Category Archives: AGC Garden of the Month

Garden of the Month: May 2016

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Garden of the Month:  386 Laurel StreetIMG_0465

Joyce Van Anne and George Kramer have a charming house and garden at 386 North Laurel Street. The 1911 bungalow, purchased in 1982 by the couple, is surrounded by lush gardens and fascinating artifacts. Over the years, they have had professional design help from Ted Loftus Landscaping, Robert Selman of Pyramid Landscaping, Laurie Thorton of Laurie Sager & Associates Landscaping, and Travis Stumpff of Sage Hill Landscape, but they do all the routine maintenance themselves, and Kramer has built all the wood structures on the property, including the arbors, fences and deck. The garden is Van Anne’s labor of love.

IMG_0463They have a “Little Free Library” (one of three in Ashland) in front. An arbor, featuring bookmatched fretwork like the low fencing, supports banksia roses and clematis. Boxwood tops the river rock edging that lines the sidewalk. Surrounding the small lawn are pieris, roses, rhododendrons, cranesbill geranium, and many other plants. A small weeping cherry was recently added to complement the mature Chinese elms trees in front.IMG_0474

In addition to a colorful array of pots filled with healthy and pretty plants, the back features a small stream with recirculating water as well as a large and comfortable deck. Large mulberry and maple trees plus a mid-size dogwood shade the area. Japanese anemone, wisteria, and lilacs, as well as other plants abound.

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A photinia hedge lines the alley and provides privacy. The side yard features, among many other things, a gorgeous orange trumpet honeysuckle and a gnome mugo pine planted to provide views from the house windows.

 

Many odd and wonderful artifacts are placed IMG_0493throughout the landscape, including a large sign that spells PEONY, made from letters Kramer salvaged from the J.C. PENNEY CO. building in downtown Medford that now houses the Southern Oregon Historical Society. At its’ base is a rusty sculpture that was once a 55 gallon drum, but was river-tumbled to a unique shape.

This is one of the most interesting and delightful gardens in Ashland.

Garden of the Month: April 2016

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364 Hargadine Street, Ashland Oregon

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Vicky Huxtable, Fred Epstein, and their dog Mabel are enjoying the new gardens at their home at 364 Hargadine Street. Nearly completed only recently, the design and installation was by Solid Ground Landscape. Mabel figures prominently in the story of the landscape here: The path that ramps diagonally up from the street to the house as an alternate to the stairs, while an excellent idea for many gardening and design reasons, was Vicky’s idea to IMG_0411ease the old dog’s route. Mabel’s sister-dog was Molly who died suddenly just before the front yard was planted, and one bush that is featured there is a Miss Molly summer lilac. Both Vicky and Fred contributed creative ideas for the new hardscape. Fencing blends seamlessly with the charming 1902 cottage, which Huxtable and Epstein have owned for about nine years.

Outside the fences are mIMG_0417any deer-resistant plants such as hellebore, Japanese peonies, yarrow, pieris, euphorbia, sage, honeysuckle, sea holly, agastache, amsonia, artemisia, and rosemary. Inside the fences crepe myrtle, fern, azalea, camellia, hydrangea, candytuft, and many other plants bloom. There is a stunning Oklahoma coral-bark Japanese maple placed for dramatic effect and a paperbark maple equally well situated. Three redbuds highlight the meandering path through the side yard. Throughout the yard, many plants are drought tolerant and there is no thirsty grass anywhere.

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Despite the small yard and steep terrain, there are several places to sit and enjoy the views. Narrow yews have been placed strategically to block less desirable views—while not taking up much precious ground—and replace other hedges that were suddenly being eaten by deer.

Mabel and her caretakers have a lovely garden in which to take their ease.

Garden of the Month: Sept. 2015

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The home of Barbara and Len Eaton at 841 Beswick Way was purchased in 2011. The house was remodeled extensively, and a year later they had their daughter-in-law Kelly Eaton design the landscape plans.IMG_0809

Barbara requested that Kelly use native plants and grasses to provide habitat for bees, butterflies and birds. They had two oaks and a small madrone in front, and the few tall pines in the back that were the backbone of the garden. Some grading was done, the paths and structures put in and the drip irrigation and dry cree841 Beswick Wayk bed Installed.

The front was done first with many native tall and short grasses, manzanita, echinacea and an orange witch hazel next to the dry creek bed. In addition, a royal purple smoke tree and a crepe myrtle grow on the right side of the walkway. The wood arbor at the entrance has an Akebia vine which will shade the lovely swing from which you can sit and view Grizzly Peak. Star Jasmine climb the screens on the right.  The large pots, overflowing with bright orange lantana and red geraniums, give a happy welcome to visitors.

IMG_0832Walking down the driveway you can look up and see the bee hive in the oak. Kelly put in a few plants that have drip only to preserve the oaks. When you enter the back gate you will be met with a lovely cascade of hardy geraniums, alyssum, yellow lantana, a family fuchsia and a pink crepe myrtle. Lizzy the family dog sits on the stairs to greet you and lead you into a path that takes you to the center three-tiered fountain.

When you look to the back garden there is a very large wood-beamed arbor with a wisteria that will shade the right side. In the center is a fireplace. Again Barbara has filled some large pots with blue black salvia and more lantana which the bees are feasting on. To the right and down behind the garage are raised vegetable beds that produce a variety of tomatoes, string beans and pumpkins.

IMG_0830The garage wall has a large espaliered Star Magnolia and two pot stands filled with cascading Creeping Charlie and Creeping Jenny. Under the towering pines is a Cherokee Chief dogwood and a flagstone pathway which has Blue Star Creeper and flowering thyme covered with many happy bees. Another lime- leaf smoke tree and a yellow witch hazel complete the path. The city of Ashland did audits for water use and fire safety which passed, with the City even putting photos of the garden on their website. This garden was on the garden toFullSizeRenderur of the AAUW in 2014.

Len has a shop where he will be building the gate to their own piece of paradise. He also mows the lawns and helps with the fall cleanup while Barbara maintains the gardens. They have achieved their desire for a habitat that keeps the bees, birds and butterflies happy and “at the end of the day” they both enjoy sitting in the swing and looking up at Grizzly Peak.

 

 

Garden of the Month: August 2015

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The garden at 973 C Street, owned by John Price and Erin Keller, was a blank site following the home’s construction in 2009.  The next year, retaining walls and fences were built, with plantings beginning shortly thereafter – all designed and built by the owners.

Passing through a beautiful front gate leading into the garden, past dahlias and zinnias, one can see vine covered arbors. These add interest and dimension to an ordinary lot. Two of the arbors are covered in two species of Kiwi. In addition to peach, pear, plum, fig, and apple trees, the garden also features Rudbeckia laciniata, hazelnut, honeysuckle, and Cornelian Cherry.

Succulents and drought tolerant plants grow as a green roof on the back shed at the end of the driveway. As the owners stated, “The green roofed woodshed just seemed like a fun thing to do. Actually most of it was fun!”

A blueberry hedge growing along the east fence was successfully planted over a buried wood swale. This has proven beneficial in helping the soil retain much needed moisture. In fact, permaculture principals dominated much of the design, with beauty, food production, and privacy playing a key role. I think you’ll agree John and Erin have succeeded and have provided the community with a lovely example of what can be done with a simple, empty space.

Garden of the Month: July 2015

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Driving past 128 Wimer Street I often admired the beautifully landscaped front garden and the lovely home rising up from the street, but my eyes were always drawn to what lay just beyond the home. A tall deer fenfrontce marked the back garden and what appeared to be two “sheep” standing among the roses. I just knew there had to be something special behind that gate.

I met with Cindy Barnard, the owner, and was able to get a closer look at her garden and meet the not-so-real sheep that guard it. What I do know, is that there are no words to adequately describe the beauty of the landscaping or any pictures that can capture what you’ll find there. What I can tell you is that the yard holds two majestic trees – a Coastal Redwood (planted approximately 1906), a Douglas Fir and a stately oak – that have been there for many years. The Conrad and Lavina Mingus home, built in the late 1880’s, and at the time nestled in the middle of a small fruit and nut orchard, was originally designed to accommodate the harvesting.Pic 2

Cindy bought the home in 2006 and in 2007 began planning an extensive remodel.  Joanne Krippaehne (Madrone Architecture, Ashland)  was the architect chosen to redesign the home and Kerry Kencairn, the landscape architect, who, with the involvement of Cindy’s son, Seth Barnard of Solid Ground Landscaping, turned this property into the inviting garden it is today. After several planning workshops and sessions, the concept simplified into:  “bring the outdoors in and the indoors out.”  But, even as the project grew more complex than originally anticipated, it is now easy to believe that Cindy wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.Pic 3

The garden, originally on the Spring 2009 AAUW garden tour, contains a variety of trees and plants – old fashioned quince, a new Asian persimmon and two fig trees, hydrangeas, peonies, berry bushes, roses, hostas and so many others, too numerous to mention. After recently spending winter days at Hidcote  garden and Yew Garden in England, Cindy found joy in the winter color included in those beds and, after lawn removal, added a beautyberry bush (genus Callicarpa) to her back garden.   A thriving hand-watered vegetable garden and three compost piles take up a sunny location in the back of the property.

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Submitted by: Kaaren Anderson

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Garden of the Month: June 2015

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The lovingly tended VictoriaB Street 1n house at 386 B Street, at the corner of Third, is now surrounded by colorful gardens.  After purchasing the 1886 house in 2011, the current homeowners replanted the front in 2013 with design and labor by Banyan Tree Landscape and the back in 2014 with partial design and labor by Sage Hill Landscape.  But the gardeners who live there are having fun developing the gardens themselves.

B Street 2The gorgeous colors in the front and side, including an extra wide planting strip B Sreet 5between the sidewalk and Third Street were chosen to blend with paint colors of the house—blues, pinks, purples, and whites.  They were also chosen to provide color throughout the early spring through late fall, with heather blooming first, then lobelia, then phlox, and finally germander and thyme.  Dwarf daphne, laveB Sreet 3nder, and Santa Barbara daisy add to the colorful display in season.  They have also added trees; peely-bark maple, crepe myrtle, Japanese maple, redbud, magnolia, and dogwood—a few of which are still struggling to get thoroughly established.  All of the plantings outside the fence are drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.

There are recirculating water features in front and back, statues of Buddha and Mary, metal sculpture cranes, and other eye-catching elements throughout the garden.

B Sreet 4Older, larger trees on the property include box elder, walnut, and cedar.  They have added olive trees at the side and back.  Near their guest cottage, there is a gorgeous smoke tree  (cotinus “Golden Spirit”) in a huge pot with oregano that spills over the side later in the season.  In the side-back area executed by Sage Hill Landscaping, they have added arborvitae to increase privacy and also passion vine, pomegranate, Phormium atropurpureum, Stipa tenuissima, hops, Agastache “Firebird,” Salvia “Hot Lips.”

by Carol Walker