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Ten July Favorites

Chaste Tree ( Vitex ) One of the highlights of the year is when the Chaste Tree blooms. It pains me that I don't know the name of it, but I suspect it is 'Shoal Creek' . I failed to record it, and I also do not remember where it came from. We sell a newer variety at Yard N' Garden called 'Flip Side ', which has stunning leaves of olive-green with a purple reverse.  A friend has the pale pink variety, but I don't think it is as pretty as the blue-colored flowers. This little tree is constantly covered with bees.  Catalpa bignoinoides   'Aurea' A large limb died over the winter, leaving a gaping hole. However, it is looking better after Michael raised some of the remaining limbs. It has bloomed profusely this year. Like the vitex, our best view of it is from the windows, where you get an elevated view. Heliopsis helianthoides 'Fire Twister' This perennial is doing much better after I moved it to a better location. I saw it last week in an ope...
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Trillium Hollow


I think I've covered everything on my recent Portland trip and wanted to conclude with a post about Trillium Hollow, the place we stayed at while we were there. Trillium Hollow is a co-housing community. This was a new experience for me and it was absolutely wonderful. It was one of the most beautiful places in Portland and a treat to retire to every evening.
This is the driveway leading down to the main house (not ours). Like the name says, it is located in a hollow. Behind the house is a deep ravine with a running creek below. It was deeply forested.
This is the community house, located right behind the house in the earlier photo. This is a 3-story house on stilts that sits directly above the creek. Our rooms were in the lower section of the house. It was absolutely incredible, like being in a tree house. The house is also used for community dinners and meetings for the people who live on the property.
The back part of our house was surrounded by decks.
I had a balcony off my room that overlooked the creek.
Looking back toward the house from the far end of the deck walkway.
A bird was nesting over one of the doorways.
The owners were aware of this and had marked off the area to protect her.
This wonderful room was right off the community kitchen. This portion of the house juts out from the rest of the house, an octagon surrounded by glass. It was like being in a glassed-in tree house. We were told that laws current laws forbid building houses over places like this now. This house was built back in the 1970s before that law took effect.

  
If you look closely, you can see that room to the right.


On the upper region of the property were units that are owned by individuals. Notice the community gardens. Plants were also growing all along the balconies and walkways inside this complex.
 
Most of the gardens at Trillium Hollow were vegetable gardens but there were some ornamentals as well.









The entrance to Trillium Hollow from the street.





Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. AlisonJuly 15, 2013 at 9:40 AM

    What a great place to stay! I'm going to check it out online. I'm pretty sure your unknown plant is Aruncus dioicus, aka goat's beard. It's a Missouri native, so I bet it will grow in your area.

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  2. Phillip OliverJuly 15, 2013 at 9:44 AM

    Alison, of course that is it. I knew it, just couldn't remember!

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  3. David OliverJuly 15, 2013 at 9:56 AM

    Looks like they put a lot of thought into co-existence with nature. Good, that.

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  4. outlawgardenerJuly 15, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    What a restful place and an interesting living concept! Leave it to Portlanders to think of something so cool!

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  5. Lisa at GreenbowJuly 15, 2013 at 12:16 PM

    I have never heard of such a place. This one is beautiful. What a neat experience.

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  6. LesJuly 15, 2013 at 5:27 PM

    I was going to take a stab at the plant ID, but I see Alison beat me to it. I hope you did not run into any dirty hippies.

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  7. GailJuly 19, 2013 at 5:36 AM

    what a marvelous and beautiful community...

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  8. rebeccaJuly 20, 2013 at 3:56 AM

    Just the name - Trillium Hollow - relaxes me! What a beautiful concept AND place.

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