Winding downhill path to North Main with view of Grizzly

Scenic Park-

August Garden of the Month is Ashland’s newest park: Scenic Park, a 1.5-acre neighborhood park at the dead end of Scenic Drive that can also be accessed from North Main and the dead end of Greenbriar Place.

The city bought this parcel in 2000 to build a neighborhood park in compliance with its Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which states that every Ashland resident should be within a quarter mile of a city park. It took a decade to get Scenic Park up and running, but you could say it was worth the wait: it’s a gem.

Stairway down from Greenbriar Place

The park has sweeping views of Grizzly Peak and the mountains, which you can enjoy from a long bench or picnic tables at the top of the park, which sweeps down to North Main. There are two playgrounds for children — one for preschoolers, the other for older children with climbing wall and a view of Mt. Ashland. The park’s winding path is ADA-accessible, which makes it a popular spot for Linda Vista patients and their families.

Long bench gives sweeping views of Grizzly

Scenic Park is herbicide and pesticide-free and was designed for low maintenance. The irrigation system runs perpendicular to the hill to save water, and the lawns are tree-less and edge-less for easy mowing. Native rock from the site was incorporated into pathways, seats, and retaining walls. Deutzia cuttings from Lithia Park and fountain grass recycled from Siskiyou Boulevard medians can be found near the North Main entrance. Plum and apple trees from the original site continue to bear fruit.

A community garden near the Scenic Drive entrance has 10 well-maintained plots protected by deer fencing. (The garden’s waiting list is about a year; call 541-488-6606 for more information.) Plumbing was installed nearby for possible bathroom and drinking fountain in the future.

Deer Fenced Community Garden

The Parks and Recreation Department planted about 35 trees in 2008, including red-blooming horse chestnut, black maple, maackia, upright hornbeam, redbud, Hall’s hardy almond, Italian oaks, Vanderwolf pines, blue spruce, flame willows, cinnamon, fruiting quince, hackberry, ornamental cherry, and a parrotia. A neighbor has already used the quince in a pie.

Scenic Drive entrance leading down to playground with climbing wall

Shrubs, with drought-tolerance in mind, include vibernum, saponaria, lavendar, yarrow, Jerusalem and Russian sage, poppies, Oregon sunshine, hybrid manzanita, silk tassel, rock rose, forsythia, germander, and low-growing sumac.

Railroad-tie steps lead through small fields of native grasses and wildflowers. In 2009, hundreds of bulbs were planted, mainly along the North Main entrance: narcissus, tulip, daffodil, iris, crocus. They already produce a spring show.

In the top corner of Scenic Park is Mary’s Grove, planted by her friends with five Italian oaks in memory of Mary Douglas, a former park neighbor.

On-site rocks used in retaining walls

With input from the community, neighbors, and the Parks and Recreation Commission, the master plan for Scenic Park was drawn up by Lango.Hanson Landscape Architects of Portland. Construction documents were provided by KenCairn Landscape Architecture of Ashland, and hardscape was constructed by Batzer Construction of Medford.

Because Scenic Park is a neighborhood park, there are only three parking spaces (made of permeable paving) at the Scenic Drive entrance, intended primarily for community gardeners and maintenance vehicles. You can park nearby on Maple, Scenic or Greenbriar and walk in. – Julia Sommer

519 Liberty Street-
The front garden at 519 Liberty Street is always eye-catching. In April, there was a stunning show of daffodils. In May and June, it was irises and peonies. Now it’s daisies and coreopsis with foxglove just ending its reign. Garden Club members, friends, and families will have an opportunity to see inside the intriguing gate to the equally breath-taking and very private courtyard, side, and back gardens at 1:00 on Monday, July 11. This is a small garden, jam-packed with beautiful plants.

Sue Harmon has gardened on this property since 2003. Some years earlier, she took a two-year series of horticulture courses at UCLA that is the equivalent of Master Gardener training here. And when she first moved to Ashland, she took a garden-planning workshop at SOU. A Master Gardener from that program helped her plan the courtyard garden. Sue does all of the gardening herself. She spends approximately eight hours a week during the busiest seasons of Spring and Fall, and about four hours a week the rest of the year. It shows.

In addition to the ever-changing show of blooms in front is a large mimosa tree with lacy foliage that will have fringed pink blossoms later this summer. The front also is home to a holly tree, two dogwoods, and numerous evergreen shrubs. A clematis vine tops the arbor over the unique gate.Through the gate, you arrive in the private bower that is the courtyard, with a bistro table and chairs, as well as a well-established wisteria framing the left side.A bubbling urn fountain provides soothing sound.
Two Japanese maples anchor either side of the space that is filled with azaleas, ferns, heuchera, daphne, camellias, hellebores, nandina, toadwart, and teucrium germander.The side yard, featuring roses, lilacs, tulips, more irises, and fragrant geraniums, are visible through a wall of windows in the family room. A Cecile Bruner rose–now just past its peak—separates the side from the back and screens the compost bin. It’s sharing its arbor with a different kind of clematis.

In back, a tall hedge of Leland cypress screens the neighbors and continues the feel of absolute privacy. A small lawn is bordered by a riot of color. A tiered fountain, dining patio, bench swing, and romantic garden bench furnish the back yard. Among the many varieties of plants in back are hostas, bear’s breech, sedum, columbine, bleeding heart, tulips, fuchsias, Japanese anemones, ajuga, and creeping jenny. There is also a kitchen garden in half-barrels and large pots with lettuce, tomatoes, and herbs.

Garden of the Month Committee /Ruth Sloan