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Fort Vancouver Garden

I was not interested in watching the debate last week, so I decided to get out of the house. I've been wanting to visit the Fort Vancouver Garden for years and decided to go on the spur of the moment.  Once I got there, it occurred to me that this was not the peak time to see a vegetable garden but what I did see was interesting and there were quite a number for visitors milling about.  This garden once comprised eight acres and the food grown there fed the Hudson's Bay Company Fort's  residents. Today's garden is a smaller version and the vegetables and flowers grown there are some of the same varieties found in the fort's records. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

David & Greg's Garden


This is David and Greg's garden in Woodland, Washington. I work with David at Yard n' Garden Land and it seems like it was just yesterday that they built their house and started their garden. I'm sure they would disagree. 

Actually - hold on to your seat - this is only the second season for this garden! Amazing! David says that credit goes to 500 yards of "magic volcanic Columbia River bottom/former dairy farm soil". It was used to build the slope that dips down behind the house. He wisely decided to put in low-growing perennials and grasses which doesn't impede this view -


This is a big leap from their formal residence which was a small rental house in Vancouver. At that time, they grew everything in pots. Plus Greg is an orchid grower and has quite a big collection. Now they have enough room (40 acres) for everyone.

There are expansion plans brewing. A greenhouse is going to be built for the orchids. A courtyard in front of the house is already partly planted as well as a border that extends along the east and north side of the house. Fun times ahead!























Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. What a beautiful garden ! And excellent photos as well. Thanks for sharing -I hope you can update us next year as well.

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  2. That's a remarkably short period to have created a garden that spectacular! I love the mass of bright purple at the front of the house, as well as the plants massed along the stone path.

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  3. Wonderful photos and kind words! Can't wait to see what happens next!

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  4. Gorgeous garden! Thanks for sharing this with us Phillip!

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  5. Good soil is everything! Great planting choices and design skills help too ;). Fabulous!

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  6. Wow, wow, wow! What an amazing garden. I especially like the use of ornamental grasses. Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos.

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  7. WOW! The front is a master class in layering, amazing. Having that much space is such a dream, I'd be plunking things here & there. They obviously have a great focus and eye and are NOT. Beautiful!

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  8. For goodness sakes. This is almost unbelievable for just 2 years of garden. These gentlemen both have green thumbs as well as great soil. What a marvelous beginning to a magnificent garden. The views are stunning too.

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