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More South Portland Study Weekend Gardens, pt. 2

The last three gardens on last Saturday's tour included a large shade garden, a tropical oasis and an Asian-inspired retreat. First, the Hilderbrand garden in Oregon City. This garden is set in a grove of Douglas Fir trees and has paved pathways that meander through plantings of dogwoods, hydrangeas, viburnums, kalmias and other shade-loving plants.  The garden of Michael Hicks and Megan Big John is a quarter-acre plot in West Linn. This garden is packed with plantings of tropical plants with big beautiful leaves and vibrant pops of color. Helena Wagner's "4 Seasons Garden" is a garden that I have visited in the past. It features an Asian-inspired theme with beautifully placed plants, with nice colors and contrasts. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Firecracker Vine



Firecracker Vine (Manettia cordifolia) brightens the otherwise drab late summer garden with its hot red flowers. The small tubular blooms are profuse and adorn a vigorous but well-mannered vine. (Think Cypress Vine but without the headache of the invasiveness.) Hummingbirds love it!

This plant came to me from my great aunt Lesbie who loved to garden as much as I do.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Great vine, Phillip! I'm always looking for plants for the hummingbirds and may try this as an annual next year as it wouldn't be hardy here in zone 5.

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  2. looking at the blooms that close they look like fish. i know i see everything different than the rest of the world! Hope all is well with you and yours!

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  3. LostRoses, it is hardy here and that is great.

    Carol, they do look like fishes!

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  4. One I've often thought about picking up, glad to hear it is well behaved.

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  5. I have never seen this vine before. I bet it is a Southern vine. It is pretty.

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  6. I need to give that a try next summer. I don't think I've ever seen it around here. Did you start it fram seed or buy it as a plant?

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  7. Casa, it was a plant given to me. I don't know if it is easily grown from seed.

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