way.

The smell of cow manure floated in the air throughout the Tillamook area, an odor that is enticing to me because I wished I could take some buckets of cow poo back to my garden.

2018 Spade and Wade Garden Tour

Sponsored by the Tillamook County Master Gardener Association

For our ten dollar ticket fee, we got a 24 page keepsake program with information about the local area, local attractions from Tillamook to Cape Meares, maps, and garden descriptions with color photos.

The Master Gardeners club did indeed have a hearty crew of parking assistants at each garden, which was much appreciated.  I also appreciated the welcoming encouragement to take photos and ask questions.  I also deeply appreciate that one of the missions of this tour and the one in Grays Harbor is to have gardens that are created entirely by their owners.  That makes them much more meaningful to me than gardens whose owners hire others to do the design (and work). It also tends to make the gardens less hardscaped, perhaps humbler, and more soulful and personal. (Side note about other tours: When gardeners are hired to design, plant, and weed, they should get credit for the work in garden tour programs.)

This tour takes place every other year.  Last time it conflicted with the Aberdeen tour, so I was especially pleased that it was on a different weekend this year.

Note: In garden descriptions, I touch out the last names for the owners’ privacy.

I theorize that the tour is called Spade and Wade because the Tillamook area tends to flood in the winter, but perhaps it is because of the “five rivers”.

Garden one: A Haven for Birds, Tillamook

from the program:

Each garden had one of these pavers.

It made me happy to see such a bright front garden.

a garden all abuzz with bees

bonsai

Barbara, garden owner, at work on a bonsai

Allan’s photo captures the joy of garden touring as they discuss what to trim.

An honest description of an area in progress as we tour the front garden:

an asclepias (milkweed), which I am trying to get going in my garden.

fuchsia and hydrangea

This hydrangea was popular with bees.

Shade garden by front porch:

Oh! I used to have this tiny flowered fuchsia!

Allan’s photo

passion flower by the entryway

Now we’ll go into the back garden.

a little greenhouse

Allan’s photo

roses

I would like a huge bin like that, maybe galvanized metal, maybe an old wooden hot tub, for an instant pond.

greenhouse window

herbs and edible flowers just past the greenhouse

strawberries in a bed by the greenhouse

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Farmland is the backdrop to the vegetable garden with its beds “raised to get their feet out of the water table“.

blueberries protected from birds

beyond the garden

asparagus

“dahlias—wedding flowers for our son’s wedding in 2008”

an old gate just like my grandma’s old gate

purple peas

borage

lilies

compost

more compost

I do not know what those bins are made out of, but it looks like a better siding than our wooden pallets, because of better air circulation and ability to see what is going on in there. Maybe Allan can figure it out.

Regular readers will know I like compost bins. These three show the progress.

bin one

bin two

bin three

Jamie Rehak’s wind chimes

yucca flowers against the house

We had now perambulated the entire back garden and arrived at these folks selling their handmade canning jar solar lights.

I bought the blue one, upper right.

The gentleman in orange, below, is John, the garden owner.  I complimented him on his enviable kitchen gardening skills.

One more look at the delightful front garden on our way out:

Allan’s photo

 

 

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