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Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
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Shari MacDonald & John Hembroff's Garden

 

The temperatures are hovering in the 40s and the rains have started. A windstorm is predicted on Friday. All of these factors will likely bring an end to the leaves and the fall color. It is all too brief!

I was fortunate to get a fall color fix by visiting Shari MacDonald and John Hembroff's stunning garden in Portland a few weeks ago.


Before entering the front gate, there is lots to see right on the curb with cherry trees and Japanese maples bursting with color -


 

Acer palmatum 'Beni Otake'

An impressive feature in Shari and John's garden is the magnificent rock work. Huge boulders on raised berms encompass a waterfall and stream that make a dramatic feature in the courtyard entryway. It is all beautifully landscaped with Japanese maples, conifers, rhododendron, hosta, ferns and grasses -




 


 

Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolim'


 

Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolim'

 

Phyllostachys vivax 'Huangwenzhu Inversa'

 

Rhododendron 'Blattgold'

 Towering pine trees rise above the canopy of the garden -


 Moving to the back garden - a lovely calm oasis -


Rhododendron ponticum 'Variegatum' and Rhododendron 'Ebony Pearl'

Acer shirasawanum 'Autumn Moon'

 

Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' and a very healthy Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' -
Shari says the key is growing them in pots. I plan to move mine after seeing hers.

 


 

S
Striped Bamboo Fern (Coniograrnme emeiensis 'Golden Zebra')

 


Shari and John, thank you sharing your beautiful garden and I hope to see it again in the spring!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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Comments

  1. GRACE PETERSONNovember 11, 2020 at 4:36 PM

    Wow! That Rhododendron 'Blattgold' is stunning. What a gorgeous garden. The rocks add such a nice element.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kris PetersonNovember 11, 2020 at 6:55 PM

    Now that's spectacular fall color! That first shot is magazine-worthy. I've been complaining about temperatures in the upper 50s here - daytime temperatures in the 40s are beyond my ability to imagine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverNovember 13, 2020 at 7:46 AM

      We have been in the 40s all week but I see 50s next week. Hooray for that.

      Delete
  3. Lisa at GreenbowNovember 12, 2020 at 8:03 AM

    Those big stones at the entry gate...wonderful!! I love ferns and if we were in a warmer moister climate I would have oodles of them. A great garden overall. I am with you on thinking that the fall color doesn't last long enough. We have to get out there and enjoy it as we can.

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  4. Lisa at GreenbowNovember 12, 2020 at 8:08 AM

    P.S. The fish matched the color of the J. maple leaves. Now that is designing!!

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  5. danger gardenNovember 12, 2020 at 9:19 AM

    Yay! I regret never making it to any of the board/speaker "events" held at Shari and John's garden, this was a lovely replacement visit, thank you! Also I just have to say aren't Shari and John two of the nicest people ever?

    ReplyDelete
  6. chavlinessNovember 12, 2020 at 10:02 AM

    This is a quintessential PNW garden: a gorgeous selection of conifers, Japanese maples and rhododendrons, with ferns grasses and rocks for accents. I love photo 16 that shows 3 unusual rhodies, basking in the golden glow of the maple.

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  7. Gardener on Sherlock StreetNovember 15, 2020 at 2:43 PM

    Such a variety of color for autumn. Beautiful!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. sweetbayNovember 22, 2020 at 3:39 PM

    That first shot especially is just stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  9. sweetbayNovember 23, 2020 at 3:34 AM

    I also wanted to let you know that I can’t access your blog normally, in case anyone else is having a similar problem. I had to google this post and then click on it. None of the links on your blog worked for me, not clicking on the post title, read more, or the comments.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverNovember 23, 2020 at 7:57 AM

      Thanks for letting me know. I've had that problem too but thought it was just my computer. I will look into it.

      Delete
  10. Barbara H.February 14, 2021 at 8:55 PM

    Hah! I saved reading this post until I was in a "better place" but don't know if that will happen so just decided to go for it. What a spectacular garden! I knew it was going to be worth "seeing" and I'm glad I waited until I got a lot of other stuff cleared out of the way. Thanks for sharing your visit.

    ReplyDelete

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