A visit to Chickadee Gardens
I was excited to finally get to see Chickadee Gardens last week. I have followed Tamara's blog for years. She and her husband garden on 2 acres in Saint Helens, Oregon. When you look at the map, it appears that St. Helens is directly across the Columbia River and slightly to the north of us. However, there is no convenient bridge to get over to the Oregon side. You must go north to Ridgefield, Washington (about 30 minutes north of our house) and go across there or travel through Portland and then go north through Scappoose. Either way, it is about a 45 minute drive. I decided to try the Ridgefield route and I was glad I did. Not only did I not have to contend with Portland traffic (it was Rose Parade weekend), I got to see country on the Oregon side that was new to me. Tamara used to work at the beautiful Joy Creek Nursery (my favorite, but alas they are now closed) and she now works part-time at Cistus Nursery. She focuses on native plants and sustainabili...
I need flowers! When I first moved here I was so amused by the antics of the hummingbirds in my garden, fighting over the flowers in my garden. Then I bought into the whole "foliage is better" thing and took out a bunch of wonderful flowering plants in favor of foliage in order to be trendy. Guess what happened? No more hummers. Now I'm putting the flowers back. Your photos are lovely, and foliage is nice to look at, but leaves don't feed the birds and bees.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you 100%! We have more hummingbirds this year than ever before. It is my #1 gardening motivator!
DeleteOoh, you've created craving again! I need to get that Hypericum 'Pumpkin' very soon. I have one with pinkish fruit that I love, lost the tag, and always on the lookout for others that have staying power.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, it is a pretty cool plant!
DeleteOh that photo of the Aralia 'Sun King' and Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' is to die for!
ReplyDeleteI may be a Flower Floozy, but Foliage is Fabulous, too.
ReplyDeleteThe color of the Picea, the bubbly texture of the Hosta, the gloss of the Acuba, the drama of the Trachelospermum--oooohhh!!!!!!!!
Oh the foliage ! Love my flowers but foliage carries the day when flowers start to fade. Beautiful photos and combinations every one. The Picea.
ReplyDeleteThis time of year the foliage does begin to come into play in a big way. When the drought time descends on our area that is about all you get. I like seeing your foliage. Foliage is what is the backbone of the garden.
ReplyDeleteThe Dwarf Birch is a riot. That and the 'Ogon Nishiki' call for a little research. I love them both.
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