I expected the garden of Bob Hyland and Andrew Beckman to be fabulous, but it was better than that. It was (insert superlative of choice, as long as it isn’t “awesome”…not that the garden isn’t, but, well, you know…)

Art is used sparingly, but makes a big impact. This sphere of logs is one of the first things up as you walk down the driveway.

The eye is drawn to the long view,emphasized by rows of hedges in the foreground, leading to the river, the industrial district, the foothills, and, on a clearer day, the mountains in the far distance.

I was fortunate to run into Norm and Scott, seen here with Bob, our gracious host, and proprietor of Contained Exuberance in SE Portland..

His shop sells elegant containers, some that he has already planted up in his inimitable style. I’m going to show you some of the ones strategically placed around his property (without comments, so I can squeeze in more eye candy):

Hover dishes take things aerial. I could go on…and on…but you can see from this sampling how deftly Bob matches style of pot to planting material.

So let’s move on to the garden proper, where the hillside setting lends itself to layered planting…

within which many noteworthy vignettes may be found.

Verbena hastata

Some plants went on my wish list, like the above Verbena hastata…

and Gladiolus papilii, flanking the stone stairs up the hill, with Scott clicking away in the background.

Just thought you might like a closer look at that flower form.

A chocolate mimosa frames a view up the back hill, with a veggie garden in the middle distance. The cone shapes that echo the color of the mimosa are lettuces that have been allowed to bolt. I’ve pulled out bolting lettuce for the last time.

See how the floating airiness of Gaura lindenhamerii is emphasized against the dark background?

Taking leave would be terribly sad, were it not for the cheerful border along the way out.

Sempervivums

I can’t imagine a more perfect placement of Sempervivums nestled among rocks and gravel. If you see plants in this post that you simply must have (and how could you not) a good place to begin your search would be Xera Plants. After all, it adjoins Bob’s shop and is known for its forward-looking inventory of plants.

Meet Jenna Baker, garden designer extraordinaire, HPSO member and all-around gracious host. What a way for me to kick off Open Garden season. Mothers’ Day was the last scheduled open day, but you could make an appointment or check out Jenna’s Garden Boot Camp.

This is a large property, as you can see looking up the long walkway to the house.

After two sets of stairs have led you past long borders, we reach the last stretch of walkway, flanked by clipped boxwoods and large clumps of perennials.

The surprise of magnificent Cardoons used as border plants…

Roses are worked into the borders to show off to their very best advantage. I realized that my general antipathy for roses comes from “rose gardens”, where they are all crammed together in more of a “rose ghetto”.

Tucked in here and there, surrounded by greenery, their distinctive form and fragrance can be appreciated.

Not to mention the way companion plantings cloak the often unattractive form of the rose bush’s nether regions.

Another surprising element that I loved was this serpentine boxwood hedge. Its sinuous beauty made me wonder why straight lines and rounds are the norm.

The occasional closely clipped round can add an interesting element to a mixed border

Echoed by looser rounds nearby.

Drifts of ground covers, like this geranium, tie everything together.

Some magnificent ancient trees came with the property, like this gigantic cedar.

If you know cedars, you know that not many things will grow in their purview. A petticoat of lacy ferns is the perfect coup.

Never have I seen a Beech tree of these proportions.

A view from the driveway gives you some idea of how it dwarfs normal sized trees.

Here we’re looking out at the orchard through the scrim formed by the tricolor birch tree. It’s canopy creates an opportunity for shade plantings. I had to eliminate some photos to keep this from turning into a gardener’s version of ‘War and Peace’ but tust me, they’re wonderful.

Not easy to make a garden of this size feel intimate, but this one does. This is just one of several seating areas that invite you to stop a while (and even bring your own picnic lunch).

Long borders flank a bocce court.

Flowers, like these perfect delphiniums, are used discreetly, always surrounded by enough greenery to give them their due.

In some gardens, it’s all about new and exciting plant material getting added to the wish list. Here, the plants are familiar but used so masterfully that they seem new and exciting. As I drew near to study the Clematis, I was engulfed by a heavenly scent. Sniffing my way around the whole area, I failed to identify its source. Jenna knew just what I was talking about and now Azalea ‘Northern Lights’ has made it onto my wish list.

A dry border edges the parking area.

Lack of water does not mean lack of beauty. A Cistus spills around a rusty piece of art, placed as discreetly as other elements.

Just beyond the parking is a small sales area, where I found this ‘Black Sprite’ Centauria.

And ‘Flamenco Mix’ Kniphofia, which starts out orange and fades towards yellow as it ages.

Tucking my new purchases into the plantmobile, I reluctantly leave Rosemound Farm behind. Farmington Gardens is on my way home, so we’ll stop there next.

I met Kathleen Shelman when we both worked the HPSO booth at the Yard Garden & Patio Show. She’s warm, fun and funny and knows her plants. I’ve long been meaning to visit this garden. My long-time friend Tim Mackiness is the son of Faith, whose garden this was originally. Faith was instrumental in the formation of HPSO. Tim’s wife Judy Nylin was my first gardening mentor. In other words, the stories and connections go way back, criss-crossing all the way.

I’m kicking myself for not taking more long shots of the garden as a whole. This is the first garden room (showing about a quarter of the border surrounding a large grassy area). There are two more, divided by clipped hedges like the one you see at the back here.

The borders are deep, densely planted and perfectly maintained.

Most of the plants are familiar. The genius of this garden is the masterful juxtapositions and manipulation of color.

Kathleen graciously walked around with me. She said that precious little weeding is needed because of the density of the plantings and the biggest job is staking everything early on. You have to look hard to even see the rusted metal structure holding up the tall plants. Even when you do spot it, it fits in with the scheme of things. Those giant evergreens in the background add a majestic touch.

Plenty was in bloom, but always set of by a background of foliage, as with this Eryngium aglow against a symphony of greens.

Looking back toward the house from the other side of that hedge we are in the veggie garden, which I failed to photograph. Here, you just see some of the flowers that surround the garden shed, but believe me: this is a vegetable patch to be reckoned with.

If, indeed, you can call a vine-covered cottage like this by so humble a name as “shed”>

Back near the house an inviting shady seating area is decorated with vignettes like this…

and surrounded by towering trees.

My photo doesn’t come close to doing justice to this slender shrub, but I hope I got the name right: Cephalotaxus. I’m going to be on the lookout for this one.

I find Crocosmias at their most seductive when they are just emerging.

And as if Kathleen’s personal attention were not enough, her darling duckling ambassadors were there to give me a proper send-off. It’s a bit of a drive to reach this garden, but a beautiful one along the Sandy River, and having just visited Jane’s garden, I was well on my way. This was the last open garden for this year, but next year I urge you to watch for it. You could even use it as a springboard for a drive up the Gorge.

Jane, aka The Mulchmaid and Ben, aka the Mulchman invited local bloggers to visit their gardens on Sunday. Here Heather, Laura, Linda and Laura’s Pirate (yes, we finally got to meet him) gather around the yummy treats Jane had laid out for us.

I need to zoom in so you can see the cunning centerpiece, a stone-shaped white pot with succulents. That Jane has such good design sense.

Here’s Ben telling Anna about his Native Garden. Drawn by the sound of voices, we went directly to the back yard, which is Ben’s bailiwick.

He has created such a sense of enclosure that it’s hard to believe you’re in an urban neighborhood. Doesn’t this look like a lakeside trail?

Gravel paths wind around berms bordered by smooth river rocks, an unusual treatment done exceedingly well.

Jane’s part of the garden is entirely different but no less well thought out. Her background as a master gardener is everywhere in evidence: every plant is in tip top condition, like this magnificent stand of Acanthus mollis.

Compositions like this one, featuring Melianthus major let you know that placement of every element has been carefully considered.

Rounding the corner before entering the Northwest Garden in back, there’s a last delicious taste of Jane’s finesse. Thank you so much, Jane and Ben, for your generous hospitality. It was a Sunday to remember.