Today in Two Ashland Oregon Gardens

Viki Ashford’s Garden: Red Tulips (above)

Carlotta Lucas’ Garden: On a snowy April day…

‘Betty’ Magnolia

Firewise Plant: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Point Reyes’

Plant Name:  Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Point Reyes’
Common name:  Point Reyes Bearberry Manzanita
Plant type: Groundcover
Height: 12” – 18”
Spread: 1’ – 6’
Bloom Time:  Winter – Spring
Flower Color: Pink
Exposure: Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well Draining; Tolerant of Most Soil Types.
Water Needs: Low to Moderate
Attributes:  Insects & Hummingbirds Attracted to Flowers; Fruit & Seed Eating Birds Attracted to Fruit ; Deer Resistant.
Firewise:  YES; Zone 5 – Plant 60’+ from House.
Note:  Prune in Early Spring as Needed to Contain Spread.
Uses:  Slope Stabilizer; Bee, Bird, Hummingbird Gardens; Lawn Substitute.
Native to: Alaska to Canada to Western United States
Oregon Native:   YES

USDA Hardiness Zone:  6 – 10

 

 

Article by Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

 

Photos by OSU https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/arctostaphylos-uva-ursi-point-reyes

Firewise Plant: Aurinia saxatilis (Basket-of-Gold)

Plant Name:  Aurinia saxatilis
0Common name:  Basket-of-Gold
Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  8” – 18”
Plant Width:  1’ – 2’
Bloom Time: April – May
Flower Color:  Gold to Light Yellow
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Average to Sandy, Well-Drained Soil; Intolerant of Clay Soil.
Water Needs: Low
Fire Resistant:  YES; Zone 8 = 30’+ from house.
Attributes: Attracts Butterflies; Deer Resistant; Showy Flower; Drought Tolerant; Nectar Source for Beneficial Insects.
Uses:  Rock Gardens; Ground Cover; Border Fronts.
Note:  Prune After Flowering to Maintain Shape; Possible Aphid Problem.
Native to: Central & Southeastern Europe
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 7

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member/ Master Gardener

Photo credit: Meneerke bloem, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons