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A Visit to Cistus Nursery

I rarely go to nurseries anymore since I work part-time at one and another reason being that I don't have much room for additional plants. When a garden fanatic runs out of room, the brain goes into overdrive, dreaming up ingenious ways to incorporate more plants. And another thing happens - a burning desire to obtain rare and unique plants. I've been moving plants around, a tricky process that has a domino effect. A plant is unhappy - it is getting too much shade or perhaps too much sun. There is a plant that did not get as large as you thought it would or it is just a slow grower and now it is hopelessly hidden behind a taller plant. Sometimes a plant is just a dud for reasons unknown (Rhododendron 'Golden Gate' anyone?). I find the plant in question a better home, but it means that another plant will have to be moved. And the merry-go-round continues to turn... However, for those plants that are to be discarded, a space opens up for a new one! I decided to move a Mou...
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"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines) (Judy & Roger McElhaney Garden)

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington  
The second garden we toured on Sunday is the creation of Roger & Judy McElhaney. It is a large garden, a labyrinth of winding paths that showcase a collection of conifers, Japanese maples and various shrubs and trees. It was quite spectacular. Many of the plants were labeled and I should have been taking notes.

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington
This was one of my favorite views in the garden. Absolute perfection!
  "Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington  

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington
Ninebark (Physocarpus) is on my wishlist.

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington
There were a number of hydrangeas in the garden. This is an unusual one that we grew
in our Alabama garden. Hydrangea aspera (if I am not mistaken).

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington
We saw a number of Gingko trees. I am sure the garden owners are collectors. I did not know
there were so many different varieties.

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington
There were also several different varieties of Smoke Tree (Cotinus).

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington

"Matsu Kaze" (Wind in the Pines), Roger & Judy McElhaney garden, Vancouver, Washington  
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. rebeccaJune 14, 2016 at 7:35 PM

    Beautiful pictures of a beautiful garden. What a treat. I especially loved the Ginkgo's.

    ReplyDelete
  2. EveJune 14, 2016 at 7:47 PM

    No words but stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AlisonJune 14, 2016 at 8:01 PM

    What a lovely, peaceful garden. That's a very pretty ninebark. Thanks for sharing your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chickadee GardensJune 14, 2016 at 8:03 PM

    Stunning! Thank you for the photos, I must visit this garden someday. Lots of take-away ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tatyana@MySecretGardenJune 15, 2016 at 10:43 AM

    Absolutely beautiful! Thank you Phillip!

    ReplyDelete
  6. KeityJune 16, 2016 at 7:30 AM

    What a nice post! This is surely well-designed Japanese garden! Most of the plants here are common in Japan, but I've never seen the Hydrangea aspera:) It's lovely! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AaronJune 16, 2016 at 4:14 PM

    Wow.

    Love the smokebush.

    And all the other plants, of course :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. LarryJune 17, 2016 at 6:26 AM

    So much textural interest Philip... exactly the style of garden that I most enjoy visiting.... thanks for sharing! Larry

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hoover BooJune 19, 2016 at 3:09 PM

    Wow, yeah. Awesome. Want! That! Garden! Not that any of it would grow in my climate.

    And excellent photos, too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. RobinLJune 20, 2016 at 5:47 PM

    I'm in awe of all that green! We've entered our usual summer dry spell a bit early this year, and the lawn is already burned up. I've already forgotten how lovely that deep, rich green can be. There were two other shocks you showed me above, the ninebark and smoke tree. I have both of those, and they look NOTHING like that! Just plain wow.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lisa at GreenbowJune 23, 2016 at 11:09 AM

    How wonderful to have a property large enough that you can spread out all those big trees and shrubs. It looks great.

    ReplyDelete

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