Rocky Butte in Portland

June 21, 2025

10 June Favorites

Magnolia 'Kay Parris' With so much going on in the garden in June, it is hard to choose only ten favorites. I challenged myself and have done just that. These are plants that look good around the midway point in June, specifically from June 15-20. I begin with Magnolia 'Kay Parris'. Believe it or not, having spent the majority of my life in the South, I never grew a magnolia. They are emblematic of the South, where magnificent specimens grace old plantation homes and stately homes in older neighborhoods. I always thought of magnolias as huge trees, not suited to a small garden, but things have changed, and more varieties are now available that are not supposed to grow as large. We now have two magnolias in our garden, both of which were added recently. When one of the old photinias that line our back property line died, it left a gaping hole. I had been looking at magnolias at the nursery and decided a smaller one might make a good backdrop and create a good privacy s...

Our friend Cindy is visiting from Alabama and we visited a new spot yesterday - Rocky Butte in Portland. This is a small park atop a hilltop that overlooks PDX airport.

You can watch planes coming in for landings. The city where we live - Vancouver, Washington - is across the Columbia River in the distance. That is Interstate 205 on the left.

This is the overlook area. Personally, I think they could do some things here to improve the landscaping but I suppose the views are what brings people up here.