Dirt Therapy

Redbud 'Flame Thrower' (Cercis canadensis) As May comes to an end, I thought I would share some trees that look good now.  First, the insanely beautiful 'Flame Thrower' redbud. I always hesitate to praise this tree because of their finicky nature. So far, so good on this one which is near our front door.  Snowbell and 'Wolf's Eyes' Dogwood in the background The Snowbell tree ( Styrax japonica ) has been spectacular for many weeks. I was up on the roof of the garden shed this morning and got an aerial view of it. It looks so much larger from above. The blooms are so heavy that the branches are bending down. A few years ago, I recall standing underneath it and the roar from bees buzzing around it was deafening. Last week, I was saddened to hear no bees at all. Fortunately, there are some a week later but not nearly as many as in the past. On the opposite side is 'Wolf's Eye' Dogwood ( Cornus kousa ) which always delivers. This is a small dogwood c...

'Crown Princess Margarita' I'm back home after a three week garden tour of the Cornwall region of England. It was phenomenal and I'll be sharing photos from the trip later. I got back home to an explosion of growth and bloom in our garden. I was grateful that we received some rain and so was Michael, who didn't have to do a great deal of watering. This is my favorite time of year when the garden bursts into bloom and everything is fresh and unblemished. The roses are especially a treat right now.  'Cornelia' 'Lady Emma Hamitlon' 'Lamarque' 'Marchesa Boccella' 'Mutabilis' 'Playboy' 'Purple Pavement' 'Radway Sunrise' 'Darcey Bussell' 'Golden Celebration' 'The Impressionist' 'Lady of Shallot' 'Buff Beauty' 'Julia Child' & 'The Impressionist' 'Sunny Eleganza' 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt T...

Oh wait, I am in England! This is a dream of a lifetime trip for me. I had hoped to blog along during my trip but I can’t upload photos for some reason (I am only using my phone). I am posting daily on Instagram of the lovely places I am seeing. My Instagram ID is phillipoliver if you want to follow me.  Cheerio!

Rhododendron 'Klondyke' and Geranium maculatum May is already here and the garden suddenly explodes with growth. We spent the weekend watering (already?) because there hasn't been significant rainfall in a while. We don't have a sprinkler system so it is all manpower, dragging hoses and sprinklers. It takes two days - one for the back and one for the front - to water everything. It is possible to get it all in one day if we start really early. The rhododendrons are beginning now - 'Mandarin Lights' 'Jean Marie De Montague' 'Percy Wiseman' - beautiful but suffers from lacebug. I'm considering replacing it or maybe I will try and treat it. A favorite right now is the Chilean Potato Vine ( Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin'). This plant is hardier than you might imagine. Some sources list it as a "9", others an "8".  It is going on its third year in our garden, having been moved once. It is sheltered somewhat by a fence but ...

The Spirited Garden: Creative Private Retreats Photography by Doreen L. Wynga Written with Lorene Edwards Forkner This sumptuous book features sixteen gardens in the Pacific Northwest region. Wynga has worked as a photographer for over thirty years. She has worked for Monrovia Nursery since 2004 and her photography has been featured in several books (including one of my personal favorites, The Tapestry Garden ).  The gardens included in this book cover a wide range from woodland sanctuaries to lakeside retreats. Each garden is covered in a 14-20 page spread with a brief description followed by gorgeous photos. This is a book to get lost in! There are several gardens in the Portland area and many which are located in northern Washington. (I could not find any promotional photos from the book so these shots will have to suffice). The Spirited Garden is available in book stores.  You can also find a copy on Amazon. Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Rizzoli ...