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The Newt (Somerset, England)

After Stourhead , the second garden on the tour that day was "The Newt". Talk about a change in garden styles! As I review my photos, I can appreciate the beauty and style of this garden, but I must confess, it was one of my least favorites.  I remember mostly the heat (it was one of our warmer days), the glaring sun with few trees in sight, and the commercial feel of the whole enterprise. But then again, this was mainly a vegetable garden and I was having an "off" day (I had just toured Stourhead, where I missed some of the main landmarks). The entrance took us through an area with gift shops and display areas (nice thing about photos is you see things you missed - I had not noticed the intricate ceiling design) - We did have an actual tour guide at this one, and he led us through the entire garden - Down a winding, blinding white walkway, towards the large vegetable garden - Leaving one vegetable garden, we headed up a grassy avenue with water features.  Along th...
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The Cecil & Molly Smith Garden

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The Hardy Plant Society of Oregon's Open Gardens is now in full swing and is a wonderful opportunity to see some great gardens in the area. Every weekend through mid-October, private gardens and some nursery gardens are open. I saw a lot of the gardens two years ago after moving here but did not go to many last year. This year, I hope to catch up on some of those that I have missed as well as new ones on the list for the first time.

 A garden that I have really wanted to see is the Cecil & Molly Smith Garden in St. Paul, Oregon. The Smiths are no longer with us and the garden is owned and maintained by the Portland chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. 
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Cecil Smith had a passion for rhododendrons and he was fortunate to live in an area where they flourish. The Smiths built their house in 1951 on a north-facing hillside. Their windows overlooked the slope which were developed into a spectacular woodland garden filled with rhododendrons.


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Today, many of the rhododendrons are massive specimens. Winding pathways meander through a lush valley of rhododendrons, wildflowers and ferns.

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Some of the rhododendrons were labeled but many were not. The white one above was particularly stunning.
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One of my favorites was this pink beauty. I could not find a name on it. 

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'Eddie's White Wonder' dogwood with Rhododendron augustinii in the background. I purchased one of these rhododendrons while I was there!

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Rhododendron 'Ken Janeck'



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'Seaview Sunset'

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A neighbor was burning brush which was a bit unpleasant but it did provide some dramatic lighting for photos.

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The Cecil & Molly Smith Garden is open to the general public on weekends in April and May. The admission price is $3. It is well worth the drive to St. Paul. There are also a great number of fantastic nurseries in the area. Plan a day for it!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Lisa at GreenbowMay 2, 2018 at 3:34 AM

    You certainly saw this garden at the perfect time. So lush and colorful. I can see why you would want many of these Rhodies.

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  2. outlawgardenerMay 2, 2018 at 6:21 AM

    Such a beautiful and natural-looking garden. What a pleasure to wander among these gorgeous specimens, a special legacy the Smiths have left.

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  3. chavlinessMay 2, 2018 at 8:04 AM

    It looks like a wonderful place to visit and it's definitely the right time of year for it, although it's quite wonderful at any season. That last photo was very appealing: I like the contrast of the delicate pink bloom with the dark, coarse-looking leaf.

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  4. Barbara H.May 2, 2018 at 9:10 AM

    Beautiful! Thanks for the tour.

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