Author Archives: Ashland Garden Club

Oregon Native Plant: Rubus ursinus (Pacific Blackberry)

Posted on by

Plant Name:  Rubus ursinus
Common name:  Pacific Blackberry, or Dewberry
Plant Type:  Evergreen, Semi Evergreen Shrub or Low Trailing
Plant Height: 6’ – 10’
Spread:  6’
Bloom Time: February to May
Flower Color: White to Pink
Exposure: Sun to Shade
Soil Requirements:  Medium to Slow Drainage.
Water Needs: Moderate to High
Attributes:  Hosts several Butterflies & Moths. Leaves can be used to make herbal tea. Produces Edible Berries.  Sometimes plants are referred to as ground berries. 

Note: 1st Year Stems (Primocanes) produce only leaves;                                 2nd Year Lateral Branches (Floricanes) produce flowers & fruit.                 Canes are very prickly; Prune during winter dormancy.

Uses: Ground Cover; Bird Garden; Native Gardens; Pollinator Gardens, Native Berries.
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford & Carlotta Lucas, AGC Members

Photo Credit:  Wikipedia / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

Horticulture Report: Douglas Spirea

Posted on by

Plant Name:  Spiraea douglasii
Common name:  Douglas or Western Spirea
Plant Type:  Deciduous Shrub
Plant Height:  3’ – 7’
Plant Width:  3’ – 6’
Bloom Time:  June to August
Flower Color:  Deep Pink
Exposure:Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Well drained, acidic, loamy, sandy soil.
Water Need:  Does well in wet areas;
Attributes: Retains brown seed heads; Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Other Pollinators; Deer Resistant.
Note:  Needs consistent moisture; Remove suckers; Susceptible to Fire Blight, Leaf Spot, Powdery Mildew, Aphids, Scale.  Prune after Flowering.
Uses: Hedge; Rain Garden; Cottage Gardens; Borders; Slopes.
Native to:  Oregon to Alaska
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Photo by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC Member                                                                  Photo Location: Hyatt Lake, Oregon – July 25, 2020

Walk Ashland

Posted on by

Ashland Garden Club member, Peter Finkle, has been walking Ashland neighborhoods and writing about Ashland’s history, architecture, gardens, yard art and people. Alida Street was his recent trekking adventure where he discovered:

Ghost stories at 92 Alida
A beautiful mural at 107 Alida
Dramatic flowering trumpet vine at 66 Alida
Writer of Westerns at 81 Alida
“Lord of the Rings” connection at 180 Alida

Follow the link below to read Peter’s article in full; it’s fascinating!

https://walkashland.com/2020/08/09/alida-street-flowers-ghosts-and-art/

Beautiful mural at 107 Alida Street, painted in June of 2020. (photo by Peter Finkle, 2020)

Submitted by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC Board Member

Today in the Garden

Posted on by
  • Astrantia ‘Billion Stars’
  • Bruñnera
    ‘Jack of Diamonds’
  • Itoh Peony & Daphne.
  • Lida Rose
  • Nicotiana sylvestris
  • Viburnum maresii, variegated
Lucretia Weems’ Garden

 Lucretia is a member of Ashland Garden Club & a Landscape Designer 

Photos by: Lucretia Weems

Oregon Native: Rhamnus californica (Coffeeberry)

Posted on by

Plant Name:  Rhamnus californica/Frangula californica
Common name: Coffeeberry
Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub
Plant Height: 4’ – 8’
Spread: 5’ – 15’
Bloom Time: Spring/Summer
Flower Color: Greenish White Flower with Red, Purple, then Black Berries over Summer.
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Soil Requirements: Not particular about soil, but good drainage.
Water Needs: Low
Attributes:  Valued by Birds; Butterflies & Moths Hosted; Deer Resistant; Bee Garden.
Note: Takes well to Pruning.
Uses: Fire Resistant Hedge.
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  7-10

Report by: Viki Ashford

Flower Image Credit: Evangele19 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Berry Image Credit: Brofri / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)