Today in the Garden

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Ashland Garden Club

Goly Ostovar’s Garden, May 2022

May 2022: Garden of the Month

Posted on May 7, 2022 by Ashland Garden Club

The beautiful and colorful landscape at 595 Great Oaks Drive is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for May. It’s the home of Gerry and Sherwood Goozee, located at the southwest corner of Great Oaks Drive and Mountain Meadows Drive.

Sherwood has been gardening here for nine years, moving from a 42-acre ranch near Ukiah, California where he planted 100 trees. At 94 years old, Sherwood has slowed down a little but he still mows the lawn! Sherwood now has help from their friend Denise Moffatt who weeds and plants as directed by Sherwood. He says he still loves “playing in the dirt.”

Sherwood is an artist (check out his gorgeous paintings of flowers and other things at https://goozeepaintings.weebly.com) and it shows in his love of color in the garden. Azaleas, rhododendrons, Irish roses, and—right now—dogwood flourish. Two eastern oak trees anchor the yard. Early in their residence, Sherwood removed many large bushes that he felt had not added much to the overall display. He certainly got it all right.

Article by: Ruth Sloan, AGC Garden of the Month Chairperson

Photos by Larry Rosengren. Some photos were taken in May 2021.

With thanks to Marilyn Love, AGC Member, for the suggestion. And thanks to Viki Ashford, AGC Member, who installed the GotM sign.

Firewise Plant: Evening Primrose

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Ashland Garden Club

Plant Name: Oenothera species

Common name: Evening Primrose
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial or Biennial
Plant Height: 2’ – 6’
Plant Width: 1’ – 2’
Bloom Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
Flower Color: Yellow or Pink or White
Exposure: Sun to Shade
Soil Requirements: Rocky or Sandy Soil; Well-Drained
Water Needs: Low to Medium
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 8 – Plant 30’+ from Structure
Attributes: Attract Moths; Birds Eat Seeds; Attracts Hummingbirds; Fragrant Flowers; Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant
Uses: Full Sun Ground cover; Rock Gardens; Erosion Control; Native Plant Gardens
Note: Flowers Open in the Evening
Native to: Eastern North America
Oregon Native: NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Firewise Plant: Muscari armeniacum Grape Hyacinth

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Ashland Garden Club

Plant Name: Muscari armeniacum
Common name: Grape Hyacinth
Plant Type: Bulbous Perennial
Plant Height: .5’ – .75’
Plant Width: .25’ – .50’
Bloom Time: April
Flower Color: Royal Blue with thin White Rim
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well Drained; Sandy; Loam
Water Needs: Medium
Fire Resistant: YES; Zone 10 – Plant 10’+ from structure.
Attributes: Showy Flower; Fragrant; Good Cut Flower; Deer Resistant; Tolerates Clay Soil; Attracts Bees/Butterflies.
Uses: Mass in Open Areas; Around Shrubs; Under Deciduous Trees; Rock Gardens; Front of the Border; Container Plant.
Note: Reduce Watering After Foliage Begins to Die Back.
Native to: Western Asia, Southeastern Europe
Oregon Native: NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member, Master Gardener

Firewise Plant: Penstemons

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Ashland Garden Club

Plant Name: Penstemon species
Common name: Penstemon or Beardtongue
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Height: 4” – 48”
Plant Width: 6” – 36”
Bloom Time: June – August
Flower Color: Pink, Purple, Blue, Red, White
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Fast Draining; Gravelly/Sandy;
Water Needs: Deep, but Infrequent Watering
Fire Resistant: YES: Zone 1 – Plant 30’+ from Structure
Attributes: Nectar-Rich Flowers for Pollinators;
Uses: Rock Garden; Cottage Gardens; Borders; Pollinator Gardens; Wildlife Habitat Gardens; Native plant areas; Perennial gardens.
Note: Leave Some Seeds to Ripen When Deadheading;
Native to: Continental US
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8