Tag Archives: Ashland Oregon Community Pride

Garden of the Month: August 2021

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House of Thai – 1667 Siskiyou Blvd

The August 2021 Garden of the Month from the Ashland Garden Club is the front of the House of Thai restaurant at 1667 Siskiyou Blvd.  The restaurant opened in May of 1989, after remodeling the building and starting the garden.

In the mid 80’s, Jit Kanchanakaset, a single mother of five came to Ashland in search of a safe, peaceful life her for family.  A strong-willed, energetic, and hardworking woman, she recruited her kids to help establish the eatery, and then later its garden. 

Ten years later, she met and married Phil Crompton.  They spent much of their time doing what they enjoyed most, gardening and giving back to the village in Buriram, Thailand where she grew up, by donating to schools, hospitals, and underprivileged families.  Jit passed on in April 2020.

The garden has evolved over time with gradual improvements.  There are large, well-established ponderosa pines along the eastern edge.  Gorgeous rhododendrons bloom beneath the pines in May.  Much smaller crepe myrtle trees line the western edge and bloom in August.  In between are a small fishpond and waterfall that were constructed by the contractor who was remodeling the building.  Blue herons have been known to visit the pond, hoping to catch the elusive fish.  Also there is a small lawn, plus a stunning Buddhist shrine. 

The colorful concrete and steel shrine, said to weigh 1000 pounds, was installed a little more than twenty years ago. Jit’s legacy lives on through her family as they continue her traditions while carrying on the restaurant. The family and staff offer respect to the shrine every Friday morning, honoring the house spirits and summoning goodwill.

Article by: Ruth Sloan, AGC Garden of the Month Committee Chair

Photos by Larry Rosengren.

Garden(s) of the Month: June 2021

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The Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for June 2021 is unusual.  It’s unusual because it is three gardens and unusual because they are back gardens.  Gardens selected for GotM honors must be substantially visible from the public right-of-way (street or sidewalk ordinarily) so that usually means front gardens.  These three back gardens qualify because they are visible from Ashland Creek Park (on Hersey near Oak) and these three are all in a row. 

Directions: From Hersey Street, walk along the right (east) side of the park about half way from front to back and watch for signs.  Please stay in the park.  You will see some gorgeous gardens.

The first (geographically) of the selected gardens is the furthest south of the three; the back garden of Deborah and Jeff Wihtol of 589 Oak Street.  They started their garden with a rounded patio and gently winding path that Jeff designed.  Then in 2017 the Wihtols had Solid Ground Landscaping plan and install most of the plants.  Since then, they’ve made changes on their own.  The recent loss of a large box elder tree brought more sun to the south side of the garden than it had in the past, to which they are adjusting.  And most recently they arranged for Jane Hardgrove to refresh the landscape and accommodate the new sun situation.  Among Deb’s favorite plants are hydrangeas, daphne odora, cape fuchsia, and orange sedge.  Routine maintenance is by Juan Guerrero.

Wihtol Garden
Wihtol Garden

The second selected garden belongs to Ursula and Marvin Webster of 603 Oak Street whose historic 1897 home influenced plant selections.  Sage Hill Landscape installed the hardscape and initial plantings in back following guidance from the Websters.  As Ursula put it, “What would grandma do?” was her guiding principle.  A massive trumpet vine, stone walls, ivy, and treasured perennials survive from the house’s earliest days.  Among her favorites are plants that she considers “romantically old fashioned” such as hydrangea, peonies, erigeron, and catmint.  The hillside setting dictated stairs, and aspen trees thrive in the lowest parts of the garden, nearest the park.  Their quaking leaves add movement to the garden.  Ursula handles routine maintenance with assistance from Juan Guerrero.  The small building at the back of the garden is a straw-bale office built by EcoNest.

Webster Garden
Webster Garden

The third selected garden belongs to Susan McKennon of 615 Oak Street.  The yard is dominated by a huge old oak that some believe is the tree for which Oak Street was named.  That mighty tree is a picture of health thanks to Susan’s care and Canopy’s regular maintenance.  Her dazzling stand of iris stems from an early gift from Schreiners, friends of the family—well known for iris cultivation. Susan brought the iris starts from a previous home.  Solid Ground designed the landscape in 2013, bringing in tons of boulders to stabilize the steep terrain and installing stairs to help people negotiate the hill between the house and the park.  Solid Ground brought in many trees except the old oak, including Japanese maples and a dwarf gingko.  A friend’s gift of an elderberry bush draws attention at this time of year with its dark purple foliage and pale pink flowers.  Rudolpho Ramirez and his crew maintain this garden.

McKennon Garden
McKennon Garden
McKennon’s Tree viewed from Webster’s Garden

Article by: Ruth Sloan, AGC Garden of the Month Director

All photos by Larry Rosengren

Garden of the Month: May 2021

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The Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for May is Sue and Tim Cate’s at 471 Parkside Drive.  As the neighbor who nominated the garden wrote, “It shows nicely from the street, but when looked at more closely the artistry of ground cover is evident, as is the balance.  Without symmetry yet with plant forms and different species, there is a very graceful balance to the whole place. “

The Cates had their home built in 1995.  They developed the garden themselves, beginning shortly after the house was completed.  While Sue contributes ideas, Tim does all the work, spending four to five hours a week on average.  He suggests that every gardener should maintain a garden diary for at least one year, to remind themselves what chores need to be done and when it is best to add new plantings.  From his garden diary, Tim was able to create a comprehensive list of when each plant is at its peak.  They have constructed arbors to create outdoor rooms and provide shade as well as trellises for trumpet vine, akebia, and honeysuckle.

Among Sue’s favorite plants is the crabapple tree, which she especially likes when the blooms are at the bud stage as they are now.    Both Cates love the mature redbud that dominates the front yard and was recently pruned.

With thanks to Myrl Bishop for the suggestion.

Article by: Ruth Sloan

Photos by Larry Rosengren

Heirloom Garden, N. Mt. Park Ashland, OR

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Ashland Garden Club member’s cleaned out loads of debris at North Mountain Park’s Heirloom Garden Today. AGC member’s meet monthly to tend this lovely garden. Photos by: Lynn McDonald, AGC Member

Garden of the Month: Sept. 2020

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Several times recently the selection committee was asked why the wonderful property at 100/120 Sixth Street has not been a Garden of the Month.  It’s because we thought it already had been.  We started noticing it as soon as the owners started planting.  But they were going along deliberately slowly and, at first, many of the plantings seemed much the same size.  Although it was wonderful, we thought we’d wait until more things matured.  Then, the next thing we knew, it was an established part of the neighborhood and we just assumed it had already been acknowledged.  Now that is corrected.  Cory Ross and Greg Conaway’s delightful garden is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for September.

September 2020 photo by Larry Rosengren

The couple never involved a professional landscape designer and really never drew up their own comprehensive plan.  But they did have a family history of gardening; the help and advice of friends and neighbors (most consistently Edward Madson); sensible ideas for how to make the landscape work (such as cooling south walls on buildings); and, most importantly, artistic tendencies.September 2020 photo by Larry Rosengren

Conaway and Ross purchased the church, its outbuildings and parking lot at the corner of Sixth and C in late 2013, then proceeded to convert the church into their home and build a secondary living unit next door, now occupied by friends.  Before the construction was complete they started to garden in the parking strip with low water-use plants after removing the thirsty grass that was there—utilizing the City of Ashland’s Lawn Replacement Program.  They have in all a third of an acre in the heart of the railroad district.September 2020 photo by Larry Rosengren

In 2017 they installed a deer fence and started in earnest planting what was essentially a blank slate with nothing but three trees inside the fence.   They started by adding favorite shade and fruit trees.  Then added roses with sentimental attachment such as Jacob’s Coat, Mr. Lincoln, and Double Delight.  Since then they’ve been given Lady Banks and Cecile Bruner roses that they also love, as well as many other plants that generous gardeners shared.September 2020 photo by Larry Rosengren

They plant to encourage birds and insect pollinators.  Sunflowers abound in season, growing up to 7’ tall in berms and 2’ tall in the flats that still have much gravel from days it was the church parking lot.  Raised beds now support edibles.September 2020 photo by Larry Rosengren

They’ve had success with kiwis, Japanese maples, a smoke tree, trident maple, lots of berries and apples as well as many natives.  Cory says that California poppies are their “cover crop” but that she would like to try a wildflower variety in the future.  She calls it a “survival of the fittest” garden:  When something works, they plant more; if it doesn’t, they try something else.Spring 2020 photo by Cory Ross

Both Cory and Greg average several hours per week working in the yard.  They have occasional help with major digging projects and seasonal cleanup.  They find the work peaceful and relaxing.  Here’s a link to a gorgeous video they produced for the virtual pollinator garden tour this year:  https://youtu.be/qALT2GMi8Rg.  Looking at it now, it’s hard to recognize that this garden has been here such a short time.September 2020 photo by LarryRosengren

Spring 2020 photo by Cory Ross

With thanks to Kristina LeFever for the nudge.

Article by: Ruth Sloan, Garden of the Month Coordinator

Walk Ashland

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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