One to Watch October 28, 2011

 

The Dobson garden this fall

Even fall rains can’t get Ted and Nancy Dobson’s garden down.  This tiny, magical space only gets better with age and the careful attention of its inhabitants.  Readers familiar with the space through garden tours or the journal may note the beautiful new water feature at right, one of the Dobson’s summer projects.  Stunning, isn’t it?  It seems that we’re not the only ones who love this intricate and collaborative space, and you may get to see this fabulous garden in print soon (more details to come, of course)!

While photos may be worth a 1,000 words, a visit to this garden speaks volumes.  The Dobsons’ garden (and several of our other gardens) will be on the tour for the Hardy Plant Study Weekend next June 7-10, 2012.  Save the date and stay tuned for more information!

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New Garden Journal Friend! July 14, 2011

A pic of some of our spiky, mean plants for "danger garden!" Click for a larger image.

Our new friend, Loree Bohl wrote a lovely, very thorough post about our Open Garden on her blog, danger garden.  Judging from some of her other entries, we share a passion for mean plants and cool nurseries, so be sure to keep reading!

 

 

Japanese Maple Sale at Baltzer’s! May 15, 2011

One of our own special Baltzer maples

We’ve got so much good news for gardeners these days!  Our friends Bob and Nancy Baltzer, of Baltzer’s Specialized Nursery are having a sale on their gorgeous specimen maples.  All non lace leaf maples in 20 gallon or larger containers are on sale for at least $25 off and some are marked down to $75!  Bob and Nancy grow a wider variety of maples than anyone we know, and they care for them beautifully.  Aside from maples, the Baltzers also carry  wonderful, unusual conifers and some interesting garden features.  Their nursery is one of our area’s little known treasures, and well worth the short drive to Pleasant Hill.

Baltzer’s is open Friday – Monday, 10am – 5pm (closed Tuesday-Thursday)

36011 Highway 58
Pleasant Hill, OR 97455
541-747-5604

Ginny’s Garden Sale May 13, 2011

Our friend Ginny is moving into town from her fabulous garden and farm in Creswell.  In terrific news for garden treasure hunters, Ginny is having a huge yard/garden sale tomorrow, Saturday, May 14, to help her pare down and prepare for her urban space.  Containers of all sizes!  Furniture!  Useful and pretty things!   Ginny has great taste, and the perfect addition to your garden may be waiting for you in Creswell.   If nothing else, it’s a great excuse to see one of our area’s best gardens.  Part of the proceeds benefit the Lane County Master Gardeners.  More information below.

The Plant Sales Are Coming! May 5, 2011

It’s that magical time of year again, when the best specialty nurseries in Oregon flock to Eugene for a one-day plant extravaganza….   On May, 7, grab your mom for a Mother’s Day Eve outing and find your new favorite plants!

The Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group sale is in the Auditorium Building of the Lane County Fairgrounds from 9am-2pm. More information here.

The Avid Gardeners Plant Sale is also 9am-2pm (where to go first?!?) at Alton Baker Park.  More information here and on their cute poster at right.

Plant group members and potential members, take note – volunteers get first dibs on plants, so pitch in!

Sunset Garden Anywhere! April 4, 2011

Sunset Garden Anywhere!

Just saw a big photograph of Joanne and Peter Alba’s garden in Sunset’s Garden Anywhere!, a “bookazine” that will be on store shelves until early June (I found it at the Woodfield Station Market of Choice).  You may remember the Alba’s garden from this post about their photo in the April ’08 Sunset, or this post about gardening with deer.  Cool!

Sometimes these photos catch us by surprise.  If you know of a photo of our gardens that’s not mentioned on our press page, please let us know where you found it, so we can spread the word!

The Gregory Garden (and house) are for sale July 24, 2010

Gregory Meadow

Our friend and client Joy Gregory is moving out of town, and her wonderful North Eugene house and garden are for sale.  We are sorry to see her and her awesome son leave Eugene, but we have no doubt that they’ll take their new home by storm.  We wrote the garden in our first newsletter, and you may remember the garden from Sunset, the Register-Guard or Pacific Horticulture (you can find an article or two on our press page).

If you happen to be shopping for a great house, neighborhood and garden, take a look!

http://www.remax.com/homes-for-sale/OR/Eugene/10060366-MLS_Number/

Studies in Texture at the Bancroft Garden June 24, 2010

Our trip to Northern California was brief, but we are so glad that we made time to visit one of our favorite gardens.  The Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA is a mecca for hortitexturephiles and garden lovers of all stripes.  We wrote a short post about the Bancroft Garden last year, but we may not have been emphatic enough in our praise.   It is magical.  You should visit.  Soon.

As you probably know, a sunny summer afternoon is less than ideal for photographing gardens, but Buell managed to get a number of fun shots and (we think) a few pretty darn good ones.

Enjoy!

Bancroft Teaser June 23, 2010

We’re just in the door from a whirlwind trip to California.  Buell took some gorgeous photos at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, which we will post ASAP.  Here’s one of our favorites to tide you over:

Agave flower at the Ruth Bancroft Garden

Back soon!

r&b

Public Gardens June 15, 2010

Gary in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The new herb garden at the BBG

This weekend, Rebecca received a terrific email from her stepmom with photos of her Dad at his weekly volunteer gig in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden!  Dad helped finish the new herb garden at the BBG, and he’s looking forward to helping maintain and develop it for the future.

If you’re ever in New York with a little time, we highly recommend a stroll through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  It’s a fantastic, huge garden with formal areas, rolling park-like sections, a Japanese garden (see my photo from fall ’08) and the coolest greenhouse pavilions.

The Japanese Garden at the BBG

Public gardens are a tremendous asset to their communities and the larger gardening world, and we all have a debt of gratitude to the dedicated staff and volunteers who build and work in them.

While Eugene doesn’t have sprawling botanic gardens like the BBG, we do have a few fun public gardens, like the Sebring Garden in Alton Baker Park.  One of the largest rock gardens in North America, the Sebring Garden is now 12 years old and packed with fascinating, unusual plants.  The garden was built and is developed and maintained by the Emerald Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society.  Even if you’re not sure you want a true “rock garden,” rock garden plants tend to be low-water, smaller varieties, perfect for many urban spaces.  If you’re looking for a great way to support public gardens and learn from some of our area’s most knowledgeable plantspeople, volunteer a few hours in the Sebring.  Or, if you just want to expand your knowledge about wild and wonderful plants, attend some of the NARGS meetings, trips and other fun events (check out this cool camping trip).