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The O'Byrne Winter Garden in Eugene
Last year, one of my favorite gardening books was A Tapestry Garden by Ernie and Marietta O'Byrne. In the book, they show how they created their beautiful, multi-faceted garden beginning in the early 1970s with 70 acres and a farmhouse dating back to 1918. I've always enjoyed reading about how gardens were formed and this one was particularly fascinating. Later, Marietta O'Byrne gave a talk to the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon, and talked more about their gardening experiences.
I've been wanting to visit their garden since reading the book but never found the time last year to take the 2.5 hour drive down to Eugene. The O'Byrne's also operate a hellebore nursery (Northwest Garden Nursery) on their property and this past weekend they opened the nursery and garden for their annual Hellebore Garden Open Days. Since I was free, I decided to drive down there. I was unprepared for the tremendous crowd (this is a very popular event) but I enjoyed my stroll around the garden. I do want to return in the summer to see the garden in all its glory.
This was the check-out line!
Naturally, I avoided this and took a detour to one of the garden paths. There is lots to see this time of year. Of course, there are many hellebores -
Rounding the corner, I stopped in my tracks when I saw the largest 'Chief Joseph' pine tree I had ever seen. I've long wanted this but kept talking myself out of it because it is always too expensive. We carry it from time to time at Yard n' Garden Land where I work. I'm not sure I would have room for it but I'm sure I will be pondering it again this year. This specimen is about 20-25 years old.
A magnificent row of Red-Twig Dogwood (not sure what variety this might be) -
Cyclamen coum - reading about this in their book perked my interest. A co-worker shared some with me. Mine doesn't look this good yet -
Peacocks in the pasture next to the gardens! There was also a white one but I didn't get a good photo of him -
The following photos are from the "Chapparel Garden" -
On the other side of the garden is a shady woodland path -
The front of the garden is bordered by a large grove of bamboo. Notice how they trenched around them -
I can't wait to visit this garden again!
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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