Portland gardeners are lucky ducks. They seem to have an unusual concentration of high quality nurseries in their area, nurseries whose display gardens would make them worthwhile destinations even if they had nothing for sale. We don’t have that in Chicago, where land is at too much of a premium to be used that way …
Just a random selection of recent photos, starting with Brown Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba) in the back garden. Clove currant (Ribes odorata). Short’s Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii). Butterflyweed seed pods (Asclepias tuberosa). Swamp Milkweed seeds (Asclepias incarnata). Salvia with Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia). The front garden viewed from the back. The sidewalk border. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). …
Have you had the experience of living practically down the street from a major attraction that you never visit, apparently because it’s just down the street? That’s how it’s been with Judy and I and Chicago’s Baha’i Temple, one of only seven in the world. Technically, the Temple is in Wilmette, a suburb just north …
My back garden raised bed has been something of a permanent work in progress. I was in my Raised Bed Period when I created it. Somewhere, I really can’t remember where, I had read about the virtues of raised beds. Over the next couple of years I created four of them in the garden. Anyway, …
Plants with bad posture: can’t stand ’em. Which is a problem in a garden like mine, intended to have an informal, even wild feel to it. Also, I like to grow big plants generally and especially wildflowers accustomed to a lean soil. My soil is fairly rich, the topsoil deep and with lots of organic matter. …
The first garden we visited as part of the 2014 Garden Bloggers’ Fling was Lan Su, located in Portland’s Chinatown. According to its website, Lan Su is the most authentic Chinese garden outside of China. It was created in the style of a Ming Dynasty “Scholar’s Garden” by craftsmen from Portland’s Chinese sister city of …
Joy Creek Nursery Potland Japanese Garden American Rose Garden Selections Test Garden The gnome was surprised to see us. More to come.
If you press me, I will admit that people admire my Clematis jackmanii. This admiration has led several, including neighbors and friends, to ask me how to get more plentiful Clematis flowers. Sparsely blooming Clematis, apparently, is a not uncommon problem. The thing is, I really don’t know why my Clematis jackmanii blooms so happily. …
Just letting folks know I should be having my gallbladder removed on Monday or Tuesday. The signs are all good that there won’t be any complications. I made a fairly dramatic entrance to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon. This is the first I’ve looked at my laptop since then. I am looking forward to catching …
Originally posted on gardeninacity:
Returning from another work trip on late Friday afternoon, the first thing I did was to inspect the garden. Then I spent a couple of hours staking, clipping, weeding and generally puttering around. At one point, I asked myself: why am I doing this after being absent from home all week? More…
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