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The 2024 Garden Year

January 19, 2024 January Our year started with snow, ice and frigid temperatures in mid-January. Our temperatures stayed below freezing for almost a week. I think it was the most consistent cold that we've experienced since moving here. Fortunately, it was a dry snow so there wasn't too much damage. Once again, we almost lost the azara and I'm afraid there would have been some breakage if I had not kept knocking the ice off. February 14, 2024 February In past years, it seems that inclement weather seems to hit around Michael's birthday in mid-February. After the January snow and ice, this month was actually quite tame. Nothing exciting to report - mostly birdwatching . Early flowers like hellebores, cyclamen and crocus begin to bloom in mid month. March 3, 2024 March I got into a walking routine which I'm happy to report I am continuing this year. You get to the point where you feel guilty if you miss a day. I do miss days occasionally but I'm learning that ...

The Gates Garden


I've wanted to see Barry & Karen Gates garden in Camas for years now and it seems that I never have time to go to Open Gardens anymore. Thanks to a mutual friend, I got the opportunity to visit and in the nick of time too because they have just sold their house.

The Gates have lived here for over 30 years and they are now downsizing and to be closer to their grandchildren. 

The garden covers five acres and is situated on an idyllic hillside in a beautiful quiet neighborhood. 

Here is a look at the front of the house that sits in the middle of the garden. Terraced slopes descend down the front -


Behind the house is a long patio area and walkway with the garden extending up the hill behind. Barry says that they had about 20 trees removed right above this spot to give them more sun. Still, even with all those trees removed, there is still a lot of trees here, giving it a forest-like feel. -


And father over to the side of the house is a covered seating area -



One of the first things I noticed when walking around the garden were the beautiful mature trees. Magnificient specimens of Japanse maples and two huge Paperbark Maples -


And a beautiful Stewartia -








There are many lovely rhododendrons in the garden, most just beginning to bloom -



This one is 'Taurus' which we also have in our garden. Ours isn't this big! -





Fothergilla 

Looking down from the deck








In addition to the beautiful plants on the property, I loved the garden art sprinkled throughout the
garden -



So much beauty here - I hope the new owners appreciate this paradise and take good care of it. I'm grateful that I got to see it!



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. It's beautiful. With all those mature trees and shrubs, it'd function well as a botanic garden. I'm glad you got to see it - and share your tour.

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  2. What a beautiful place. I can't imagine that large of a garden on a mountain side. It is something to behold.

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