Horticulture Report: Douglas Spirea

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

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

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

Photos by: Lucretia Weems

Oregon Native: Rhamnus californica (Coffeeberry)

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)

Today in the Garden

‘Teddy Bear’ Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), Easy to grow Annual, Full sun, Well-drained soil, Semi-Drought Tolerant: Water deeply when top 2 inches of soil is dry,  Height: 18-24 inches, Flowers: 3-6 inches unique double blooms (pompom-style) Color: Deep golden yellow, Attracts: Pollinators, Provides seeds for Birds

Photos by: Carlotta Lucas, AGC Member