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A visit to Chickadee Gardens

I was excited to finally get to see Chickadee Gardens last week. I have followed Tamara's blog  for years. She and her husband garden on 2 acres in Saint Helens, Oregon.  When you look at the map, it appears that St. Helens is directly across the Columbia River and slightly to the north of us. However, there is no convenient bridge to get over to the Oregon side. You must go north to Ridgefield, Washington (about 30 minutes north of our house) and go across there  or travel through Portland and then go north through Scappoose. Either way, it is about a 45 minute drive. I decided to try the Ridgefield route and I was glad I did. Not only did I not have to contend with Portland traffic (it was Rose Parade weekend), I got to see country on the Oregon side that was new to me.  Tamara used to work at the beautiful Joy Creek Nursery (my favorite, but alas they are now closed) and she now works part-time at Cistus Nursery.  She focuses on native plants and sustainabili...

Chrysanthemum "Ryan Gainey"

This plant used to reside next to the walk near the front door but it suffered from too much shade. After the debacle with the cryptomeria, I had more room and moved it here. The additional sun has helped tremendously and it is loaded with blooms and the stems are not stretching for the sun rays.





Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Beautiful! They do like their vitamin D.

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  2. It seems really happy there. Plants look sooo much better without lanky flower stems.

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  3. I know you were sorry to see that big cryptomeria go, but there is always a silver lining.

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  4. Phillip, I have Ryan Gainey and love the yellow. Your stand looks lovely. gail

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  5. Beautiful blooms. I am glad you found just the right spot for it.

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  6. Beautiful portrait Phillip. How fun to see Ryan immortalized in a flower. It is amazing to see how far reaching his roots have become over the years. I love the many multi petaled composites. I should love to have him in my garden . . . I wonder if it is hardy here.

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  7. Those are lovely blooms. It must have taken love for those plants to produce such amazing flowering. However, with the unpredictable weather those plants should be protected at all cost and one of the best way is to protect it though an instant sandbags should there strong torrential rain that can flood the your flower beds.

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