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the HPSO
quarterly
SPRING 2019
A PUBLICATION
OF THE HARDY
PLANT SOCIETY
OF OREGON
SPRING 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Hortlandia........................................................ 1
Letter from the Editor....................................... 2
Circle Games................................................... 3
Member Garden—
An Exceptional Gardener............................. 5
Welcome to New Members............................. 7
Member Garden—
Starting from Scratch.................................... 8
Why I Garden................................................ 10
Nursery Focus—
The Maple Lady.......................................... 12
Working in a Garden Store:
Garden Fever............................................. 14
The Many Uses of Ground Covers................ 16
Learning More About Horticulture................. 18
Plantlove!....................................................... 19
Book Review: Creating Sanctuary................. 20
A Remembrance—Mary Oliver..................... 20
Member Profile—Phillip Oliver....................... 21
Participating in the HPSO
Community Online...................................... 22
Gardening With Native Plants—
Opportunities & Barriers............................ 24
Upcoming Events ........................... back cover
front cover photo: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Leslie Peck’ in the garden of Matthew Hubbard — photo by Amy Campion
photo this page: Amy Campion’s old Kentucky garden—page 10
Plant & Garden Art Sale
80+ SPECIALTY NURSERIES & GARDEN ART VENDORS
plus book sales—art sales start at 9:00 am
plant sales 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday and Sunday
NURSERIES Highland Heather Rare Plant Research GARDEN ART Nice Nests
Humble Roots Farm Red’s Rhodies Oh-Growup
Alpine Gardens A Potter’s Garden Portland Bonsai Supply
& Nursery Rhododendron Species
Arbutus Garden Arts Albe Rustic Furniture Pumpkin Ridge Pottery
Jockey Hill Nursery Botanical Garden
Blooming Junction Alena Botanica Sayrendipity Studios
Joy Creek Nursery Rita Lees Nursery
Brothers Peonies Anachronism Southbound ceramics
Keeping It Green Nursery River Rock Nursery
Carni Flora Pdx Byrkit Steelhead Metalworks
Kiona Native Plants Rogerson Clematis
Cedarglen Floral Contained Exuberance Swarm Portland
Little Prince of Oregon Garden
Company Deezines Three Sisters Nursery
Nursery Sebright Gardens
Cistus Nursery Elk Mountain Cedar Weld Metal Works
Mary’s Garden Secret Garden Growers,
Columbia-Willamette Embroidery Expressions Wire Art by CC
Milkweed & Mustard Seed LLC
Rock Garden Society Full Circle
Miller’s Manor Gardens Sedum Chicks
Dancing Oaks Nursery
N & M Herb Nursery Shady Companions Garden Like a Girl ORGANIZATIONS
Eastfork Nursery Gibson Pottery
Noname Nursery The Desert Northwest East Multnomah Soil and
Fancy Fronds Gretchen’s Artistry
Nowlens Bridge Perennials The Lily Garden Water Conservation District
Far Reaches Farm Heidi Schultz Art + Design
Oregon Coast Wasabi Van Hevelingen Herb Friends of Portland
Fuchsias and More & Foxglove Chocolate
Oregon Palm Nursery Nursery Community Gardens
Garden Thyme Nursery Herb’s Daughter Custom
Our Little Farm & Nursery Wild Ginger Farm Oregon Association of
Glasshaus Gardens Soaps and Botanicals
Out In The Garden Nursery Windcliff Plants Nurseries
Gossler Farms Nursery Image Custom Ironwork
Pearson Nursery LLC Woodland Way Nursery PGE Renewable Energy
Greater Portland Marcella Kriebel Art +
Petal Heads Westside Quilters Guild
Iris Society Illustration
WSU Extension Clark County
We’ll be adding more vendors. Visit hortlandia.com for updated information. Parking fee: $8
No strollers, wagons, or pets. Assistance provided for shoppers with disabilities—please call the HPSO office at 503-224-5718.
DON’T MISS THE “GROW WITH US” LECTURE SERIES:
Cory Jarrell—“Houseplant Care with the Plant Nerdist”—10:30 am Saturday | Judith Jones, Fancy Fronds—
“Ferns Beyond Shady Borders”—12:00 pm Saturday | Riz Reyes—“Plants for Year-Round Flower Arranging”—
1:30 pm Saturday | Laura Heldreth—“Made in the Shade”—10:30 am Sunday | Janis McBride—“The Gift of
Orchids”—12:00 pm Sunday | Linda Beutler—“Some Like it Hot—Clematis”—1:30 pm Sunday
MEDIA
SPONSOR
www.hardyplantsociety.org the HPSO quarterly ~ 1
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The New York Botanical Garden recently launched something it called #plantlove—“a yearlong
exploration of the essential connections between plants, people, and the environment.”
The initiative ties to biophilia, a hypothesis that humans have an innate tendency to seek
connections with nature and other forms of life.
I’m sure that all gardeners—not to mention all pet “parents”—have no doubt of the truth of this
hypothesis. In particular, it seems unquestionable that HPSO members embody plantlove and
demonstrate it almost constantly.
With that in mind, it occurred to me that it would be fun to run short blurbs in the Quarterly,
written by you, our readers, about a plant that you love. A good photo and 75 to 150 words
would be all that is required. Sharing one of your favorite plants will give us all a chance to be
smitten with it too. See examples on page 19.
If you are a plantlove practitioner, please feel free to email a photo of a plant you love and a
short discussion of why this plant has earned your affection to the Quarterly at rcmelm@aol.
com.
plantlove!
In the meantime, this issue is full of plantlove of all kinds: garden design, favorite plants,
garden art, plant nurseries, HPSO volunteers, plant research, garden writing, HPSO’s social
media connections, and gardening in general.
Happy Spring Gardening!
Eloise L. Morgan
next page: The 125-foot
at left: Clematis alpina ‘Pamela Jackman’, a plant diameter spiral labyrinth at
loved and photographed by Amy Campion Mountain Top Arboretum in
Tannersville, New York, as
below: A bowling ball tiled with found beach seen at dusk in the fall.
glass nestles in a ground cover of Arctostaphylos Deschampsia cespitosa (tufted
x ‘Martha Ewan’ in Bob Hyland’s garden. photo by Bob Hyland hairgrass) knits the spiral.
Volume 7, Number 2
the HPSO
quarterly
A publication
of the Hardy
Plant Society of Oregon
Eloise L. Morgan, managing editor
Jolly Butler and Tom Fischer, copy editors
Linda Wisner, designer
Rod Diman and Bruce Wakefield, proofers
To view a pdf of the Quarterly, please visit our
website.
No part of this HPSO Quarterly magazine
may be reproduced in any way without the
express written permission of the HPSO and
the individual copyright holder.
4412 SW Barbur Blvd, Suite 260, Portland, OR
97239 | Office and library hours: Tues-Fri
10:-00 am to 3:00 pm; 503.224.5718
www.hardyplantsociety.org
2 ~ the HPSO quarterly spring 2019
CIRCLE
like the cyclonic pattern of a hurricane.
games
There’s a dynamic energy in walking the
MTA labyrinth controlled and guided by
narrow ribbons of interlocking perennials
(Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’, Calamintha nepetoi-
text and photography des ‘White Cloud’, Monarda bradburiana,
by Bob Hyland Salvia nemerosa ‘Caradonna’, Symphyotri-
chum (syn. Aster) oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s
Favorite’ in a matrix of grasses like Molinia
caerulea and Schizachryium scoparium
‘Standing Ovation’, and others). The
destination is a peaceful raised bed of
In our garden you see a playful repeti- “something new comes into the garden, green turf in the eye of the labyrinth.
tion of balls and spheres nestled here something old goes away!”
and there in the hillside plantings. There’s In flower morphology, my love for umbels,
something about a round, three-dimen- When designing gardens I invariably start a floral cluster in which the flower stems of
sional object, artfully crafted from wood, on paper with circle games—a solitary nearly equal length spring from a common
metal, earthenware, or stone, that speaks circle or series of interlocking rounds. center to form a flat or curved shape, is
to me. I love finding just the right garden Like the face of my Swatch, there is a not surprising. Allium flowers of all kinds
spot and perspective for a good gazing familiar logic and position (three, six, are my favorite umbels. Lateral drifts of
ball or sphere and pairing it with well- nine o’clock…) around which to organize Allium hollandicum (syn: aflatunense)
chosen plantings. The trap is that I have space and plantings. From there, my ‘Purple Sensation’ run across our hillside
a pottery and garden decor shop in designs morph into irregular curves and in May. Last year a soldier course of Al-
Southeast Portland and am constantly rectilinear patterns. lium rosenbachianum added sensational
tempted by new items that I think would drama leading to our front deck and door.
A favorite garden project over the years
look great at home. The family rule now is is a spiral labyrinth I co-designed in 2013
at the Mountain Top Arboretum (www.
mtarboretum.org) in New York’s Catskill
Mountains. Viewed from above, the laby-
rinth circle emanates great force, much
www.hardyplantsociety.org the HPSO quarterly ~ 3
Asclepias (milkweeds) and Agapanthus Here comes spring 2019 and the begin- Bob Hyland is a Portland garden designer and
(lily of the Nile) are prized perennials on ning of our gardening season. Like the plantsman. His shop Contained Exuberance is
our hillside for their circular flower heads. lyrics from my favorite Joni Mitchell song next door to Xera Plants in Southeast Portland.
Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed) is Circle Game, “the seasons, they go round www.hylandgardendesign
top of the list with spheres of waxy mauve and round.” Enjoy these fun visuals and
flowers that are prime nectar sources for see you ‘round the garden.
monarchs, checkerspots, hummingbirds,
nnn
honeybees, and a host of other pollinators.
the intricate seedhead architecture of Tragopogon pratensis (yellow goatsbeard)
I’ve spent a lot of family time in southern
California where Agapanthus is an over-
planted median strip sight. Nonetheless,
in the Pacific Northwest where it is less
pervasive and more treasured, I love sum-
mer blue globes of Agapanthus punctuat-
ing our borders. My favorite selections are
‘Blue Leap’ with extra large flower heads
of rich blue and vigorous nature, from
plant explorer extraordinaire Dan Hinkley,
and Agapanthus ‘Joyful Blue’, an intro-
duction by Joy Creek Nursery, with bright
lavender blue flower globes.
Likewise, the diaphanous seed heads of
the weedy Tragopogon pratensis (yellow
goatsbeard) on our hillside enchant me.
Two years ago one solitary plant popped
up seemingly out of nowhere, and now all
are allowed to re-seed serendipitously; we
weed them out where not wanted.
Globes of striped powdery lavender-blue
Agapanthus ‘Joyful Blue’ punctuate the slope
below our vegetable terrace. below: Amethyst balls of Allium rosenbachianum lead to our deck and front door.
above: A 3’ diameter, zinc-coated lattice sphere (a new product from Campania International in my shop) sits at the top of the hillside. I love
how the wiry stems of Verbena bonariensis, Agastache ‘Mandarin Dream’ and Crocosmia masoniorum intersect and weave through this orb.
4 ~ the HPSO quarterly spring 2019
MEMBER GARDEN
an
exceptional
gardener by Barbara Blossom Ashmun
What builds an exceptional “HPSO changed my life—it allowed so many things to happen. This body of people can
move you forward with something you’re passionate about,” says Lucy Hardiman.
individual? You don’t have to be
It’s equally true that Lucy changed HPSO by working tirelessly at the heart of our society.
famous to be exceptional. Indeed, President twice, and board member for 14 years, she opens her garden frequently
exceptional beings can come from the and volunteers at countless events and plant sales. She’s organized and led delightful
domestic garden tours. Everyone knows Lucy because she always shows up: to check
humblest of beginnings. Once they you into a lecture, to ring up your plants at Hortlandia, to introduce a speaker, to pull
find their purpose, they devote tickets for door prizes.
their passion and resources to Speaking is her favorite endeavor.
attaining their goals. “Give me an audience, and I’m happy!” Lucy lectures often and widely, to garden clubs,
at flower shows, at symposiums—inspiring gardeners with wisdom gleaned from years
Derreck Kayongo of experience and travel. This spring she’ll speak on “A Garden for All Seasons” at
the Northwest Horticultural Society’s Spring Symposium in Kenmor, Washington. “Four
all photos by Lucy Hardiman seasons are erroneous,” she says.
“I take a 16 season approach. It’s
about transitions.”
In her home garden in Southeast
Portland, which she has been
transforming for 30 years, she
especially loves to play with color,
favoring the purples, blues, lime
green, hot pink, and magenta.
“Every garden is so personal,”
she says. “It’s where I experiment
and play and see the outcome. It
doesn’t have to be scientific.”
For Lucy, gardens hold memories of
visits from friends and colleagues,
and the plants remind her of those
who grew them. “I love those
conversations between me and
the plants,” she says, “when I think
of Roger Gossler, Dan Hinkley,
Maurice Horn. There’s a rock from
the beach below Windcliff. The
garden is part of who our friends
are, part of who we are.”
On the day I visit, at the end of a
very hot, dry summer, two ‘Bengal
Fire’ roses light up a sunny bed
together with Lagerstroemia
‘Muskogee’, Geranium ‘Ann
A view across the garden toward Lucy’s structure and Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ in full bloom, which creates a Folkard’, and Aster frikartii ‘Monch’.
sense of scale and proportion in front of the neighbor’s house.
www.hardyplantsociety.org the HPSO quarterly ~ 5
In the shade two wall
planters filled with coleus,
fuchsias, and impatiens are
a waterfall of color. Even
though it looks glorious to
me, Lucy tells me she’s
about to change the
garden yet again.
“After three record-
breaking summers
I’m going to start tearing
out those plants that
fail to thrive in heat.
Hydrangea macrophylla
is on the way out, and
Aucuba burns even in
shade,” she says.
Unsatisfying plants are
history—Helenium burns
and mildews, Saxifraga
dentata can’t take any
sun, and Daphne droops.
“In every garden it will be
different,” Lucy notes.
She keeps visual and
written records and then
acts. “I want to use truly
drought-tolerant plants like
Pittosporum ‘Tall and
Tough’, Arctostaphylos, and
more native wildflowers.”
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ and Musa basjoo anchor the east end of the garden.
To conserve water,
she’s installed an under-
ground Netafim drip
micro-irrigation system in
the back garden. Her
curbside gravel garden,
anchored by a beautiful
pebble mosaic by Jeffrey
Bale, is a shining example
of a drought-tolerant
border.
Generosity is a way of
life for both Lucy and her
husband Fred. Beyond
sharing their garden for
HPSO, they host garden
events to raise funds for
wide-ranging nonprofits,
together with their neigh-
bor, Kurt Beadle, owner
of Vibrant Table Catering
& Events. “His garden
is a jewel box. It’s the
entry point and bar, while
the food is served in our
garden,” says Lucy. Their
efforts have supported
Basic Rights Oregon,
Converge 45, Our House
of Portland, Cascade
AIDS Project, American
Containers massed together in the front entry add color.
6 ~ the HPSO quarterly spring 2019
welcome! TO THESE NEW MEMBERS
December 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019
We’re pleased that you have recently joined our ranks. We hope
HPSO offers you the same gardening inspiration, guidance,
and camaraderie that has sustained so many of our longtime
members, and we look forward to meeting you at events like
our annual meeting, PlantFest, Hortlandia, other programs, and
open gardens.
Janet Anderson Patricia Foster Craig Olsen
Sandra Anderson Marianne Freeman Nancy Orr
Corinna Andrews Cheryl Fullerton Sarah Ostermiller
Laura Andrews Larry Gallagher Lis Ovey
Arla Ayers John Gammons Gayle Parrish
Brad Ayers Janice Grammer Camille Paulsen
Drew Baird Kaitilin Griffin Cathy Pettinari
Wire containers on the back of the Hardiman house fill space on the blank Jeffrey Bale John Halderman Leslie Phernetton
wall while visually connecting to the pots on the terrace. Karen Baretich Sally Halderman John Poole
Janie Beach Joell Hamersly Richard Pope
Bonnie Berk Scott Hamersly Ashley Preece
Cancer Society, and the Parkinson Association. For Lucy
Ronald Berst David Haveman Andrew Price
and Fred this is the most meaningful way to give back to the
Aimee Bertani Merry Haveman Lidwina Rahman
community.
Paula Bessette Michael Haynes Dana Rasmussen
Still, first and foremost, Lucy is a garden designer. “Being Gary Blacklidge Susan Haynes Iris Reimnitz
involved with designing gardens is my main thing,” she says. Charles Blomberg Margarose Hess Karl Ridenour
Lucy is the principal of Perennial Partners, which includes Bert Bors Jessica Hettich Robbie Ridenour
three more colleagues, each with a unique specialty. They Susan Bachhuber Bors Jackie Holley Nathan Roe
work together, usually in pairs, sometimes in a trio. Carolyn Bostwick Jim Holley Sarah Roe
Teresa Bowman Karl Holmes Karen Root
“You transform peoples’ lives when you make them a garden,
Leigh Brandt Ian Hunter Helen Rueda
when you give people a place to come home to and relax and
David Brooke Juliana Inman Michael Sardior
engage in the natural world,” Lucy says. Each garden design
Jeanette Brudvig Brian Jenkins MJ Scheer
will be different, whether small and urban or estate size. “You
Sally Buslach Erika Johnson Dustin Schulte
leave your ego at home and stay open to the creative process,
Valerie Clappison Michelle johnson Marisa Scott
to reflect the vision of the client, what they need and want.
Sabin Coleman Nikki Jones Beverly Shafer
Listening is what makes it all work,” she says.
Tony Coleman Kelly Kirk Katlin Smith
Lucy clearly loves teamwork. Several times a year she joins Jan Cooper Marina Knysh Dawn Soest
with the committee of volunteers for Great Plant Picks, which Pat Cox Gary Kokstis Christina Sparks
includes wholesale growers, retail nurseries, designers, and Debby Crews Jennifer Krazit Stephanie Stephens
botanical garden staff, to evaluate plants for homeowners in Laura Crockett Marcella Kriebel Erica Stupfel
the Pacific Northwest. “It’s an electric exchange of ideas,” she Deborah Crough Andrew Kuzma James Stupfel
says. The results are pages and pages of information about Lori Davidson Vineeta Kuzma Susan Tarjan
the best plants for every purpose and place in the landscape. Brett Davis Stephanie Leben Denise Tomasovic
Each year a different theme is featured, most recently Perfect Tammy Davis Margot Lee Sandra Torgrimson-
Containers. Colorful posters are distributed at Seattle’s North- Betty Dietzen Abigail Leonard Fox
west Flower & Garden Show. (I’ve actually seen garage walls Jennifer Doerfler Sidne Lewis Lisa Troncoso
papered with years of these posters illustrating Great Plant Janice Druschky Sarah Liddell Theresa Valls
Picks for Shade, for Sun, for Fantastic Foliage.) Susan Dubickas Emily Lisborg Nancy Vanasche
Kathryn Dulemba Kim Ludy Tom Verhoeven
Lucy’s garden is famous for its welcoming nature. A stone Melinda Marian
Madeleine Dulemba Christine Weaver
bench built into her garden wall encourages neighbors to visit Ron Marian
Marsha Emerson Jillian Wieseneck
and linger. If you haven’t already been there, check the HPSO Sandra Martensen
Kathy Essick Anne Wolff
Open Garden book and put Lucy’s next date on your calendar! Nancy Mattson
Linda Fenner Gwynne Woodward
nnn John Ferguson James Mercer Jodi Wright
Sarah Ferguson Marisa Mercer Ron Wright
Barbara Blossom Ashmun is the author of seven books, most recently
Bob Foster Mary Anne Miles
Love Letters to My Garden.
Judith Foster Travis Niemann
Geneva Norton
www.hardyplantsociety.org the HPSO quarterly ~ 7
MEMBER GARDEN
Starting from
scratch
text and photography by Evie Hausman
Living in central Ohio, gardening was always a challenge: hot, humid,
cold, and alkaline. I had a limited choice of plants and a limited garden-
ing season.
So in 2009, when my husband suggested we retire to Portland, I was
thrilled. We’d been visiting every year since our daughter moved there
in 2000, so I knew how beautiful Portland was. I also knew what I
wanted: a downsized house but with space for a garden.
After a few days we found the ideal house—small, with a smaller
garden, and in a great neighborhood. The front yard had a few shrubs
and a miserable lawn. The back space was tiny—20’ x 30’—including
a small concrete patio. But the backyard was quiet and private, and I
knew there was great potential.
It took us five months to move, and I spent that time researching and
planning. I decided on a limited palette of purple and chartreuse for
the front garden, white for the narrow north passage to the back, and
dramatic evergreens with fuchsias for color in the back.
At last, we arrived in Portland. In the fall of 2010, we made dramatic
changes to the front yard. We killed the grass, removed the shrubs, and
had four cubic yards of topsoil delivered, most of which we mounded
up for drainage. We carved out a curving path of stepping stones,
which led to a small seating area near the front porch.
Transforming
the Front Yard
A blank slate in 2009,
upper left, gains a new
path and plants in
2010, left, and is a
mature garden in 2018,
far left.
8 ~ the HPSO quarterly spring 2019I planted an assortment of perennials, ing arrangement can be made with only Perennials
decorative herbs, and small shrubs, with the addition of a few flowers.
some repeats to create rhythm. I included Asarum splendens ‘Quicksilver’—
My limited choice of colors has relaxed
natives when I could. I focused on foliage lovely mottled foliage
through the years, especially in front.
to ensure a long period of interest and Carex morrowii, cream edged
Clear yellow, dark pink, and wine red have
a variety of textures. I also added a few Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’—Both sedg-
crept into the garden, but I always try to
vertical elements to connect the garden es are repeated throughout the garden.
include purple.
to the house. I was excited to grow so Erodium reichardii—incredibly long-
many plants that I could only dream I’ve also learned to use “tough love” on blooming treasure in the rock garden
about in Ohio. underperforming plants. In this climate Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
new plants grow fast. (Black Mondo Grass)—a great contrast,
The areas between the street and the
but spreads somewhat
sidewalk evolved into a rock garden, I consider myself extremely fortunate to be Saxifraga stolonifera (Strawberry Gera-
which is perfect for a space that doesn’t able to garden all year in such a paradise nium)—an attractive flat groundcover
have irrigation. Again foliage, especially and to grow Ohio houseplants outside. Stachys byzantina ‘Primrose Heron’—
evergreen foliage, was vital. What a treat it is to look out the window in chartreuse-green
January and see a verdant garden.
The areas on either side of the house have
partial irrigation, so I was able to plant a Here are some of my favorite plants for Vines
more diverse set of perennials and vines year-round color:
X Fatshedera lizei—fantastic foliage
with plenty of tough shrubs too. Most
Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star
everything on the north side is variegated Shrubs Jasmine)—very drought tolerant with
or has white flowers.
Elaeagnus x ebbingei ‘Gilt Edge’ sweet-smelling flowers in summer
The patio area is now a tropical retreat (Silverberry)— a welcome splash of
surrounded by dramatic shrubs, espe- clear yellow and green
Ferns
cially Fatsias, and ferns. In summer, the Euonymus fortunei ‘Moonshadow’— Arachniodes simplicior ‘Variegata’
color scheme of dark pink and purple bright yellow and green all year (East Indian Holly Fern)—yellow-striped
is established by a collection of hardy Fatsia japonica foliage
fuchsias. Six basalt boulders define the F. japonica ‘Spider’s Web’ Asplenium scolopendrium (Hart’s Tongue
edges of the patio, and a small rock foun- F. japonica ‘Variegata’—The dramatic Fern)—dramatic undivided fronds
tain splashes quietly. It’s a paradise in the Fatsia leaves also have a long vase life. Polystichum munitum (Sword Fern)—
middle of the city. Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rainbow’— always reliable
Through the years I have added hundreds graceful with reddish tinges
of bulbs, mostly in front. For spring, I pre- Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’—
nnn
dominately planted smaller bulbs because holly substitute, yellow-splashed foliage
of their variety and less conspicuous that lasts well in arrangements Evie and her husband Bill live in Northeast Port-
foliage. Santolina chamaecyparissus ‘Lemon Fizz’ land and enjoy walking in their neighborhood.
(Lavender Cotton)—bright chartreuse Evie and her daughter Corrie Hausman took
I have deliberately overplanted the gar- accent the training to be Master Gardeners together
den. I love to make arrangements for the Sarcococca ruscifolia (Sweetbox)— in 2011, and appreciate the information they
house and for gifts. Many of the shrubs I beautiful glossy foliage that cuts well receive from the Master Gardener program as
planted have to be pruned to keep them in well as from their HPSO memberships.
and flowers with great fragrance in
their allotted space, and these trimmings winter
often last a long time in a vase. A charm-
Creating a Backyard Garden A barren corner in 2009 has become part of a lush landscape in 2018.
www.hardyplantsociety.org the HPSO quarterly ~ 9photo by Marty Eye
why I garden
by Amy Campion
The landscapes of my childhood were beautiful but bleak. I grew up
in east-central Minnesota among chalk-white birches, tamarack, and
quaking aspen (which my dad called “popple”). Most people there
were not gardeners. They had lilacs and peonies in their yards, but
not much else. It’s tough when winter lows can drop to 40 below zero.
As a kid, I never imagined that plants would become my passion.
I didn’t have any great affinity for them. Looking back, however,
I recall the many joyful plant discoveries I made in the fields and
woods surrounding our farm. I’d bury my face in my mom’s lilacs and
peonies and inhale their sweet scents. I’d tramp through the woods
in spring and come across sheets of white trilliums. I’d forage for an
hour for a bowl of tiny wild strawberries to eat with milk and sugar.
Once in a while, I’d ride my bike down the road to visit Mr. and Mrs.
Goebel. They grew a big vegetable garden and had a few flowers,
including a magnificent patch of showy lady slippers, our state flower. Amy in the garden, 14 months
I can still see Mr. Goebel’s beaming face as he showed them to me.
At 22, having no clue that horticulture was my true calling, I entered I couldn’t go on with my sociology plans. I completed my
grad school with plans to become a professor of sociology. My fiancé master’s degree but then left the ivory tower. My husband
and I decided that we had had enough of winter lows to 40 below, and I decided we had had enough of Georgia’s sweltering
and that’s how we ended up in Georgia. I attended the University of summers, as well as Minnesota’s brutal winters, so we
Georgia. settled halfway in between, in Cincinnati. I took an entry-
level job at a wholesale nursery. It was hard work, but I
I began to take notice of the lush southern landscape: the magnolias, loved it.
the azaleas, the crape myrtles, the jasmine. An itch to grow things
suddenly got under my skin. I bought and killed several houseplants. We rented an apartment at first. It was frustrating, because
Then I got a packet of coleus seeds and sowed them in a pot on my by then the itch to get my hands in the dirt had become an
windowsill. Lo and behold, a multicolored forest of seedlings popped excruciating ache. I had many sleepless nights fantasizing
up. I was a devout atheist, but nonetheless felt I had witnessed a about the plants I wanted to grow. You know the feeling.
miracle. I was hooked. We found a house to rent in a sleepy suburb on the banks
photos by Amy Campion except as noted of the Ohio River. Instead of unpacking boxes,
the first thing I did was to start turning over the
soil. My neighbor looked on as I struggled but
only for a moment. He promptly appeared in our
driveway on a lawn tractor offering to till up my
new garden. The flood plain soil was as black
and rich as devil’s food cake, and everything I
planted in it was a lesson in exponential growth.
A couple of years later, we bought a house
of our own, and I was ecstatic. I couldn’t get
enough. I learned to prune and plant and
propagate. I raised monarchs on milkweed as I
had done as a child. I grew salvia and beebalm
and watched the hummingbirds zoom around
the garden. I ate blackcap raspberries with milk
and sugar. And, again and again, I marveled
at the kindness and generosity of my fellow
gardeners. I was always well-stocked with free
seeds, cuttings, pots, and plants.
In 2013, after 17 years in Cincinnati, I became
a Northwest transplant. My husband and I
packed up and moved to Portland,
east-central Minnesota: beautiful but bleak
10 ~ the HPSO quarterly spring 2019my old Kentucky garden,
just outside of Cincinnati
below: Monarchs were regular visitors
to my Kentucky garden.
Oregon. While I was excited about the
move, it was daunting to start over in a
place I’d never been to, where I knew no
one (besides my husband). It was also
exciting but daunting to start over with a
new garden—where I could grow almost
anything I wanted.
In the beginning, I was humbled by the
sheer number of plants growing here
that I did not know. I learned fast. Now
I can’t imagine my life without Ceanothus,
Phygelius, Arctostaphylos, and Stipa
barbata. The gardeners are incredible too.
They’re generous with their knowledge
and their plants. I had the good sense
to join HPSO early on and was warmly
welcomed into the vibrant gardening
community that exists here.
Why do I garden? I garden because
manzanitas and milkweed and showy lady
slippers. I garden because raspberries
my Portland garden, taking shape
and hummingbirds. I garden because
seeds amaze me every time they sprout.
I garden because I have to, and because
of the many fine people who feed my
addiction.
nnn
A freelance writer, editor, photographer, and
HPSO director, Amy Campion recently co-
authored the acclaimed Gardening in the
Pacific Northwest. A Portland resident since
2013, she blogs about gardening at www.
amycampion.com.
Ceanothus ‘Victoria’ in my Portland garden. Manzanita, where have you been all my life?
This is ‘Lynne’.
www.hardyplantsociety.org the HPSO quarterly ~ 11NURSERY FOCUS: EASTFORK NURSERY
The Maple Lady
and began shipping maples all over the
country. I guarantee my maples will ar-
rive in good condition, or I will refund the
customer’s money or replace the maple.
Necessity made me a “Master Packer,”
by Sam Hatch and my customers appreciate the effort.
I am still open by appointment, and there
is nothing more rewarding than walking
Sam, the Maple Lady, I am, and I welcome Dave is putting up a small 20’ x 50’ with my customers and friends around our
you to Eastfork Nursery. Eastfork is a Quonset-style greenhouse for me, and property and sharing my knowledge and
family partnership between my husband together we named the nursery “Eastfork” reason for planting a specific maple in a
Dave and myself. We found our piece of because we live on the East Fork of the specific location.
paradise on 13 acres in La Center, Wash- Lewis River in Southwest Washington state.
ington, in 1984 and started the nursery My husband Dave is my maintenance guru Over the past 30 years my inventory has
the next year. The vision began when we and greenhouse builder; and I am the evolved. I now sell more than 100 different
first arrived in June 1984. During the first maple grower, pruner, potting soil mixer, cultivars. Most of them are rare or hard to
summer we were clearing our land of re-potter, and pot mover. You get the idea. find at local retail nurseries and garden
uglies—weeds, wild blackberries, thistles, centers. With the internet comes competi-
The first maples I grew were common tion, and I have seen the number of online
and nettles—when I began to visualize the
cultivars found everywhere in the Pacific sellers expand from only a handful in 2006
landscape with maple trees, specifically
Northwest. Then I met Talon Buchholz, the to dozens in 2018. My niche is growing
Japanese maples planted in and around
owner of a wholesale nursery in Oregon. rare and unusual maples, thanks to Talon.
our large specimen oaks and firs. I didn’t
With his help and guidance, my knowl-
want to cut down one tree. I wanted to add
edge and understanding of these maples My husband and I have reached the
to the nature around me.
went up 1,000 percent. Talon introduced golden age of 69, and we want to work
I found out that the number of maples I me to exciting new cultivars, and soon less and play more. I am reducing my
wanted would cost more than I could Eastfork Nursery was the go-to website for inventory from 3,000 containers to a
afford. So I got a wholesale nursery hard-to-find and rare specialty maples. more manageable level between 2,000
license to save on money and buy them at and 2,300. Plus I will limit the number of
Because in 1985 I had a full-time desk job,
a wholesale price. Well, I wanted dozens
Eastfork was open by appointment only photo by Tom Barreto
of maples, and they still were too costly,
on weekends or early evenings during
as my new job in Vancouver, Washington,
the summer. Then in 2006 I retired from
was entry level. The next thing I know,
my day job, created my own website,
photos by Sam Hatch except as noted
maples naturalizing at Eastfork, from left: Acer palmatum ‘Purple Ghost’, A. palmatum ‘Tiger Rose’, and Eastfork Nursery’s maples for sale at HPSO’s
A. shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’ Hortlandia in 2017
12 ~ the HPSO quarterly spring 2019clockwise from top:
Acer shirasawanum
‘Aureum’; maples growing
in the nursery’s shade area;
Acer shirasawanum
‘Moonrise’; Acer palmatum
‘Ariadne’
maples to be shipped each week to a from Talon and then grow them from one- recommend SUPERThrive™, a rooting hor-
maximum of 20 boxes. I am the nursery to three-gallon size. I stake, prune, and mone in a concentrate formula that is not
manager and operator, which means I am shape every maple from the time I get a fertilizer. It stimulates root growth, which
responsible for all the work needed. Inven- them until they are sold and adopted by helps maples grow faster.
tory requires buying baby maples every a new family. I do not have larger maples
year, and I try to buy 700 to 900 liners because of shipping limitations and my This is how I became “The Maple Lady.”
(small grafted plants in 4” pots) and pot aching back. When maples grow too big My name is Samantha, but I prefer “Sam.”
them in one-gallon size containers. Annu- to ship, I sell them at local plant sales or It seemed to be a problem when I left a
ally I re-pot another 600-800 maples. I now at my nursery. I am open at the nursery by message for someone from “Sam,” and
have my old Quonset style greenhouse, appointment only throughout the year. the customer at the other end presumed
plus two larger greenhouses—each 30’ x it was short for “Samuel.” When they
80’—and a shade area of the same dimen- Sometimes it is necessary to tell a cus- returned my call and I answered, they
sions. The greenhouses are unheated; the tomer that I do have a specific maple, seemed confused that “Sam” was a
maples do not seem to need the heat. I but it is below par so I won’t sell it. The woman. So I would refer to myself as
don’t have any employees, but I do hire a feedback has been positive, and it seems “Lady Sam” when leaving a message, and
helper about one day a month to help with my honesty is appreciated. When custom- that became “Sam, The Maple Lady.”
big projects, like putting the shade cloth ers ask about a specific maple, I will offer
nnn
on the greenhouses and outside shade to take a photo and email the photo to
structure in the spring and taking it off in them, as extra customer service. I do not Sam at Eastfork Nursery (eastforknursery.
the fall. ship bare root. I ship all my maples in the com) can be reached at 360-263-2662 for an
containers they are growing in. It costs appointment or to place an order. You can also
I believe my maples are a fair price for a little more to ship, but with the root ball see a selection of her rare and unusual maples
the love and attention I give each of them. intact, transplant shock is reduced, and at HPSO’s Hortlandia plant sale in Portland on
They are my babies. I buy grafted babies the maple gets established sooner. I also April 20-21.
www.hardyplantsociety.org the HPSO quarterly ~ 13photo by David Summers
Working
in a Garden Store—
ingly difficult when the days are know what they want, so getting to the
glaringly hot and equally chal- bottom of their question(s) takes time. See
lenging to determine when the above on competing interests—damn,
days are cool and overcast. those pansies need water.
Some plants drink and drink no
My favorite interactions have to do with
matter what the conditions.
putting together what I think of as vi-
the author watering courtyard plants at Garden Fever Others are stodgy in their
gnettes. I have this hamamelis with great
cement-like clay soil refusing to
by Linda Golaszewski fall color, what can I plant with it? I have a
yield a clue until they have flopped over
spot in full sun, what I can put there? I think
like fish dying for a drink. Each plant must
my former training as a therapist comes in
“You work here? How wonderful. I’ve often be assessed individually, including those
handy here—open-ended questions are
thought this would be a dream job.” flats of petunias. I swear under my breath
useful. What kind of conditions? What
at some of these that I have a hard time
This is a recurring dialogue I have with colors resonate? How much time to
“reading” (lettuce, flats of annuals, talkin’
people I know who run into me while I’m garden? The questions we ask ourselves
about you). Sussing out a plant’s needs
wearing my name tag at Garden Fever. explicitly or implicitly as gardeners. New
requires almost all of my five senses.
I’ve been employed as a seasonal worker
there since last spring. When there are plenty photo by Lori Vollmer
of people wandering
I still don’t really know what motivated me
around, plenty of
to contact Lori Vollmer, co-owner with
plants to be watered,
Richard Vollmer of the Northeast Portland
and just two of us in
store, and someone with whom I have had
the nursery, you might
a passing acquaintance. I certainly have a
see how competing
“passion for plants” and a decent knowl-
interests compete. If
edge about them and have been a
I’m attending to
gardener for years. But my professional
customers I can’t
career has been as a teacher, trainer, and
water. As a result,
consultant in all matters nonprofit. Little did
plants, with their
I suspect I would be slinging plants and
inaudible needs, give
coaxing customers through the busy
me a perpetual
summer/fall and into the winter.
nagging feeling. That
The job balances two competing interests: pansy needing water
keep the plants watered and happy and doesn’t wander
attend to customer needs. Customers are around looking
key—they are the reason the nursery pensive or worried.
exists. The plants are critical too, people
Although I basically
need something to buy. These both take
check in with every
my undivided attention.
customer, folks
Unlike watering in the garden, in the walking around
nursery I must be focused so that the looking confused (or
plants in their teeny, 4” pots are neither pensive) stand out.
underwatered nor overwatered. Surpris- They may or may not
a colorful resting spot for customers
14 ~ the HPSO quarterly spring 2019photo by Lori Vollmer
gardeners need gentle handholding and some new things and
reassurance—not everything grows here, some clichés. Don’t
and some things do die. I also suggest laugh, but I bought a
customers assess their tolerance for six-pack of dahlias and
ambiguity—growing things is not exactly a was very happy with their
black and white science. You do have to cheery yellow blooming
figure out how to listen to your own into the fall.
conditions and to the plants themselves.
I’ve learned how to better
And things still die.
pronounce the Latin
Occasionally there are puzzlers. A names; been exposed to
shriveled leaf with no apparent cause. more genera, species,
Bugs. Like a medical specialist I will call in and cultivars; and
a second opinion. Other brainteasers generally grown in my
usually involve plant ID. The typical plant knowledge. I hope I
scenario: “I saw a plant on my walk the have given back to the
other day—it was about 4’-6’ tall with red store and customers as
flowers.” Thanks to smart phones there much as I’ve received.
will often be an accompanying photo. Thank you, Lori and
Otherwise we try to narrow it down. Richard, for taking a
Photos do help. chance on me!
I confess I sometimes (often!) use the web. nnn
Garden Fever has a great information
Working at Garden Fever is
library stocked with a dozen or more a real change of pace for
books, and I still go to the computer. The Linda Golaszewski, who
best recourses are Lori and Richard has a B.S. in psychology,
themselves with years of experience, an an M.A. in counseling, and
incredible garden of their own, and the an extensive background in
shop. I have learned a lot just listening in working in, consulting with,
on their conversations with customers. and teaching about non-
profit and non-governmental
I sometimes believe that I have this job organizations. A long-time
only to further, and pay for, my plant lust. HPSO member, she currently
As stock comes in, we coo over the serves on the Grants
delightful new cultivars, and some make Committee.
their way home in my backpack! I’ve tried
a shady haven of ferns
photo by Lori Vollmer photo by Lori Vollmer
a few of the potted offerings at Garden Fever a selection of small shrubs
www.hardyplantsociety.org the HPSO quarterly ~ 15The Many Uses of Ground Covers a lawn of Chamaemelum nobile ‘Flore pleno’
text and photography by Deborah Kelly
Broadly speaking, a ground cover can evergreen ground cover will help the pots find a lawn mower that would set higher
be any relatively short plant, preferably look fresh all winter. Several edibles are on than three to four inches, so my first mow-
evergreen, that spreads politely while my list of favorite ground covers, notably ing chopped off the flowers, and the plant-
still not being demanding in its culture. low-growing herbs, which are usually of ing took several weeks to green up again.
Ground covers can tie a planting plan Mediterranean origin and love full sun and As with any seed mix, the species that is
together, giving continuity and elegance good drainage. happiest and most vigorous will come to
to a bed with lots of different shrubs and dominate over the years. In its third year
There are ground covers that can substi-
perennials. They can act as a mulch, now, Bellis perennis (English daisy) domi-
tute as a lawn, tolerate some foot traffic,
cooling the soil in summer and insulat- nates in my mix-seeded lawn in Southwest
and may not need mowing. Turf-substitute
ing it in winter. By filling in between Portland. Evergreen, low growing, and
ground covers with smaller leaves will look
other plantings, ground covers can also flowering cheerfully most of the year, I
tidier, while those with larger leaves will
dramatically reduce time spent weeding. could not be happier with it.
look wilder, more relaxed. Seed mix turf
Therefore ground covers, especially easy
substitutes, such as Fleur de Lawn, avail- Installing a ground cover with rooted starts
care native ones, are especially appropri-
able at Pro Time Lawn Seed, will need to for a large area can be quite an invest-
ate for a summer cabin or for aging in
be mowed periodically. My experimental ment if you want it filled in within a year
place. If you like your outdoor pots filled
planting of Fleur de Lawn on new topsoil or two. Placing one rooted start every six
with bulbs, perennials, miniature trees, or
grew quickly to 10 inches tall. I could not inches (four plants per square foot), for
alpine plants that need sharp drainage, an
example, will fill in four times as fast as
placing one plant per square foot. For a
large installation it is thriftiest to plant a
couple of experimental specimens in the
same soil, with the same supplemental
water and sunlight that the planned “lawn”
will receive. Watch to see how it performs
in the winter, and watch to assure that in
the microecosystem of your garden it is
not invasive. Plants listed as invasive in
western Oregon usually are not sold in
nurseries, but do your research anyway.
For example, some species of the lovely
and beloved violet turn out to be thugs in
some gardens. Other plants that spread
rather easily can be forgiven if they do not
have tenacious fibrous roots and do not
spread rapidly by seed or underground
runners.
Achillea ‘Brass Buttons’ photographed at the end of November
16 ~ the HPSO quarterly spring 2019several times, regardless of siting.
Then a few years ago I saw a plant that
looked identical: Achillea ‘Brass Buttons’,
propagated locally in Cornelius, Oregon
by Blooming Advantage and listed as
hardy in zones 4-11. Since the drought-
tolerant genus Achillea grows wild in
Oregon, including in my garden, I gave
it a try.
After a year the single 4” pot had passed
the test of vigor combined with good
looks. I removed all the turf grass from a
lawn that had never thrived—it was in full
sun to partial shade; the grass looked its
worst next to a greedy mature ash tree.
Steve Carruthers of Carruthers Landscape
spread new topsoil and planted flats
of Achillea ‘Brass Buttons’ on one-foot
Fleur de Lawn, with dominant Bellis perennis, blooming in February rain centers. The new “lawn” filled in in less
than a year and exceeded my expecta-
tions: it never needs mowing and allows
very few weeds to get started. It looks lush
all year, and for two months during the
summer there is that bloom of tiny yellow
balls. Eventually I added an edging of
cobbles to keep the growth out of other
flower beds, but I get so many requests
for starts that that might not have been
necessary. Steve is using it for another
client in full shade and says its perfor-
mance there is “stellar.” Grace Dinsdale
at Blooming Advantage expects to have
it available again in May of 2019.
I also have a lawn of Chamaemelum
nobile ‘Flore Pleno’ (double white roman
chamomile). Portland Nursery found
a grower that sells this plant in flats.
Although it does not fill in as tightly in my
Gaultheria shallon with February berries in dry shade garden as the Achillea described above,
it is a showstopper with white blooms
for many weeks in the summer. Flowers
Very tiny, delicate-looking plants such as that it “becomes a weed if it likes you, harvested just after opening can be dried
Veronica repens (creeping speedwell) or seeding in paving cracks and walls. All for tea. On moonlit nights the mass of
Mentha requienii, (Corsican mint) may be good gardens should have it.” In my 3/8” white flowers glows softly, hovering
welcome to thrive anywhere they choose garden the fine foliage and tiny pink and above a six to eight inch jumble of ferny
in your garden if you like a blowsy, “wooly,” white flowers of Mexican daisy grow to greenery. The year-round fragrance of a
casual, or cottage look. The foliage of about a foot high. They make a useful chamomile lawn may be its greatest asset.
both is less than half an inch tall. Applica- frothy filler similar to Gypsophila (baby’s Sometimes described as a fresh apple
tions for these very tiny plants include breath). An east-facing rock wall will scent, the subtle fragrance of a chamomile
populating between dry laid paving, fairy have planting pockets that can harbor lawn makes walking barefoot in it a
gardens, and miniature model railroad Cymbalaria muralis, (Kenilworth ivy) as sensuous pleasure.
landscapes. (Notes: If you have gravel an exceptionally beautiful vertical ground
paths and do not want volunteer plants cover. Kenilworth ivy has delicately vining, nnn
moving in, be sure to keep the gravel scalloped foliage and tiny, soft purple Deborah Kelly began digging in Portland’s
raked of leaves, which will compost and snapdragon-like flowers. Garden Home area in 1984. She finds the
become welcoming soil for wayward garden design experiment endlessly fascinating
Years ago I fell in love with Leptinella
seeds; Corsican mint will brown out in and is outside whenever the weather allows.
squalida (formerly Cotula squalida)
full sun on very hot days, then come
growing in an old Portland garden. A
back later.) One of my favorite delicate
ground cover with the tiniest fern-like
spreaders is the deciduous Erigeron
leaves and tiny yellow ball-shaped
karvinskianus (Mexican daisy). English
flowers. Brass buttons (its common
gardener Penelope Hobhouse writes
name) failed to take in my garden
www.hardyplantsociety.org the HPSO quarterly ~ 17Learning garden skills and topics at affordable
prices. You can find community education
gardening classes through:
•
•
East Multnomah Soil and Water
Conservation District (EMSWCD)
Hardy Plant Society of Oregon
More About • Portland Community College
•
•
Portland Japanese Garden
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Horticulture
• Clackamas Community College
• Leach Botanical Garden
• Mt. Hood Community College
• Portland Fruit Tree Project
• Clark College
• Naturescaping of Southwest
by Laura Heldreth
Independent nurseries often offer free and Washington
affordable classes taught by experienced • Oregon Metro
Are you interested in learning more about staff or local experts in the area. Most of • Oregon Tilth/OSU Extension
horticulture but don’t know where to start? the classes are basic introductions to the Service’s Organic Gardening
The Portland Metro Area is filled with topic, but the presenters know how to Certification Program
opportunities to expand your knowledge engage more advanced participants. • OSU Extension Metro Area Master
and gardening skills with horticulture Check out their websites for upcoming Gardener program
classes through the local community classes: • WSU Extension Clark County
colleges, independent nurseries, public Master Gardener program
• Al’s Garden Center
gardens, nonprofit garden programs,
• Garden Fever Garden classes abound in the Portland
garden societies, and the Oregon State
• Joy Creek Nursery Metro Area; everything from working
University and Washington State University
• Livingscape towards your associate’s degree in hor-
Extension Master Gardener programs.
• One Green World ticulture to learning about how to prune
Learn from experts at local community • Pistils Nursery blueberry bushes to caring for mason
colleges to gain a certificate and/or • Portland Bloem bees in your garden. So, ask yourself,
associates degree: • Portland Nursery what do you want to learn this year? And
• Shorty’s nurseries let the adventure begin.
Portland Community College • Thicket
Certificates: Landscape Certificate, • Yard ‘n Garden Land nnn
Horticultural Therapy AHTA Accredited Nonprofit garden programs, garden soci- Laura Heldreth was the 2018 Master Gardener
Certificate eties, and the Extension Master Gardener of the Year in Clark County, Washington, and
volunteer programs offer year-round teaches gardening classes at Vancouver’s Clark
Associates Degree: Landscape Tech- College. She recently joined the HPSO Board of
nology AAS Degree, Landscape Design classes on a wide range of seasonally ap-
Directors.
AAS Degree, Environmental Landscape propriate topics.
Management Technology AAS Degree
Clackamas
Community College
Certificates:
Horticulture Certificate,
Landscape Practices
Certificate,
Irrigation Technician
Certificate,
Organic Farming
Certificate, Plant
Health Management
Certificate
Associates Degree:
Horticulture AAS
Degree, Horticulture
AS Degree, Landscape
Management AAS
Degree, Arboriculture
AAS Degree
From learning how to
prune, to growing
an organic vegetable
garden, to raising mason
bees, community educa-
tion programs through
local community colleges
Master Gardener Steve Hiestand, owner of Pruning Pro, teaches a class on espaliering at Pacific Community Park in
cover a wide range of Vancouver, Washington.
18 ~ the HPSO quarterly spring 2019plantlove!
This new feature will showcase HPSO members’ favorite
plants. Submit your photo and a 75- to 150-word
description to the Quarterly at rcmelm@aol.com. The
next issue will showcase summer favorites.
SPRING FAVORITES
Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Shimadaijin’ Fagus sylvatica ‘Roseo-Marginata’
Thinking about spring favorites, the tree peony has to be toward Across the entry sidewalk from the peony is my tricolor beech,
the top of the list. Though the bloom time is short, leaving me echoing the rose-pink color of the peonies. Though the colors
with a green shrub the rest of the year, while it is blooming it is deepen and get a bit duller in summer heat, it’s still a beautiful
spectacular. Then the adjacent oak leaf hydrangea takes over tree. Sometimes listed as Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea Tricolor’,
the spotlight. Each year in early spring I gleefully count the this makes me smile every time I head out the door and down
peony buds, eagerly awaiting their opening in early May (earlier the sidewalk. It’s about 20 feet tall at this point and the budding
than herbaceous peonies). Back in 2011 it had only two flowers. leaves in April are just at eye level. Luckily, it will top out at 30-40
Now it has at least two dozen. I’m waiting for the year it has 100! feet, unlike its European beech cousin, which can reach 100 feet
~ Linda Wisner, gardening on Sauvie Island or more. ~ Linda Wisner, gardening on Sauvie Island
www.hardyplantsociety.org the HPSO quarterly ~ 19BOOK REVIEW by Barbara Blossom Ashmun FROM THE LIBRARY
A Book for Troubled Times
Creating Sanctuary:
Sacred Garden Spaces,
Plant-Based Medicine, and
Daily Practices to Achieve
Happiness and Well-Being
by Jessi Bloom
When ecological garden designer
Jessi Bloom faced serious illness
and divorce, she turned to her
garden for healing. Out of those
A Remembrance
experiences came a commitment.
“I decided to focus on helping
people find better and more resilient ways to live in a world that seems
Mary Oliver
increasingly complex and at times irreparably damaged and hostile,” September 1935—January 2019
she writes.
Traditionally, gardens are for growing flowers and food, for creating
Mary Oliver spent her days immersed in the
beauty and outdoor living spaces. Bloom goes further. She recom-
natural world and transforming her sense of
mends creating sacred spaces within the garden, intentionally
wonder into poetry. Many of her poems might
making room for meditation, healing, yoga, growing medicinal plants,
as well be psalms of praise for the beauty of our
and more.
world, especially for the often overlooked details
She describes elements of sacred spaces: a threshold to signify that we only notice when we slow way down:
reverent entry, bells to awaken awareness, gathering places, fire pits,
“Hello, sun in my face.
mandalas, labyrinths, medicine wheels, stone cairns, water features.
Hello, you who make the morning
Photographs of inspiring gardens show clear examples.
and spread it over the fields
Bloom’s five steps to creating a sanctuary garden are perhaps a bit and into the faces of the tulips
simplistic, yet helpful to beginners. Clear out the space, improve the and the nodding morning glories.”
soil, manage the water, provide wildlife habitat, and build the plant
layers. I especially appreciated the bulleted box titled “Should this I love the way she allows us to see how every
plant stay or go,” something many of us wrestle with. I plan to embrace sunrise, each flower, each bird is a miracle and
the key question, “Does it make you happy?” reminds us to awaken to the amazing gifts of
each day:
Fifty sacred plants are described with their benefits, including me-
dicinal, culinary, pest repelling, pollinator attracting, and encouraging “This morning the green fists of the peonies are
tranquility. However, several of these plants are overly enthusiastic and getting ready
should come with warnings, especially lemon balm, valerian, clover, to break my heart
and St. John’s wort. as the sun rises . . . .”
A fascinating chapter devoted to plant medicine features plants for Her intention was to speak directly to the reader,
emotional healing and mental well-being, with a table listing their without any frills or inflated language:
benefits and how to use them. A chapter on growing your own apothe-
cary follows, including how to dry, process, and store beneficial herbs, “I want to make poems that say right out, plainly,
flowers, and seeds, and how to make teas, oils, and creams. what I mean, that don’t go looking for the
laces of elaboration,
Finally, Bloom offers two weeks of daily practices to immerse yourself puffed sleeves.”
in your sanctuary, from something as easy as mindful walking, to
building a stone cairn, or creating a mandala with plants. Her list of Often she encourages us to become more aware
Further Reading allows you to dive deeper. by asking important questions:
nnn “Do you love this world?
Do you cherish your humble and silky life?
Barbara Blossom Ashmun is the author of seven books, including
Do you adore the green grass with its terror
Garden Retreats: Creating an Outdoor Sanctuary.
beneath?”
20 ~ the HPSO quarterly spring 2019You can also read
