More South Portland Study Weekend Gardens, pt. 2
The last three gardens on last Saturday's tour included a large shade garden, a tropical oasis and an Asian-inspired retreat. First, the Hilderbrand garden in Oregon City. This garden is set in a grove of Douglas Fir trees and has paved pathways that meander through plantings of dogwoods, hydrangeas, viburnums, kalmias and other shade-loving plants. The garden of Michael Hicks and Megan Big John is a quarter-acre plot in West Linn. This garden is packed with plantings of tropical plants with big beautiful leaves and vibrant pops of color. Helena Wagner's "4 Seasons Garden" is a garden that I have visited in the past. It features an Asian-inspired theme with beautifully placed plants, with nice colors and contrasts. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
That's quite a dramatic difference. You are very brave. I hope it works.
ReplyDeleteI tend to do this with Aster, that often gets too tall for my liking and tend to plop over with autumn rains and winds. I remove a third off the top, and get shorter but fuller blooms.
ReplyDeleteYou must submit another photo of this eager shrub, once it starts blooming.
Asters was one of the plants that was mentioned as a good candidate.
DeleteBeautiful plant. Do you know if the cut stalks will multiply/branch off? Just this morning I cut back my returning pineapple sage, which I *love*, but it gets so leggy late in the season. I'm hoping it will not only stay neat but have more branches and flowers.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to seeing how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing something similar this year with some of my perennials -- none that get that tall -- including some goldenrod and Coreopsis pubescens. The Coreopsis is just starting to bloom now so I'm looking forward to seeing whether I like the effect.
(I think cutting in layers or doing the Chelsea Chop can also increase the number of flowers, since often the cut stem will branch. I've done that quite successfully in the past with the 'standing cypress' wildflower, for instance.)
Aaron, yes I also sheared back my goldenrod.
DeleteYou must have the straight species. It is a beauty for sure. It will do just fine no doubt. Can't wait to see it when it blooms. I chopped my sedums due to their floppy nature. They aren't in full sun unfortunately. It isn't their fault. The chop does help.
ReplyDeleteThat is great to hear!
DeleteEither way that's a beautiful scene, with the birdhouse and the bit of natural fencing as accent to the shrubbery.
ReplyDeleteI chop asters and Autumn Joy sedum so they don't flop. I also thin asters and phlox to reduce powdery mildew.
ReplyDeleteTracy, that reminds me to do that to my sedum! Thanks
DeleteWould love to have an update! How did they do?
ReplyDelete