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Strawberry Tree

Since moving to Washington, I have discovered a great number of new trees. One of my favorites is the Strawberry Tree ( Arbutus unedo ). It is a four-season tree with semi-glossy evergreen leaves and lovely mahogany bark. In autumn, clusters of white flowers appear, bearing a resemblance to Lily-of-the-Valley flowers. And then there are the little fruits, which resemble strawberries that appear at the same time as the flowers. I am not sure why, but I have only seen a few fruits on ours. I don't know if birds are getting them before I see them or what happens. The fruits are said to be edible but not very tasty (to humans). This year, our tree is loaded with flowers, the most I've ever seen. Bees absolutely love it and so do the hummingbirds. The flowers usually continue to appear straight through winter, and it can be blooming even during the coldest periods of winter. Aside from the fact that I have not seen much of the colorful fruits, the major negative note is the fact tha

Open Gardens: The Babbit / Bartholomew Garden

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After spending our weekends working ourselves to death in the garden, we finally took some time to visit other gardens this past Sunday. It was a rainy day and wasn't the best to be outdoors but we made the most of it and saw some wonderful gardens in Portland.

The first stop was the garden of Michael Babbit and Ellen Bartholomew. This is a delightful small garden that is packed to the max with beautiful plants as well as glass art (by Ellen) and metal ornaments (by Michael). We enjoyed chatting with the owners and seeing their beautiful work.

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Of course, any garden that features roses and clematis is going to win me over!

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There were many other fabulous plants as well. There was so much to see.

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The "Mozart" rose was really spectacular.

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This unidentified rose seemed to glow in the overcast lighting.


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This Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lily) was also a showstopper.

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The gardeners are also avid bonsai enthusiasts and had a large collection of plants that they are working with. I forgot to get photos but if you are interested in bonsai, this is a garden that you should see. There are a large number of gardens open now through the remainder of the season. If you are not a member of the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon, this is just one of the many benefits they provide.

The rain caught up with us for the remainder of the day but we managed to squeeze in five more gardens. Photos coming soon!


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Rainy day makes nice pictures, though. I love these lush, shrub-and-flower-packed gardens. I am eagerly awaiting to see the others.

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  2. Your picture taking skills bring me right into the garden. This place is a big wow. I love that red climber with purple/blue clematis joining up. All of these layers make the garden sumptuous.
    I can't wait to see more gardens.

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  3. Gorgeous. I would have enjoyed that garden too. It's good to take a break once in awhile.

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  4. What a gorgeous garden! It's always a delight to tour other people's gardens. Thanks for sharing this beauty.

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  5. I seriously thought that first pic was a repeat from your recent post of *your* garden! :)

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  6. very nice! you should do tours of your beautiful garden!

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  7. Overcast sky make for better photographs. This garden is so rich and lush... I loved the burgundy, asian-inspired arbor with the metal art on top.

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