The Sauvie Island Garden of Jane Hartline and Mark Greenfield

I have been doing some gardening work in Jane and Mark's garden on Sauvie Island and took some extra time on my last visit to take some photos.

Their property is incredible and every time I go I discover new wonders. When I first started pruning roses for them back in early March, Mark told me that in a few weeks the whole landscape would burst into leaf and bloom. Every week, there is something new to see and the bird and wildlife is astounding. 

Jane Hartline has a native plant nursery on the premises (Sauvie Island Natives) and she is a walking encyclopedia of plant knowledge. I am learning a lot about native plants!

The above photos show the lovely native shrub, the flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) which grows in abundance here.

The property is a large one with gardens all around the house and a pond further out. A trail extends around the pond and that is where most of these photos were taken.

Pacific Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus)

Snowberry (Syphoricarpos albus) is also in abundance here.

Grand Fir (Abies grandis)

The garden serves as an educational labatory and informative signs are placed along the trails. This sign describes the Willamette valley prairie which has been duplicated in the above photo.

In the distance, you can see the Sauvie Island bridge which is the only way onto the island. Portland is to the east.

At another point along the pond trail, you get a clear view of Mt. Saint Helens in Washington.

Look closely around the ground or in the trees and wildlife is abundant.

 

 

Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)

The gardens around the house are just waking up and there will be much more to see in the coming weeks. A few plants of interest already -

This huge Kerria brings back memories of our Alabama garden.

Hopefully I can get more photos as the season progresses. There is so much to see here. 

 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy