Isn’t this just the most inviting place to sit a spell? On the weekend, I availed myself of the HPSO open garden program to visit this garden on Sauvie Island. On this virtual tour, you will see many photos that could just as easily have been selected to join Anna’s (Flutter and Hum) Wednesday Vignette (a day late…sorry).
The circle garden at the front contains a few clues into things you will find scattered throughout this large (1.3 acres) garden: wood, rocks, metalwork and plants… and more plants.
Let’s step a little closer to that stump at the center of the circle of grass surrounded by shade lovers. See the rock enclosed by the metal sphere? This same artist, Ray Huston, was discovered at one of the Hortlandia sales and has since been commisioned by the owners to create several works around the property.
Generous grass paths entice visitors into various nooks and crannies.
You may have noticed, in that last photo, the tall blue pots flanking the beginning of the grass path. They deserve a close-up so you can see the use of a begonia with Dorotheanus ‘Mezoo Trailing Red’ spilling nearly to the ground.
A large metal pear nestles into the foliage as if it had dropped there from a great pear tree on high.
The whole front garden is sheltered by towering trees, leading to mysterious little getaways like this stone bench.
Say you love rocks, and your personal sculptor is only too happy to work them into the design of a bench.
Several themes tie this large garden together. One of them is color echoes.
…with touches of humor.
The back opens out into a sunny area with several berms and beds, each with a different character.
How’s this for an inventive edging for a veggie patch?
As beautiful as it is productive, it must also be a wonder at night, with electric lights strung around its perimeter. I asked about those towering Amaranth. They have self seeded every year since the beginning, eleven years ago.
Apparently, they make for yummy salads early in the year, before shooting up to 12′ or so.
Get a load of those Zinnias! This place is definitely blessed by the fertility gods. My seven little Zinnias are still working on producing their first bloom.
Even further back (right about where that first photo was taken) the mood shifts to prairie, with swaths of grass allowed to grow at will. You can see a structure containing the tomato crop and fruit trees, laden with fruit, dot the mowed area.
There were two of these, but the vines on the other one had grown to obscure the cute curly tops of their metal supports.
Heading back to that middle area where we saw the vegetable garden, you can see a more subdued, foliage-based bed.
Next to that, as we near the back of the house, is another colorful bed divided into quadrants.
Allium seedheads gathered into sheafs are quite decorative, with Echinops behind echoing the shapes.
And we emerge into the back patio…
Where we finally get to meet our host, Linda Wisner: the creative genius behind all that we have just seen and drooled over. She also bakes a mean brownie.
Lest we forget that this all started out as a Wednesday vignette, don’t forget to click on (Flutter and Hum) to see what Anna has in store this week.
I just love seeing gardens like this one that are full of fun and personality plus all those great ideas.
Lots of great plants too. I have that Amaranth and it is a prolific seeder. The color is great, especially late in the season.
I’ve been trying to grow Amaranth from seed for several years. These started as plants, so that will be my new strategy.
Oh, those pink cowboy boots crack me up! So funny… 😀
I’m picturing your new profile picture to go along with this comment.
I’ve been trying to grow Amaranth for a few years too. I’ve never had such lovely, tall plants, they’re always short and stumpy. I’ve tried growing from seed, and I’ve tried starting with plants from a nursery. Still no luck.
I think Sauvie Island has quite different soil (sandy/loamy). That might make all the difference.
What a garden. Oh my gosh. I am sorry to have missed it, it’s basically a paradise. Great photos, Rickii – thank you for sharing. Lots of great take-away ideas here! Hmm…love that amaranth too.
I merely scratched the surface. You should definitely put a tick mark by this one in the next open gardens book.
It’s nice to see other gardens like this one in a more rural setting. It helps me envision the possibilities for my own garden.
She has been working at hers exactly as long as I have been here. I was humbled, yet inspired.
I like gardens that show the owners personality, I think my own garden may lack that – something else to ponder on!
I see a lot of personality in your garden. We may not be able to help having it shine through.
I just love their vegetable gardens. Wow..something to aspire too!
Yes indeedy.
I am extremely bummed that I missed this one. Didn’t even see the open garden listing. Thanks for the tour, almost as good as being there…
Next best thing…I get that feeling a lot. There’s always next year. I think she opens her garden often.
I loved those pink boots on the table legs. It’s a wonderful garden. Thanks for the tour.
The pink boots were a unique, laugh-out-loud moment.
Gorgeous. I love the grass paths disappearing behind a curve and the vegetable garden with the red cabbage edging.
Everything about that veggie garden spoke to me.
What a welcoming garden! I enjoyed all the creative stonework, sculptures, and garden furniture. She has some interesting plants there, too. Thanks for sharing highlights of your visit!
This was a good one all right!
This garden is FANTASTIC. Thank you for the tour!
Are you a member of HPSO? This is only the tip of the iceberg…although an especially lovely tip.
What a cool garden. The table wearing cowgirl boots is a riot! Allium seed heads gathered into sheaves – who would have thought?
Lots of fun and quirky ideas in that garden and those were two of the best.