Dirt Therapy

Some photos of Matthew Hubbard's garden from last weekend's HPSO Open Gardens Tour . As always, it is a pleasure to see his garden which is full of beautiful peonies and lots of other treasures. Peony 'High Noon' Embothrium - I am so envious! I have one and after two years, it is still only about 8 inches tall. Maybe this year it will kick in and do something. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

When I first visited Portland in 2013, one of the plants that caught my attention was a shrub smothered with vibrant blue flowers. I saw it everywhere - in sun, shade, hellstrips - and had no idea what it was. Later, I discovered the name - Ceanothus - commonly referred to as "California Lilac" or "Wild Lilac". There are numerous cultivars, ranging from giants that soar to 12 feet or more ("Victoria") to groundcover types that stay below 2 feet. In addition to size differences, they can also vary in bloom and leaf color. Of course when I started my garden three years later, Ceanothus was at the top of my list. I stumbled across the "Julia Phelps" variety at Tsugawa Nursery and planted it on March 17, 2016. They are fast-growing and this is what she looked like last year - Fast forward one year later - this year - Yes, it is getting a little bit out of control. But what a beauty! In their native California, they grow on rocky sl...

Last week after visiting Michael Bostwick's garden in Clackamas, we headed north, closer to home, and decided to venture up Interstate 5 about 15 miles and catch a second garden on the HPSO Open Gardens - Eastfork Nursery. After taking the exit at La Center that goes to the Iliani Casino, you go in the opposite direction from the casino and drive just a few miles along beautiful countryside before arriving at the nursery and home of Samantha Hatch and Dave Schook. Samantha (who goes by "Sam") is also known as "The Maple Lady". In 1984, she and her husband started a nursery that specializes in Japanese Maples. Today, she works full-time at the nursery where she sells around 100 varieties of rare and hard-to-find maples. But before I get to the nursery, take a look at some of the breath-taking scenery, gardens and water features.  Their 13 acres backs up to an undeveloped flood plain. How is this for a view from your back door - Ma...

I love seeing other people's gardens and the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon's Open Gardens is a terrific opportunity to see great gardens every weekend through October. I did not visit as many gardens last year as I did the first year I lived here so I hope to do some catching up this year. This morning we drove to Clackamus to see Michael Bostwick's garden. This is a small garden inspired by the owner's hikes in the Pacific Northwest. A pathway leading from the side of the house and into the back area is bordered by raised beds that ends in a beautiful waterfall and pond.  There is a wide variety of plants, including dwarf conifers, maples, native plants, wildflowers, iris, trillium, orchids, hellebores,  shrubs and many unique perennials.  A huge sumac hangs over the waterfall. It was just beginning to leaf out. I am sure that this is a stunning site when all the leaves are open. Michael said that after this season, he would be moving the entire garde...