Member Goly Ostovar shares her summer flowers.
Sacred Datura, planted from seed. Flowers open in a half hour window from bud stage to full bloom at dusk, they have a heavenly aroma and last for a day.
Canna lilies are putting on new shoots.
Garden of the Month: 825 Creek Stone Way
At the end of a cul-de-sac in Mountain Meadows is a charming and whimsical garden. The sign out front says Donna’s garden, and in the Spring,it is full of flowers and the occasional bunny. Donna Ritchie moved to Ashland in 2000 with her husband Dean. Originally, their home was on the slope towards the North of town, but in 2012, after Dean’s death, Donna moved to her current home at 825 Creek Stone Way in the Mountain Meadows community.
Donna, a retired English teacher, has always loved “pretty things.” When she first moved in, the garden was quite bland, with just a few shrubs in the front. Over time, Donna, with Denise Moffat, her garden helper, has planted lots of colorful perennials and bulbs. Even after our major snowfall in February, the front garden in late February was full of color. Primroses, miniature daffodils, crocus and violas were blooming aside the path and in shiny blue pots near the front porch. One of the most interesting plants, a dwarf iris, is an early bloomer. These irises, called Iris reticulata, are dark purple, with designs on their falls.
Beside colorful flowering perennials, and lavenders that bloom later, Donna has added a collection of bunnies, which perch here and there in the garden and on the porch. Donna says these are “bunnies”, not rabbits, because rabbits are what folks eat! These charming bunnies range in size from as large as a small child to as small as a mouse. Folks coming by to view the flowers should see if they can find the smaller bunnies, hidden amongst the plants.
Donna’s garden is irrigated during the hot months by drip irrigation and micro sprays. Plants in pots need to be hand watered. Donna is grateful for the rain, and even the snow, which has kept her plants watered this Spring.
Choosing the right plant and planting it in the right spot in your garden is a difficult decision, but you can be assured you are buying the right plant suited for your garden by checking the hardiness zone on its label. By buying plants rated for your hardiness zone you’ve increased the plant’s survival rate and its ability to thrive in your garden.
This is true for vegetable seeds too. Each seed packet has the plant’s hardiness zone printed on the back.
Ashland has 3 hardiness zones: 7b, 8a, 8b. Check your zone by location here: https://www.plantmaps.com/en/us/f/hz/state/oregon/plant-hardiness-zones
Also, be ware that nurseries and stores sell plants that are not rated for the climate where they are being sold.
Ashland Garden Club’s Community Service: Thanks to all who helped purchase and plant 80+ new lavenders in N. Mountain Park’s Heirloom Garden. October 8, 2024
Bill Viki Carol Lynn
You make long lasting friends with fellow plant lovers when you are a member of the Ashland Garden Club ~
Ashland Garden Club Annual Dues: $25 a year for an Individual / $35 for Household. Membership applications are found under the ” Membership” tab on this website.
December 4th member’s met at the Bellview Grange to celebrate the Holidays! Member’s were introduced to Yurritzy, and her parents, who received our Rogue Community College Scholarship. The room was decorated with wreaths made by club members, colorful tables full of entrees, salads and desserts and lively festive entertainment was provided by Jeff and Julian Jones, of Generation Jones.
