Skip to main content

Featured

A Closer Look at Winter Damage

But first, take a look at this gorgeous rainbow that we had on Friday! The five-day stretch of warm temperatures last week really jump-started the garden. Now that plants are putting out new growth, it is easier to see what kind of damage the winter left. Back in mid-January, we experienced five straight days of below-freezing temperatures. This caused much damage in Portland and areas where frigid winds were a factor. Here, we were fortunate to not get the wind and the cold temperatures were dampened by a blanket of snow. That said, it was a tough time for the garden and there are noticeable casualties but no outright deaths that I have seen. The bottlebrush ( Callistemon 'Woodlander's Red') did not like the cold at all. It was planted six years ago, in the north-facing garden no less, and I've not experienced die-back on it until now. A local expert said to cut it all the way back so that is what I did. If it doesn't make it, I won't be too distraught. It is

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

Comments

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

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

      Delete
  3. 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.

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

    ReplyDelete
  5. 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. 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.

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

    ReplyDelete
  8. That first shot especially is just stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  9. 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. 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. 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

Post a Comment

Popular Posts