Photo by: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Common name: Western columbine
Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
Height: 2’ – 3’
Spread: 1’
Bloom Time: Late Spring to August
Flower Color: Red, Yellow
Exposure: Full Sun to Deep Shade
Soil Requirements: Good Drainage, Organic Material
Water Needs: Low to Moderate; irrigate once a month once established
Attributes: Nectar in Flower Blooms are appealing to Hummingbirds;
Seed Heads provide Bird Food; Deer Resistant; Supports Bats, Birds, Butterflies, Caterpillars
Note: Self-sows, but Deadheading controls spread
Uses: Containers; Native Plant Gardens; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Firewise: YES
Native to: Lower 48 state, Alaska, Canada
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9
Plant Name: Allium acuminatum Common Name: Hooker’s onion Plant type : Deciduous Perennial Herb Height: 0’ – 2’ Spread: 0’ – 1’ Bloom Time: May – July Flower Color: Purple, White, Pin Exposure: Sun to Part Shade Soil Requirements: Dry, well-drained; sandy/loamy Water Needs: Occasional Summer Water Attributes: Bulblets reproduce easily; strong onion smell; deer resistant; attracts pollinators: bats, butterflies, birds; nectar source for butterflies Note: Flowers appear on long stalks after leaves have died; goes dormant in summer after going to seed Uses: Rock Garden; Dry Open Meadows; Habitat Restoration; Green Roof Native to: Western United States Oregon Native: YES USDA Hardiness Zone 5 – 9
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
Miriam Weissberg’s creativity and love of color shows throughout her garden at 2025 Green Meadows Way. This is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for September 2024.
Photo by Miriam Weissberg, August 2023
When Miriam and her late husband Rob first moved to the property in 2018, the front yard was mostly grass and the back yard was dominated by blank space for an above-ground pool that the previous owner removed. Miriam and Rob planned and gardened together until he passed away in 2023. Now Miriam does all the designing and fine-tuning in the garden.
Photo by Miriam Weissberg, August 2023
Carlos and Pam Maya do much of the routine maintenance and larger projects. Miriam estimates that among herself, Carlos and Pam, they spend an average of about 18 hours per month on the garden.
Photo by Ruth Sloan, August 2024
Although she has access to TID water, she doesn’t use it very much because she didn’t want to design a landscape that would be reliant on water that is available such a small fraction of the year. She figures that, with added hardscape and drought tolerant plants, she uses less water than was the case when they moved in. The zoned irrigation system employs about two-thirds drip lines.
Flower beds and walkways in the back yard replacing pool site. Photo by Ruth Sloan, August 2024
Deck stairs with edging for safety, painted and photo by Miriam Weissberg. June 2019
Miriam’s advice to other gardeners is to try different things and see what works best given the many factors in your garden. Also, to encourage maximum blooming, keep your plants well pruned.
Photo by Miriam Weissberg, October 2023
Among her favorite plants are verbena and roses. In the recent past, she has planted many annuals, including beloved zinnias, to add color with the knowledge that her choices don’t require much water. This year, she didn’t have time to plant her usual annuals but the garden is still lovely.
Photo by Ruth Sloan, August 2024
Article by Ruth Sloan, AGC Garden of the Month With thanks to Marilyn Love for bringing this garden to my attention.
