Category Archives: AGC Garden of the Month

Garden of the Month: July 2012

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From the Street
354 Wrights Creek Drive :
A shady oak glen in front of the home of Linda and Tony Fern at 354 Wrights Creek Drive has been transformed into a colorful and imaginative, peaceful garden.  The Ferns have graciously opened their garden to Ashland Garden Club members during the entire month of July!  They ask only that you enter and exit via the wooden gate at the front, taking care to latch the gate as you arrive and depart.  The handsome iron ring twists to operate the latch. With any luck, you will catch Tony gardening. He’s out there a lot and his hard work is much in evidence.
Along the Driveway

Tony does most of the work, selecting, positioning, planting, and pruning the plants.  Initially, Bonnie Baird designed the hardscape and perimeter plantings about ten years ago, but Tony has made all the subsequent choices.  A crew comes in regularly to help with cleanup, dead-heading and raking.  Tony designed and built the front gate as well as the pergola on the left side of the house.  He designed the complex of decks, stairs and bridges at the front of the house.  The deer fence has been in for only about a year, so the garden is now only in its first year of unfettered growth but it already looks well established.

The gorgeous garden replaced a lawn that previous owners had planted.  The process of substituting the lawn took two years, accomplished about a quarter at a time to reduce shock to the oak grove that shades the property.  When the garden was being established, the Ferns had 80 yards of compost brought in.  Since then, 60-70 yards of bark have been distributed twice to help retain moisture and reduce weeds.
 The Ferns added a recirculating pump to the little waterway that follows a naturalculvert, piped under neighborhood driveways, that ultimately joins Wrights Creek.  The stream bed has been lined and artfully bordered with rocks.  Art pieces abound and colorful plant supports add to the cheerful ambiance.  Colorful flags mark spots where Tony plans to add bulbs in the Fall, knowing those plantings will not interfere with an abundance of bulbs already in place but not currently visible (wish I’d thought of that!).
Asiatic Lilies
Right now, Asiatic lilies are putting on a spectacular show throughout the garden.  Tulips and daffodils have come and gone for the year.  Perimeter plantings concentrate on natives and drought-tolerant plants, including cotoneaster, ceanothus, Oregon grape, rockrose, Russian sage, smoke tree, and manzanita.  Other parts of the garden include lilacs, daphne, Japanese maple, pieris, and Mexican orange.  Laurels include English, Portuguese, and mountain.  Redbud trees and strawberry bushes, one recently replaced, flank the inside of the front gate. Double-potted bamboo screens the hot tub.
Japanese Umbrella Tree
 Among some highly unusual
and beautiful plants are a Japanese umbrella tree and broad-leaf ceonothus.   
There are, of course, ferns—both animal and vegetable.
— Ruth Sloan

Garden of the Month: June 2012

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1390 Romeo St.:  AGC members can preview this AAUW tour garden on Friday, June 8, between 9 and 11 am at 1390 Romeo St. in the Millpond area.    (The AAUW tour is June 10 2012)

Tammy Van Eycke and Kevin Casey, relocating from Albuquerque, moved into the new home on a double lot in the summer of 2005.  They were especially attracted by the year-round Roca Creek that runs through the property and a large willow tree on its bank.
  In collaboration with Kathryn Casternovia of Elemental Design, Tammy (with some help from Kevin) has developed a half-acre miniature paradise, replete with pond and mini-waterfall (the goldfish have reproduced from 5 to 30), fruit trees, herb, vegetable, and flower gardens, roses and many other ornamentals, a grape and current arbor, kiwi arbor, hops, several types of raspberries, a strawberry-blueberry patch, and a goumi sweet scarlet berry bush.  Their two daughters, 6 and 10, enjoy pretend fishing in the pond and bouncing on a huge trampoline by the creek.
Tammy and Kevin hired Lomakatsi to restore the creek banks.  The creek now meanders prettily through the garden and into a neighborhood open space.  Carlos Sanchez helps with garden maintenance.

The property is protected by an 8-foot deer fence and lovingly created bamboo gates, but the deer still find a way in.  Everything is started in the greenhouse, and by the time of the tour, two beehives should sit near the creek.  Paving is made of reclaimed wood rounds.
When the empty lot across the street became available, Tammy and Kevin bought it with the intention of continuing its use as a community garden.  It is irrigated with well water and neighbors are welcome to use the garden as they please.  Currently it includes fruit trees, herb and vegetable gardens, and flowers.  Tammy has hired Jessie Jones to oversee the process;  massive soil amendment with horse and llama manure, compost, and straw is underway.  Tammy hopes the garden will also serve as an educational center for children and a neighborhood gathering place.
Kevin is co-owner of the Ayurvedic herbal products company, Banyan Botanicals, and Tammy is a massage therapist.
– by Julia Sommer

Garden of the Month: May 2012

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450 Lit Way:
Shannon Wolff’s beautiful garden at 450 Lit Way has been a fourteen year process. Shannon is the third generation in her family to garden in Ashland. Her grandfather moved here in the 1940s and raised vegetables on land behind the Presbyterian Church. Her mother has always had a garden, and still does, and Shannon continues her mother’s tradition of planting daphne as close to the entry of the house as possible.
When Shannon moved into her house, the roses were already growing, but not much else. Her former husband built the raised bed for vegetables on the right side of the front yard. Other than that, Shannon has done all the planning, planting, and weeding in her organic garden herself with occasional help from her son, Sam, and her daughter, Gracie, both students at Ashland High School. Shannon’s garden reflects the fact that children grew up here. A birch tree in the front lawn has a wonderful fort in it. Her daughter used to make potions from the lavender and mint still growing in abundance in the middle garden. The swing set allows a great view of the vegetable garden.
Pasque flowers (Pulsatilla) are a favorite of Shannon’s, and she has a wonderful collection, many of them from Kathy Allen’s rock garden in Central Point. Another favorite is the jasmine that covers a trellis outside the kitchen door, creating a wonderful, and delightfully scented, place to relax after a long day of teaching at the John Muir School.
 The daylilies in the front yard came from a farm Shannon visited in New England about ten years ago. They’re not blooming yet, so be sure to walk by again in June!
Shannon’s garden, including the middle garden (not visible from the street) which is brimming with strawberries, rhubarb, spring bulbs, flowering trees and shrubs, will be open for viewing from 
10:00 AM till Noon Sunday, May 6th.

submitted by:  Terry Tobey

Garden of the Month: April 2012

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826 Holly Street-
It’s daffodil time! If you are eager for a touch of spring stop by 826 Holly Street (on the corner of Liberty) and you’ll find the home and garden of Carol Walker. If you’re lucky enough to catch the sun shining, the view will be all the more golden, but just a hint of what’s to come as more buds unfold. (The pictures don’t do it justice.)

Beginning in 1994, when Carol purchased the home, there were few daffodils to be seen, only lawn and the occasional grazing deer – regretfully, now more often than occasionally. Looking for drought and deer resistant plants, Carol began with 250 daffodil bulbs ordered from White Flower Farm in Connecticut. The lawn was removed, the daffodils planted and the front yard saw the first of many improvements.

Today the yard is filled with daffodils – many different varieties to assure blooms from February into May. In addition, Carol’s front yard is planted with other deer resistant plants – lavender, rosemary (seen cascading over a small retaining wall) crocus, grape hyacinth and sage. Interspersed among these are Japanese maples, kwanzan cherry, blue spruce and a giant douglas fir ringed in Oregon grape. Pathways meander throughout inviting a closer look.

Carol, originally from Sussex England, inherited her love of gardening from her father. “Their” touch can be seen throughout, including Carol’s “Garden Art” – bits and pieces found here and there, adding charm and interest everywhere one looks.

In the back and side yards, protected from the deer by a high, elegant fence, can be found even more to make a true gardener smile – poppies, tulips, cowslip (most waiting to bloom) surround an antique bird bath, a beautifully shaped aspen and more cherry trees. The highlight – as soon as our spring warms up – is an amazing wisteria covered arbor. Carol has done nearly all of the work herself, adding more daffodils each year from local sources. No chemical sprays are ever used and water is conserved as much as possible.

You may view the front yard at any time. In addition, Carol has agreed to show her side and back gardens to AGC members on Saturday, April 14th from 11:00 to 2:00. Seeing all of this loveliness will be a great reminder that warmer, more colorful garden days are just around the corner.

by Kaaren Anderson

Garden of the Month: August 2011

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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