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Kiftsgate Court Gardens

Just right down the road from Hidcote is Kiftsgate Court Gardens. This garden was created by Heather Muir beginning in the 1920s. Muir's daughter, Diany Binny, came to live at Kiftsgate in 1954. She would add the half-moon pool and redesigned the white garden. She also first opened the garden to the public. Today, the tradition continues as granddaughter Anne Chambers and her husband maintain the gardens.    Heather Muir was a friend and neighbor of Hidcote's Lawrence Johnston (their houses are within one mile of each other), and he inspired her in the garden's design. However, the two gardens differ in character and have their own unique characteristics. While Johnston's garden is laid out in strict geometric lines, Muir took a more naturalistic approach. Muir added many heirloom shrub roses to the garden and is famous for the 'Kiftsgate' rose, which occurred from a seedling in the garden. Unfortunately, we were too early for the roses. There were a few like t...
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Portland Japanese Garden



The tranquil Japanese Garden in Portland covers 5.5 acres and overlooks the city. It is the most authentic Japanese garden outside Japan. I actually made two trips to this garden (the $9.50 admission price was well worth it). On my first trip, it was Sunday afternoon and the place was packed. Bright sun and cloudless skies were not optimal for good photos. I returned the following evening about one hour before closing time and then it was almost too dark because of the deeply shaded location. I didn't take my tripod on the trip so getting good photos was sometimes a challenge. The second trip was much more peaceful and there were very few people in the garden. If you are in Portland, this is a "must see"!
 
























Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Lynn HuntJune 17, 2013 at 11:13 AM

    Your pictures came out beautifully, Phillip, even without a tripod! What a tranquil place. It is worth $9.50 to soak up all that serenity!

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  2. CarolJune 17, 2013 at 11:15 AM

    very nice. Calming and lovely. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. organicgardendreamsJune 17, 2013 at 11:24 AM

    Hi Phillip, you have been taking fantastic photos of the Japanese Garden in Portland! I have to admit I was there once and wasn't too impressed, but it was raining out of buckets and bitterly cold. I guess that has influenced my perception. After seeing your photos I would like to re-visit!
    Christina

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  4. FeliciaJune 17, 2013 at 12:32 PM

    Wow. Amazing how the smallest touches of hardscape such as those awesome heron statues really sets off these beautiful plants.

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  5. Lisa at GreenbowJune 17, 2013 at 12:50 PM

    Oh my, how yummy. Some of those lumpy wavy shaded places with all that texture make me want to take a bite out of it. Marvelous.

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  6. AnonymousJune 17, 2013 at 1:38 PM

    Yes, it is a must-see. I saw it when I visited with GWA a few years ago. What a garden! I loved the Chinese garden too. Thank you for sharing it Phillip. Your photos brought back happy memories.~~Dee

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  7. AnonymousJune 17, 2013 at 1:38 PM

    Yes, it is a must-see. I saw it when I visited with GWA a few years ago. What a garden! I loved the Chinese garden too. Thank you for sharing it Phillip. Your photos brought back happy memories.~~Dee

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  8. Phillip OliverJune 17, 2013 at 1:46 PM

    Dee, I absolutely loved the Chinese garden. I'm posting photos of it next.

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  9. LesJune 17, 2013 at 2:27 PM

    I happy that you got to go, but I wish it was me.

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  10. Gardener on Sherlock StreetJune 17, 2013 at 5:39 PM

    Such a beautiful garden. Thank you for sharing. Nothing like that here. Amazing how well you can even see the koi!

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  11. scottweberpdxJune 17, 2013 at 7:22 PM

    The Japanese Garden is really amazing, especially if you are lucky enough to catch it in just the right light, and when it isn't super full of people...glad you enjoyed it!

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  12. gardenenvyJune 17, 2013 at 9:10 PM

    Great photos! I love this garden too! Jeannine

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  13. DavoJune 18, 2013 at 9:42 AM

    The photos are good!

    As for the garden I'm not a huge fan of Japanese gardens. I like things spread out more. That said, if I had that garden set in my front yard I'd get a tee shirt that said "come see my garden!" and wear it everywhere.

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  14. UnknownJune 18, 2013 at 10:19 AM

    Phillip, Thanks so much for sharing this place. It is superb and so are your photos. The first shot with the purples is most impressive. And the koi in the lake picks out the red tinged bush. And the water fall caught in mid rush...

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  15. The Graceful GardenerJune 18, 2013 at 12:11 PM

    I love Japanese Gardens. You captured this one beautifully.The waterfall photo was amazing! Thanks for sharing.

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  16. outlawgardenerJune 19, 2013 at 6:23 PM

    Incredibly beautiful! I'm glad you were able to go back as your people free images are gorgeous!

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