Monkey see, monkey do…

Clifford, our big-leaf magnolia, has been calling out for a little extra summer lovin...

You see he has the perfect lower branch structure for tucking in of a couple tillandsia, which you’d notice when walking to the patio. I’d tried in the past to make it work but the project needed much larger plants than I had (or was willing to purchase…the big tillandsias are expensive!). I did however pick up some Tillandsia usneoides thinking it might be cool draped over a branch.

And then I saw a post on A Growing Obsession: kokedama for slackers. Denise had taken a couple of bromeliads, some moss, and raffia and created the perfect summer accent! Naturally I had to copy her.

I kept a handlful of moist soil around the roots of the bromeliads, wrapped it with moss and then secured it with with a couple wraps of twine. I didn’t like the way the twine looked (to obvious and bright, the same when I tried rafia) so I finished up using a thin wire which practically disappears.

Hunting for more moss around the garden (this is Oregon after all, there is always moss) to hide the twine I found some with bits of sedum growing in it, I think that takes things up a notch!

Knowing me I'll probably be tucking in more things (tillandsia, another bromeliad, a frog...ha kidding on that last one) all summer long...

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Conifers...

Out on a dog walk, but nearing home, Lila was doing that thing dogs do, sniffing sniffing sniffing, and my eyes wandered...

And for the first time I really saw the odd combination of conifers in my next door neighbors parking strip. Doesn't it look like the tall pine has a furry trunk?

Here's what's really going on...

This interesting conifer was spotted on another dog walk. It's probably frightfully common to those in-the-know but to me it was rather unusual. Bright yellow-green new growth and pink cones, pretty cool!

Sadly I only had my phone with me so the pictures aren't terribly good.

Continuing the conifer theme I share with you my burgeoning nightmare. This tall Doug Fir is growing at the back of our property line. Every year in June(ish) it drops a load of male cones on the patio, and my plant containers on the patio, causing a mess that goes on for weeks.

The last couple of years have been fairly light, this one however appears to be a banner year as the entire tree looks like this. I dread their falling...

Ending on a happy note my nearly dead Blue Atlas Cedar is pushing out new blue needles! I didn't kill it after all.

This makes me very very happy.

Especially since my new favorite image (borrowed from Martha, please don't sue me Martha) features agaves AND a Blue Atlas Cedar (never-mind that's a weeping tree it doesn't creep me out because you can't really see the dangling branches) from her visit to Flora Grubb. Isn't this combo hot?

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Making the sidewalk safe again for NE Portland pedestrians…

Many a time I’ve bemoaned the fact our street trees, a pair of Styrax japonica, weren’t great choices. All it takes is this photo from June of 2011 to tell you why…

Branches heavy with wet blossoms completely block the sidewalk. After the flowers fell the common name "snow bell" became all the more appropriate as the sidewalk looks to be covered with snow (creating a very slick surface).

Since we inherited these trees I have no way of knowing what they looked like when planted. I can tell you two of our neighbors have the same trees but theirs are growing tall and narrow, while ours are the shorter wider version. This is what they looked like in January...

Beautiful trees really, if they were in a garden, but not the shape desired for a narrow parking strip.

We’d occasionally trimmed them up to the best of our limited ability, but it was finally time to bring in a professional. But how do you know you’re getting someone who will bring out the best in your trees, even structurally challenged ones like ours? Instead of just hacking away at them and sending you a bill?

Well lucky us because we actually had someone that we trusted volunteer to do the job! Yes my hydrangea adopting neighbor Bridget claims pruning is one of her very favorite things to do, and watching her work on that (thankfully sunny) afternoon in February, I believe her.

Plus by working with her I got to learn a thing or two about the process, while Andrew delighted in sawing and chopping (who knew he'd find an excuse to climb such a short tree?).

Our trees were so dense with tiny twig growth there was a lot of work to be done just to open them up.

Knowing my low-tolerance for ugly things in the garden Bridget had warned me they might be a bit awkward at first and take time to grow into their new shape. I was prepared, but actually they looked great right away, she really brought out the best possible version of these trees.

Sure there are a few ugly scars that call attention to themselves, but those will fade with time.

And it was so nice to watch people walk down the sidewalk and not have to duck!

Now that they’re starting to leaf out it’s obvious just how much material was removed.

The leaves are so high, they actually have visible branches! (the tree on the right (below) has always been the runt; it doesn’t have a strong leader and is a little aesthetically challenged…)

But this is the best it’s looked in a long time!

Go ahead Portland; it’s safe to walk down our side of the street again (just don’t trip and fall on the agaves)…

And thank you Bridget for whipping our crazy trees into shape!

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Hamamelis for Valentine's Day...

It’s that time of year; the Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) are blooming all over town. I’ve even spotted a few in flower at the local nurseries…what a great time to buy one since you can be assured you’ll get the color you want!

I’ve had a long time crush on the crinkled paper-streamer-like petals. But when everyone else gushes over the fragrance I just smile and nod and wait for the conversation to move on. Unfortunately I’ve never really been able to smell Hamamelis. Oh on occasion I’ve got a small whiff, just a faint odor, nothing powerful certainly nothing worth talking about. All of that changed on February 2nd when I visited the Elk Rock Garden at the Bishops Close.

Maybe it was the time of day, or the sheer quantity of plants but WOW, it was intoxicating. The two photos above are of Hamamelis mollis in the Chapel Garden. Below are the moss covered trees in the Parterres.

I have no idea which is which but according their website these are the ones they’ve planted: Hamamelis mollis, Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena,' Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise,' Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena,' Hamamelis x intermedia 'Pallida.'

Which do you favor the orange or yellow flowers? For me it’s the orange…but this is another of those plants I’ll enjoy in someone else’s garden.

Or as a cut stem like they were here in the gardeners "office"…

And speaking of cut stems…happy Valentine’s Day! May I suggest a cut branch of Hamamelis for your sweetheart, who needs roses!?

Arbutus unedo and a sea of red marbles...

I’ve mentioned this Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree) growing at the park near us before, I love this tree. It’s especially wonderful to walk by on a grey rainy day such as this. How often do you come upon a tree with a sea of red marbles underneath?

Not often enough.

And it never ceases to thrill me that you get the fruit and flowers at the same time. And in so many different colors!

Because this tree is right at the edge of the park, not really in the park and not really in anyone’s garden, I like to pretend it’s mine. Ah come on…you do that too, right?