Tag Archives: Ashland Oregon Gardens

Garden of the Month: July 2025

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837 Glendower

At dawn the gardens at 837 Glendower lie in serene splendor, the curved pathways empty. But soon daybreak will bring the first ray of sunshine illuminating a water droplet suspended on a spider web, a petal unfurling in the warmth, a butterfly weaving between the flowers, a bumblebee tumbling in the pollen, a tabby strutting down the path. A virtual metropolis of activity.

Watch for Neena’s fluffy canine peering through the window keeping an eye out for deer. Photo by Elizabeth Essex1

It’s hard to imagine but when Neena Barreto purchased the property in 2021 the ground was choked with crab grass and a single row of maples bordered the street. Due to their invasive root system and because their limbs encroached upon the power lines, Neena decided to have them removed by the City providing her with multiple opportunities for garden design.

Slowly a vision took shape and berms were created sheltering the residence from street traffic and adding privacy for the small patio where hot chai might be served on a cool morning. Pathways wind their way through the beds and around the corner to include the side yard bordering Tudor Street. Large flat-topped boulders were thoughtfully sited to take advantage of their view lines. At sunset Neena enjoys a view of Mount Ashland.

The maples were replaced with trees of a smaller stature including dwarf, slow growing Bosnian Pine (Pinus leucodermis) and Weeping Norway Spruce (Picea abies ‘pendula’) which anchor the raised beds. These are interspersed with Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) and Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica). A pair of Japanese Maples mark the front entry and Sawtooth Zelkova (Zelkova serrata) stand on either side of the driveway. These deciduous selections ensure a spectacular display of fall color.

The Persian Parrotia’s intriguing form offers fabulous foliage from spring through fall.                              Photo by Elizabeth Essex

Neena had moved to Oregon in 2019 with virtually no plant background but as a hiker she started paying attention to what grew and thrived here. Manzanita had always been one of her favorites. She already knew that her goal was to incorporate as many native, fire-wise and low maintenance plants as possible. Hence it was only natural for Neena to seek out Plant Oregon. Working with David Bish and Jenny Black, Neena expanded her plant selection to include specimens that provided year-round nectar and pollen for butterflies, moths, bees, wasps and hummingbirds. She was also advised to have a range of flower colors, shapes and sizes.

 Broad-leafed evergreen shrubs include Neena’s favorite Manzanita together with Mahonia and Garrya (both Coastal and Fremonts). A fig tree, flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicaum), a butterfly bush (Buddleia spp.) and a stunning Blue Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) are deciduous accents. Evergreen ground cover including Creeping Rosemary (Rosmarinus prostratus), Nandina, and Heather (Erica ‘King George) and several ornamental grasses are set out throughout the raised beds ensuring visual interest after the perennials have been pruned back for the winter.

Blue Elderberry showcases creamy white flowers in the spring and blue black berries in the fall.

On a recent visit it was evident from the industrious activity of butterflies and bees that the variety of perennials planted was to their liking! Purple and red salvias, blue rosemary, penstemon and calamintha, yellow Oregon Sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum), orange and lavender hyssop (Agastache aurantiaca), California fuchsia (Zauschneria or Epilobium canum) all provide a virtual feast for pollinators on their journey. Their thirst satiated by a sip from a glass water dish.

Multiple Weeping Norway Spruce are featured in the garden.                                         Photo by Elizabeth Essex

Altogether, the placement of trees, shrubs and perennials creates a pleasing rhythm of textures, colors and shapes. Even more significant perhaps is that already three generations have become integral to this story. Both Neena’s parents have added items of interest to the landscape and graduation pictures with her three sons were recently taken with the garden as a backdrop. Neena says that creating and maintaining her garden has brought her new found joy. It is a natural expression of who she is and her love of the natural world is evident for any passerby to enjoy.

Neena and her father enjoy a time-out together in the garden.   Photo by Antonio Barreto

Those seeking out the July 2025 Garden of the Month are encouraged to drive a little further down Glendower to the trailhead leading to the Ashland Pond where an extensive restoration project took place following the Almeda Fire in 2020. Native and riparian plant material was contributed by many local organizations, including Ashland Garden Club, and planted by Lomakatsi’s crew and inter-tribal workforce through a contract with The Freshwater Trust.

The Ashland Garden Club has been selecting Gardens of the Month from April through September since 2000. Nominations are gratefully received at aogardenclub@gmail.com. Check out the club’s website at ashlandorgardenclub.org for information on meeting times and places.

Article by: Elizabeth Essex, Ashland Garden Club

AGC Garden of the Month: April 2025

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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.

Observing Fall Migratory Birds and Garden Delights

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Fall migratory birds are starting to show up in my garden. I saw this Black headed grosbeaks at the feeder today. Rufous hummingbirds are competing with Anna’s in the garden. Rufous Hummingbirds travel from breeding grounds in Alaska and Canada to wintering sites in Mexico. All critters seems to be enjoying a bit of cool air, And finally the vegetable garden seems to be relaxing from the intense heat and starting to produce. I had a lot of male flowers on the cucumber plants, and finally I am getting some female flowers and some cucumbers.
Goly Ostovar, AGC Member

Garden of the Month: June 2024

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891 Beswick Way, Ashland Oregon

There is an extraordinary garden at 891 Beswick Way, home of Scott Allison.  Scott is a naturalist, forester, orchardist, and apiarist.  This is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for June 2024.  At nearly a half acre, the property is unusually large in this part of town.  It is unusual for other qualities too, such as the variety of plant specimens and the seriousness of the gardener.  Scott has lived and gardened here for 24 years.

In addition to his large garden in Ashland, Scott is developing 13 acres in rural Talent, two acres of which he has already planted as an orchard.  A retired contractor, Scott devotes a lot of time to tending his land.  He estimates that he averages 15 hours per week on just the Beswick Way property.

The grand Sequoia tree in the front draws a lot of attention.  Recently, Scott’s dog Levi alerted him to the presence of a large bear high in this tree in the middle of the night.  In fact large trees, including two coastal redwoods, ring the property although he finds plenty of sunny places to grow plants that are sun-loving.

Scott does almost all the work himself as well as all the design aspects of the landscape.  The enclosure for a vegetable garden was sited, designed, and primarily built by him.  The decorative top of the fence is made of short eucalyptus branches that mimic the bamboo on the gate and as edging in the front yard.  Asian-inspired solar light fixtures top the fencepost.  A fabulous birdbath/fountain was made by his friend, the artist Joanne Chase.

In addition to the vegetable enclosure, Scott built raised beds for more veggies out of Faswall on recommendation from his friends at EcoNest.  Christie Mackinson of Shooting Star Nursery has provided advice on plant choices.

Scott especially loves peonies, and has become more interested in recent years in medicinal plants and herbs.  Because he tends bees, Scott specializes in bee-friendly plants.

With thanks to Marilyn Love ( AGC Member) for helping me really appreciate this garden.

Article & Photos by Ruth Sloan, AGC Garden of the Month Chairperson

Garden on the Month: April 2024

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The condo complex called Ridgeview Place is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for April 2024.  The 12-unit development faces Mountain Avenue just southwest of the corner with East Main Street.  The five homes that are numbers 51 through 59 face the street and the other seven homes are behind.  The complex was built in 2015 by KDA Homes.  KDA’s owner, Laz Ayala, hired landscape architect Laurie Sager (now Thornton) for the initial design.

Photo by Ruth Sloan
Photo by Jeffrey Seideman

Since then, owners have taken opportunities to express their individuality, occasionally with professional help.  Note, for example, the wonderful use of magnolias to heighten the screening from the street at numbers 51 and 59.

Photo by: Ruth Sloan

The use of yuccas along Mountain Avenue, part of the original design by Sager, provide a unifying theme and present a stunning sight when in full bloom each summer.  Boxwoods, choisya, day lilies, and daphne were also liberally specified.  Common areas are maintained by Miguel Cabrera and his crew from Promack Landscaping.

Photo by Larry Rosengren
Photo by: Ruth Sloan

Each unit has a private patio where owners can plant whatever they want.  Other changes must be approved by the homeowners Board.  A fountain was added later for the soothing sound and lovely sight.

Photo by Jeffrey Seideman

Article by Ruth Sloan, AGC Garden of the Month Chairperson