Clark County Mini-Tour

It is a rare rainy day here in August (or more accurately, a wet, drizzly day). That means a break from watering and a good chance to catch up on blogging and other computer-related tasks. Before I continue with my England tour highlights, I wanted to share photos from this past Sunday's mini-tour of four gardens here in Clark County (an event sponsored by HPSO - Hardy Plant Society of Oregon).

I saw three of the gardens on Sunday. I had already visited the fourth one, Lynne Heidsiek's native habitat garden, when she was part of the Study Weekend tour that we were on. 

Our first stop was the marvelous shade garden of Margaret Stapenhorst. A bluestone patio is surrounded by towering mature trees that shade a woodland garden. There was a fern table and a moss garden, as well as garden art by Steve Farris. Loved, loved the waterfall. This is what I'd like to do in our front garden, but I don't know if we have the room.

Just a few streets over is the garden of Eloise and Bob Morgan. I have heard of gardens where each partner has their own section of the garden but this is the first time I've seen one in action. I wonder if they flipped a coin as to the side they got? First, the entry area is a grove of stunning birch trees. Unfortunately, many birch trees have been lost in our area because of the dreaded birch borer. Bob told me that they treat these trees twice a year to keep them protected.

We enter the gate into Bob's side of the garden, which is punctuated by vibrant bursts of colors from perennial plantings and lovely water features.

A small patio area with a hedge of blueberries loaded with berries separates Eloise's side of the garden, which is shadier around the perimeter but sunny in the middle.

This side of the garden has a patio that faces out to a sunny perennial border. Off to the side is a serene shade garden.

The garden of Debbie Crockett features a front Mediterranean-style garden with lots of orange, which I loved!

A pathway leads to the back garden, which has a large grassy area for her grandchildren to play and is surrounded by Douglas fir, dogwood, and birch trees. In the corner was a gorgeous variegated Harlequin Glory Bower that I mistook for a dogwood. Actually, I didn't even know there was a variegated Harlequin Glory Bower. Tucked in the corner was the cutest little office.  It was fantastic.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy