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A Visit to Cistus Nursery

I rarely go to nurseries anymore since I work part-time at one and another reason being that I don't have much room for additional plants. When a garden fanatic runs out of room, the brain goes into overdrive, dreaming up ingenious ways to incorporate more plants. And another thing happens - a burning desire to obtain rare and unique plants. I've been moving plants around, a tricky process that has a domino effect. A plant is unhappy - it is getting too much shade or perhaps too much sun. There is a plant that did not get as large as you thought it would or it is just a slow grower and now it is hopelessly hidden behind a taller plant. Sometimes a plant is just a dud for reasons unknown (Rhododendron 'Golden Gate' anyone?). I find the plant in question a better home, but it means that another plant will have to be moved. And the merry-go-round continues to turn... However, for those plants that are to be discarded, a space opens up for a new one! I decided to move a Mou...
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The Virtual Garden Tour

'Climbing Pinkie' rose and
Japanese Maple 'Geisha Gone Wild'
Our HPSO (Hardy Plant Society of Oregon) Open Garden Tour scheduled for tomorrow is cancelled so they are encouraging us to do a virtual tour. I am still experimenting with making a video and may try to do that this weekend. Of course, I have many photos to share.

One of the hardest things about agreeing to be on the tour was choosing a date. After scouring through photos from past years and comparing dates, I finally chose the last weekend of May. I think it is a good time to see the garden.

Of course, predicting the weather is impossible. Alas, it turns out that tomorrow's forecast is less than ideal for a tour. After 3 days in the 80s, the high tomorrow is 63 and rain is forecast.

We are also scheduled to participate in the Clark County Natural Garden Tour in late July but from what I am hearing, that too will be cancelled. Hopefully we will be around to do it next year and let's hope the social crisis is over. This particular tour is a good educational opportunity and the gardens featured are those that practice organic methods and don't use chemicals.

May is just spectacular here in Washington state. The peonies are almost over and the roses are lovely. We have many of those so that was one of the reasons I chose late May. The month of June is also quite wonderful.

This is the rambler rose 'Phyllis Bide' on the right side of the arch. 'Eden' is on the left.




'Cornelia'













The Pan Garden - you will catch glimpses of the new wall that we finally managed to finish. It almost killed us! I will post more on that later.




In the front -

'Lady of Shallot' rose with 'Eskimo Sunset' maple, dappled willow and smoke tree



'Dublin Bay' on the front gate



'Celestial Shadow' Dogwood with Spirea 'Ogon', Barberry 'Orange Rocket',
Wallflowers and Orange Poppy


Right outside the living room

'Coral Cove' rose, 'Bloodgood' Japanese Maple  and Gingko 'Princetown Sentry'


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. chavlinessMay 30, 2020 at 8:53 AM

    Thunder and lighting in Seattle this morning, but since the open garden is cancelled anyway... Your garden is magnificent; a sight to behold. Love both your Dogwood; the new purple wall (reminiscent of the Alabama garden); the fountain which I don't remember you posting about before; the blooming arc... stunning. You'd better try again next year. Visitors will love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverMay 30, 2020 at 11:02 AM

      Thanks, I may not have mentioned the fountain. It was just a little basin we got at Little Baja (they called it a "bonsai bowl"). We like it and it was just what I wanted for that area.

      Delete
  2. danger gardenMay 30, 2020 at 9:43 AM

    WOW! When was the bloggers swap there? That's the last time I saw your garden and so much has changed. It looks fabulous.

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverMay 30, 2020 at 11:01 AM

      Loree, I had to look it up and it was 2017? I am amazed at how things have grown.

      Delete
  3. http://whatsitgarden.blogspot.comMay 30, 2020 at 4:56 PM

    I was thinking the same thing , what Lori said ! It really is so FULL ! Really lovely . I'll have to come and visit ...some day ?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lisa at GreenbowMay 31, 2020 at 2:31 AM

    That first photo is just stunning. I love the wall. It is like your signature on a glorious colorful painting. So much to see. The stairway to heaven is really inviting too. I wonder what your neighbors think about all this??? They are probably feeling very inadequate. ;) Love the touch of whimsy the rubber duckies give to a space that is so warm and controlled.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AaronJune 1, 2020 at 11:24 AM

    You've created a real paradise!

    And that blue wall?! wow.

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  6. Endah MurniyatiJune 1, 2020 at 8:38 PM

    Oh... The roses are so lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hoover BooJune 3, 2020 at 12:21 PM

    You have transformed your place from mundane to magic.

    ReplyDelete
  8. John MooreyJune 8, 2020 at 11:25 PM

    Nice!

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  9. Barbara H.July 4, 2020 at 4:08 PM

    LOL, anyone who didn't know you and your gardening prowess would find it hard to believe what wasn't here when you started. It's an amazing transformation - almost makes me wish I was back in the Pacific NW to see it in person, but then again it probably wouldn't be possible in these days. It's beyond lovely, Phillip.

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  10. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2024 at 6:34 AM

    it looks like a great garden

    ReplyDelete

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