Thursday, June 15, 2017

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - June 2017

It's Bloom Day, the 15th of the month already, and time to record the flowers blooming at Longview Ranch. After a very wet and cold spring we had a short period of sun and heat, but now we're back to cool, cloudy, very typical Northwest June weather.

So, starting in the Northwest Territory, we have the first flowers of Erigeron glaucus. They don't like hot sun, but they will respond to the warmth of summer with lots more blooms later on.


A native Penstemon.

Sidalcea oregana, Oregon Mallow.

Lewisia columbianum var rupicola has been blooming for months.

A pretty native that belongs in the Northwest Territory but ended up in the MulchMaid's garden, Lilium columbianum.

Trachelospermun jasminoides is just beginning to bloom. It wants more heat as much as I do.

The NOID Olea is covered with flowers. Are olives in my future this year?

Callistemon viridfloris is almost over, but here's one last bottlebrush flower.

I haven't always been able to smell Daphne x transatlantica 'Eternal Fragrance' so well, but right now it's strong and delightful.

I took this picture before the Mulch Man had to cut Rosa 'Sally Holmes' back after she ripped her tie-ups and fell over while we were away. We don't know what did it, but there were reports of high wind gusts and heavy rain. I'll miss her lovely flush of bloom against our chimney.

Eremuris are looking happy all over Portland this spring, and my three are getting in on the act.

Sisyrinchium striatum appreciated the spring rains.


Solidago 'Lemon Baby' is blooming in appreciation of the increased light following the Ceanothus removal.

Halimium ocymoides
'Sarah'.

Eryngium x zabelii 'Neptune's Gold' has lovely golden-green foliage, but the bracts are fairly green.

I'll leave you with a simple but satisfying color combo. Who could resist this bright duo of Lavender and California poppy?

Scoot over to May Dreams Gardens to check out more blooms from bloggers all over the place.

Happy Bloom Day!




Thursday, June 8, 2017

Don't miss the 13th annual Designers Garden Tour!

The 2017 Association of Northwest Landscape Designers (ANLD) Designers Garden Tour will take place on Saturday, June 17, 2017 from 10am - 4pm.  I was fortunate to pre-tour the event and, as always, the gardens are full of inspiration and beauty. Garden designers solve a multitude of problems and they do it with style and verve, so the tour is a showcase of their ability and creativity. Here are a few themes that emerged for me and reasons I think you'll enjoy attending.

Edibles can be integrated into any ornamental garden, and look great in the landscape.






From the simple to the sublime, art has a place in every garden.







Art can be functional, too.

An artful mosaic patio can provide seating - another thing any garden needs.

Seating areas invite you to settle down for a while.




From small to huge, rocks add interest, solve problems, create walls, and provide seating.





But the heart and soul of any garden are the plants, and you'll enjoy seeing how landscape designers use them flawlessly.





The tour is self-guided and this year's seven gardens are on the west side of Portland. As in past years, proceeds benefit the ANLD scholarship fund.

For more information on the tour or to purchase tickets, phone 503-683-3003, or go to www.anld.com.
I hope you enjoy the tour as much as I did!