Tag Archives: Ashland Oregon Garden Club

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

Garden of the Month: June 2020

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Near Hunter Park

There is a spectacular garden near Hunter Park that is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for June.  The residents have lived there for 40 years, and had done smaller renovations in the past.

The owners re-landscaped about three years ago after they incorporated the back of another property nearby.  The property boundary was legally redrawn at that time.  The result is a very large garden, especially for the neighborhood.

Laurie Sager, Solid Ground Landscaping, and Tim Ferguson did the work in 2017.  The workmanship throughout the property is exquisite:  The metal and wood work of fencing and gates, the concrete retaining walls, and the gorgeous stone walkways and patios are impeccable.  The deep red color of the metal is unexpected and just right.

An unusual feature is a geometric pattern of concrete pavers beneath a Japanese maple tree surrounded by “Brass Buttons” ground cover.  A charming blue star creeper surrounds stone pavers in the front.

A large Liriodendron (tulip tree) dominates the front yard and a Douglas fir shades portions of the back.  Most of the mature rhododendrons are holdovers from earlier gardens here.  Ornamental grasses are placed judiciously, particularly in front.  Peonies are featured in front and back.  A wonderfully diverse selection of plants are perfectly placed throughout the yard.

Article by: Ruth Sloan, AGC Member

Photos by: Larry Rosengren.

Garden of the Month: September 2019

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110 8th Street – Ashland, Oregon

The selection committee for the Ashland Garden Club’s garden of the month program first noticed the beautiful garden at the corner of C and 8th streets over a year ago.   When we went by again in September 2018 we knew we had our September 2019 Garden of the Month.  By September, most gardens are starting to fade, at least, and some are downright shabby, but not Kelly and Jeff Straub’s gorgeous place at 110 8th Street.  Kelly’s diligent work shows to good advantage all year.  She keeps the planting areas well groomed, and always a delight to see with blooming plants.

The Straubs purchased the property only two-and-a-half years ago.  In the short time since then, she has transformed the neglected yard into a showplace.  In the interim, she broke first one wrist and then the other, making the work doubly difficult.  But she has had help.  Neighbor Jack Crawford has been instrumental with assistance, as a source of seeds for many of the plants that grace the garden, and for design consultation with Kelly.  Jane Hardgrove of Bearclaw Services designed the back garden which is also gorgeous if somewhat more utilitarian with patios and raised beds for produce.  Until recently when City of Ashland crews finally solved the problem, the Straubs also had to cope with flooding following serious rain storms.

A special quality of this property is that the “parking strip” (the area between the sidewalk and the street) is especially wide, making the sidewalk appear to go right through the heart of the front and side yards.  This does two things:  It makes the parking strip more versatile as a desirable planting space and it also makes pedestrians feel a part of the garden.  Being a block from a popular coffee shop also increases foot traffic, and Kelly enjoys interacting with passersby as she works in the garden.  Understandably, she gets a lot of positive feedback.

The stunning display of coreopsis is just coming to an end this year, but the rudbeckia, echinacea, and gaillardia are still going strong and their similar flower form makes an interesting combination.  Earlier in the year, foxglove put on a fabulous show, and hellebores star in the winter.  Zinnias are a standout in the back yard, where they are protected from deer.

Other favorites include daphne, euphorbia, catmint, erysium, and bee balm.  A vibrant purple, walkable verbena stands out in and around the walkway from C Street.  Even the small area around the fire hydrant on the corner is lush with low succulents.

The street tree on the C side is mimosa which is blooming now.  Other especially large trees on the property include cedar and ponderosa pine.  A dogwood is one of the few smaller holdovers from previous owners, and the Straubs recently added a crepe myrtle.

Article by: AGC Member Ruth Sloan Photos by: Larry Rosengren