Hardy from USDA Zones 3-9. Drought Tolerant, Deer proof plant
Today in the Garden
Tag Archives: local gardens
Today in the garden
Garden of the Month: July 2019
1313 Clay Street
The Country Willows Inn, at 1313 Clay Street, is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for July. It is an extraordinary property, five acres in all, that has been lovingly developed by Kara and Dan Burian since they purchased the property in 2010. The original farmhouse dates to 1896. They added the small picturesque barn near the entrance to the property and have converted the original barn mostly to lodging space.
Dan, who has a keen eye for design, has directed the many landscape projects, relying on Sage Hill for hardscape installation, Karen Marshall of Naturescapes Designs for plant selection and design advice, Jenny Kuehnle of Ahimsa Gardens for maintenance of the raised beds and container plantings, and L&M for lawn, orchard, and planting bed maintenance. Every project has been created with pollinators in mind. They recently added a birding program to the list of amenities that they offer at the Inn.
The Burians have enhanced ponds and streams. They are working assiduously to convert open pastures into wildflower meadows, battling native grasses that want to dominate. Right now in the garden, hydrangea, gaura, lilies, agapanthus, and crocosmia are at their best. In the Spring, rhododendrons, weeping cherry trees, and Spring wildflowers abound. At other times, the lavender, ornamental grasses, and blueberries are sensational. The willow tree is always majestic.
In an effort to assure privacy and tranquility for guests of the Inn, they ask that Ashlanders hoping to see the gardens call first to schedule a convenient and non-disruptive time. See more beautiful photographs and learn more about the Country Willows Inn at their website: https://countrywillowsinn.com/.
June Garden Tour
A Gathering of Gardeners Passionate About Growing Things in Ashland, Oregon
On Monday club members toured six member’s gardens and discovered the creativity, passion and diversity in each member’s landscaping style! The tour included two small gardens tastefully landscaped with flowering plants & art, a medium-sized garden revamped and transformed into an tranquil garden, a splendid pollinator & waterwise garden full of color and pollinators, a lovely Ashland hills landscape surrounded by trees with lots of rockery and cool private sitting areas, and a colorful English-style garden nestled along a babbling creek.
It was a beautiful fun day.
Garden of the Month: June 2019
265 Ohio Street
There are several nice garden surprises at the unpaved end of Ohio Street, northwest of Laurel. One is the fabulous garden and fence at 265 Ohio Street. This garden, designed and maintained by Gene Leyden, is the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for June. This is a naturally wet parcel (note the giant pond next door) where dampness- and shade-loving plants thrive and carefully placed sun-loving plants also flourish. Gene planted the willow tree, now enormous (14 feet in circumference!), when she moved in with her family in 1987, transporting it to the site from the nursery in the back of the Volkswagon bus. Garden observers can walk or drive down the alley to the right of the house to get more views.
In addition to the prospering plant life, there are remarkably beautiful constructions by Gene’s friend, the artist and carpenter Nathan Sharples. Look carefully at the gorgeous fence, installed only three years ago. Note the unusual wooden screen door. Now catch a glimpse of the fabulous gazebo in what appears to be the back yard but is actually the front of the house which was moved to this location shortly before Gene moved in. Sharples built the gazebo of many species of wood, rarely using straight planks, but fitting curved pieces together with exquisite workmanship. Multicolor glass in clerestory windows adds light to the interior.
Also salted throughout the garden are sculptures by Gene’s friend Cheryl Garcia, as well as other items of interest.
Gene has the advantage of access to Helman ditch water. She has had to amend the soil over the years because the site was ill-used before she (and the house) arrived. She refers to it as a “wild garden” that reseeds itself each year and “does its own thing.”. She insists that she doesn’t spend as much time working on it as its beauty suggests, and she does have help now with weeding and mowing. Gene says she has a special fondness for fragrance in the garden and chooses many plants on that basis, including roses, jasmine and nicotiana.
Among the many highlights in the garden are a selection of huge hostas loving their location under the willow, Lady Banks and Cecile Brunner roses climbing through the vegetation, and a smoke tree and smoke bush lending their rich dark foliage as contrast to the riot of greens plus colorful blossoms. There’s a little bit of everything here. This is clearly the work of people of great imagination, especially the primary gardener.
Article by: Ruth Sloan
Garden of the Month: May 2019
164 Sixth Street, Ashland OR
There is a special quality to the gardens at 164 Sixth Street, the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for May. It’s not just that children are so welcome and comfortable here and that plants seem always to be blooming, but that they are such interesting combinations of plants and hardscape. This is Karen Loop’s garden, where she has lived for 25 years, raised her two children–now adults, and has run a preschool, Sunflower Cottage, for 18 years.
Over the years, Karen planted everything on the property except the street tree, and created every pathway, planting bed, deck, and fence. Ten truckloads of soil were brought in. She collects heart-shaped stones that are displayed throughout. With both help and hindrance from young children, Karen maintains the garden with three-to-four hours a week of work, on average. The bare spot on the right side of the front yard is destined to be a tiny patio when Karen has recovered from a back injury.
This is a magical space where children are encouraged to explore. Right now, the dogwoods are in bloom, along with redbud, daphne, lilac, and viburnum. Among Karen’s favorite plants are peonies, feverfew, and foxglove. Camellias, Rose of Sharon, pieris, hellebore, hydrangea, and rhododendrons abound. There are beds for vegetables, blueberries, and raspberries toward the back, and play equipment in its own area.
Article by Ruth Sloan