Dahlia Fest!

What a beauty - and the dahlia ain't too bad either! That's my daughter who was surprised a flower could grow this big - the dinner plate dahlias are so gaudy and tacky ( I mean that in the best way ; ) . They always have the WOW factor.

Old House Dahlias is in a neighborhood in SE Portland, Or. This business is the result of a passion for plants that has taken over the entire small city lot. You can see the plants in bloom in Sept. and Oct. and order your tubers then. Mark will dig them, store them and call you in the spring when it is time to plant. Talk about buying local and supporting a cottage business!

Old House Dahlias

A Riot of Crazy Color!

Normally, I'm not a huge fan of annuals but how can you not LOVE this happy scene that I came upon in Seaside, OR on the last day of summer? Some gardener is having a whole lot of fun with containers. This entire display is in pots! If someone tells me they cant have a garden for lack of ground to plant it in, I will whip out this picture as inspiration. This gorgeous exuberance is at the Paradise Suites in Seaside at 741 S. Downing St. Apparently the sea air is as good for plants as it is for people.

Community Gardens

It's National Community Garden Week! In honor of that, I thought I'd share some pictures of my community garden in NE Portland. If you don't have enough sun or land to grow edibles, consider getting a plot - it's a great way to grow your food and cut flowers, trade knowledge and veg with other gardeners, learn what grows well in your area and enjoy the harvest. Todays harvest is tomatoes, basil, sunflowers, zinnias, onions, and eggplant. The bounty is astounding and so is the beauty. It's good for the soul and the belly!

The Earth Laughs in Flowers

I love flowers and I love to make floral arrangements. Sometimes in the peak of summer the blooms are so stunning it's best to let them stand alone. Can you even believe the color of these hydrangeas? They are not photo shopped or anything - they were lucky enough to have been grown in Astoria, Oregon where it's cool with sea breezes and the air is full of moisture. There must be something about the soil too. And sunflowers, I never get tired of growing them, cutting them or seeing them. These were grown in my community garden plot and needed to be cut because they were shading the tomato plants. If you have the space and the sun, plan on growing some flowers for cutting next year. It'll make you smile!

Garden Art Show

The Cracked Pots Garden Art show near Portland, Oregon is quite the festival. It's held on the grounds of McMenamin's Edgefield and you stroll around the gardens, beer in hand (!), marveling at the creations of mixed media artists. It's really fabulous to see what people can make from recycled materials. That's the rule, they have to use something in the piece that is reused. Metal, wood, stone, garden hoses, glass, wire, cable, etc. The creativity is astounding! If every area had an event like this, imagine all the stuff that would be repurposed and not go to the landfill. Oh, and all the gardens that would be decorated with beautiful, original art - LOVE it!

Zen Garden Sanctuary

Some people really know how to create a sense of place. This stunning garden belongs to my dear friends, Becky and Kris in Astoria, Oregon. The use of large containers, specimen trees and lots of interesting foliages really sets this garden apart. The sounds of water, wind chimes and the breeze rustling the bamboo is all part of the experience. That's what I like in a great garden - the feeling that you get while there and the exciting journey of discovery as you walk through. This gorgeous garden is for relaxing and calming the soul. I feel so fortunate to have spent 3 days taking it all in! I hope you can find your Zen garden experience this summer....

Plant of the Week - Great Combos

Oh, I wish you could see this in person. Golden Cotinus (smoke tree) and purple clematis - WOW! Absolutely stunning. The smoke tree is the living trellis for the clematis. This is what great gardens have - killer combinations that make each plant look better together than they do alone. Play with combos at the nursery - make sure the plants have the same growing requirements and interesting contrast. Golden foliage intertwined with purple flowers - that's what I call fabulous!

Road Trip!

This is my dog, Honey. She is loving the wind in her hair and a refreshing breeze. I know that feeling having just returned from Victoria, BC for a Hardy Plant Study Weekend. It's the ultimate perfect weekend for plant geeks! We get totally immersed in lectures, slide shows, botanical displays, and the best garden tours the area has to offer. This year it was held in Sidney, BC about 30 minutes from the beautiful city of Victoria. Next year it's in Seattle and should not be missed! No excuses - start saving now and get ready to rock your plant lovin' mind!
Stay tuned for photos of some first class gardens and stunning scenery...

The Shrine to Unfinished Projects

While touring an outstanding garden in Victoria, BC, I came upon this scene in the driveway. A purple moss covered Karmen Ghia with flat tires surrounded by plants still in their nursery pots. It made me laugh out loud - even people with gardeners have their stash of unplanted plants! Instead of hiding them and being ashamed (I hear it so often, there seems to be alot of guilt about not getting your plants in the ground), this garden owner decided to make it a feature. Obviously someone with a sense of humor and healthy attitude about imperfection. Very cool!

Plant of the Week - Japanese Forest Grass

Japanese Forest Grass, Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'
What a graceful, elegant, flowing plant. I never get tired of seeing it especially when it is happy and thriving as these are. That stunning hosta between them is Gold Standard. Now that's a winning combo for part shade! Dogs and cats love to munch on this plant - it must taste as good as it looks.

Open Gardens

My idea of a great time is to tour other peoples gardens. It's the best way to see new plants, new combinations, learn how they grow them and to see what thrives in your area. Did I mention you meet the nicest people in the garden? Other gardeners who want to share their place are so generous with information and sometimes even plants! Remember to take only pictures (with permission) and leave only footprints. It's so fun to see what other passionate gardeners have created. One warning - you may experience the slightest twinges of the big green monster - like I did when I saw this potting shed ; )

Plant of the Week - Lyda Rose

This weeks plant is another rose - hey, it's Rose Festival in Portland,OR, the city of Roses, so I can't help myself! It's Lyda Rose, voted best shrub rose by the American Rose society. She has apple blossom-like blooms with disease resistant foliage and a spicy fragrance. What's not to love?

Sue's English Cottage Garden

Sue and I have worked together in her garden for 6 years. The house is a charming 1923 storybook brick cottage in Portland, OR. The garden plays a supporting role this fabulous house and reflects Sue's personality. It's an ongoing project with editing, creating year around interest with seasonal flow and reducing maintenance ( we hope!). Enjoy these photos taken June 3, 2009.

Flower of the Week

Today I discovered my new favorite rose - Golden Celebration. It has the most buttery warm golden petals in a cupped shape.The fragrance has a hint of lemon. This rose is a must have for anyone who loves the look of the English garden roses.
I hope you happen upon a floral moment today that stops you in your tracks!

What is a Garden Coach??

I get asked this alot! Especially from people who haven't heard the term but it catches their attention when they hear 'Garden Coach' for the first time. I think of my service as being a mentor for gardeners. For beginners I'm a support person to guide them into the wonderous world of growing plants. The more experienced gardeners often need a new set of eyes to see their garden in a fresh way. I am someone to bounce design ideas off of and give you the courage to expand your plant palette. Plant combinations are tricky especially when seasonal interest and structure need to be considered. People are often stumped by those concepts and I gently lead the way. I like to create vignettes and surprises in the garden, make it a discovery for the senses. I love it all and hope to excite my clients and help them become more observant, skilled and appreciative of the beauty that we all can have right outside our door! Whenever I have the priviledge to usher another gardener into the 'magnificent obession', I feel honored and know this is the greatest work I can do.