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
I hope you had a successful open garden: I wish you lived closer to Seattle so I could visit. This "Australian Bush Mint" is lovely (evergreens brighten the spirit in winter) and vigorous: 4' wide in 2 years! What's it's supposed eventual size?
ReplyDeleteChavli
We had around 85 people I think. It was super busy and a nice pleasant day for it. It can get anywhere from 3-5 feet from what I've read.
DeleteI love the way Australian Bush Mint surrounds your bird bath. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the introduction to this interesting plant, Phillip. I grow Prostanthera ovalifolia 'Variegata" (also called mint bush) but I'd never heard of this one. Mine produces small lavender blooms, although before this year they've bloomed lightly, if at all. (I'll once again attribute the difference this year to our heavier rain.) I'll be on the lookout for your species.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beauty. The flowers are quite something. It looks very happy in your garden.
ReplyDelete"Alpine" doesn't usually come to mind when paired with "Australia", but of course there's more to Australia than arid regions and sandy beaches.
Those blooms look like small orchids. Are they fragrant? They remind me of Catalpa tree blooms.
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