Little House on the Portland Prairie
We saw a lot of wonderful gardens during the 2014 Garden Bloggers’ Fling in Portland this past July. If I had to pick one favorite, however, it would be Rhone Street Gardens.
This is a garden where it seems every square inch is bursting with exuberant plant life.
The resident gardener at Rhone Street Gardens is Scott, who was also a principal organizer of the Portland Fling.
Scott is well known for his love of grasses. His garden has its share of colorful flowers, but your attention is really captured by the rich and varied textures of the grasses, with their movement, varying shades of green, and subtle flowers and seed heads. All this tall grass makes me think of Rhone Street Gardens as the Little House on the Portland Prairie.
Raised beds are used to make even the hell strips into bountiful gardens.
Rhone Street Garden also provides habitat for wildlife.
The colorful wildlife provides contrast to the flowers and grasses.
Scott is not afraid of tall plants. Here’s a happy clump of Joe Pye Weed.
Indeed, it is fair to say that Rhone Street Gardens does not neglect the vertical element in its selection of plants. I wonder if I could convince Scott to give Cup Plant a try.
There are many fine plant combinations, not all of them tall.
Such as Astrantia and – I’m not sure – Veronica?
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and Persicaria. Scott has inspired me to plant more grasses, but his garden also makes me want to acquire some Persicaria. Looks like some Agastache mixed in there also.
Persicaria with Allium seedheads.
Containers with perennials cover ground that is not hospitable to plants.
Overall, the visit to Rhone Street Gardens was definitely one highlight of the Portland Fling.
I love the picture of Scott in his garden! Great post and pics ~ Scott has been an inspiration to many, myself included, as I have developed a love of grasses because of him 🙂
His love for his garden really shines through.
Great to see such a small garden being used to its absolute fullest potential. Makes me want yo go dig over even more of my lawn 🙂
Same here!
The plant you wondered about is Teucrium hyrcanicum, common name is Cat’s tails I believe. This is a garden I would love to see. Shame he uses blogspot as I find it impossible to leave comments on his blog. Thanks for sharing your impressions.
We don’t see Teucrim around here, i would guess it is not hardy in this area.
Scott’s garden looks abundant and joyous, really loved and inspiring. How does Rhone Street Gardens fit into the Portland Fling Jason, is it a fundraiser?
No, it was just one of the Portland gardens we visited as part of the Fling.
What a pleasure to re-visit Rhone Street Garden!
I also really enjoyed going through the photographs again.
Lovely garden and so lush for this time of year… 🙂
The Pacific Northwest is lush for most of the year, they have a fairly mild climate.
stunning and a perfect marriage of architecture and planting!
Well said!
Reminds me of your garden!
I was thinking the same thing, Marian.
That’s very kind of you – a very flattering comparison.
I can understand why you like it so much… many similarities to your style of gardening. Those grasses are fabulous. I can also definitely recommend Persicaria, as I love mine (Firetail) and I think the plant you identify as Veronica might be Teucrium hircanicum (Germander). It has spread in an area of my garden where nothing else grows and i am very grateful for it!
I just have to figure out where I can shoehorn in some Persicaria …
Like to see other gardeners who put perennials in containers. I thought I was in the minority. 🙂
I haven’t done it but i’m tempted now and then.
What a joyful garden! He is a fabulous gardener and I love the way he uses the grasses!
So did I!
Great post, Jason; I love your new name for Rhone Street Gardens! I was so excited, too, to visit Scott’s garden since his was the only Portland blog I read rather regularly before the Fling, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It reminded me more of home with all the natives and more prairie-type plants, which is probably the reason you and I both liked it so much. I was drawn to the persicaria, too, and want to plant some here. I hope to do a post just on Scott’s garden myself before the year ends.
I’ll look forward to your post.
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Scott’s garden is an inspiration and I *love* Little House on the Prairie (I used to dress up as Laura all the time) so this post gets 5 stars in my book 🙂
Glad you liked the post. So many of us have drawn inspiration from this garden.
Oh how I love this garden! The tiny house nestled into the small corner lot surrounded by a lush garden. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome! It was incredibly lush, wasn’t it?
Perfect shot of Scott in the midst of his beloved grasses. I see myself in there too, which has me kicking myself for not making more of an effort to meet everyone (you).
There’s always next year in Toronto! Unfortunately, I’m not very good at mingling.
This is the one garden I wanted to see the most. I adore his blog and wow how lucky to see it in person!!
It was a real treat.
It’s always both fun and educational peeking into someone else’s garden and this one looks like a beauty!
It certainly is.
I love Scott’s garden too. His use of grasses in his garden is amazing.
I don’t think I would want such a high concentration of grasses in my own garden, but after seeing pictures of his I always feel as if I should plant a few more.
That’s a great example of using plants well and not being stuck in the “small plants for small gardens” mentality. You really do seem to walk through the garden instead of looking down on it. I love it.
There definitely is no fear of big plants in this garden.
This is an exurberent garden. Wish I’d been there–nice of you to share your views.
Happy to.
I have always enjoyed Scott’s garden virtually – he also takes fantastic photos! Lucky for you to visit!
He is an extremely talented photographer.
Oh wow! What a delightful garden, y’know you are really converting me to grasses, since I have been following your blog I have added about six different types, my curly one is my favourite.
I did enjoy this, what a clever title, and such a handsome cat!xxx
Six different types is a lot, I think I only have five (not including sedges).
You captured Scott’s garden so well! The plant combinations were amazing, and I’m with you on wanting to get some Persicaria.
I agree there were some great combinations.
I love the title of your post and you have captured Scott’s garden so beautifully! Thank you for sharing your wonderful photographs and for the tour!
You’re welcome!
What a lovely garden and what a great combinations of plants.
I don’ t think that is an Astrantia. It looks more like a yellow Scabious: Scabiosa columbaria var. ochroleuca to me. Sorry, Jason, I just can’ t help being pedantic.
It’s OK as long as you don’t say anything about my drupes.
Lovely Scott’s garden is, Jason! I’d love to plant more grasses and vertical flowers as aconitum, verbascum, aruncus etc.
Those are all good choices.
It was fun seeing Scott’s garden through your photos.
They’re Judy’s photos of course, but thanks.
What an absolutely appealing space. I can see why you liked it so much.
It is wonderfully appealing.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Jason…I loved having you and Judy visit…and you’re both welcome to stop by any time you are ever in Portland 🙂
Judy and I would certainly love to see Portland and your garden again.
I am with you on this, looks like a great garden. Thanks for sharing.D
You’re welcome.