On our first morning in Portland, Oregon we spent some time perusing and relaxing in the private garden of horticulturist Sean Hogan, who is also the owner of Cistus Nursery located in the same city. The sun was shining, the weather was glorious, and just to make it perfect we were immersed in the beautiful personal space Sean has created.
We arrived in the city the evening before wherein Loree met us at the airport and took us to Sean's place. Afterwards we all went out for dinner but as it was well dark already by the time we got back we had to wait till the morning to have a proper look of the garden. I have to say even in the dark you can make out the silhouette of the beautiful plants and you can tell already that it's a beautiful garden. So come the morning, after a lovely breakfast we sat out to relax in the back garden.
But with so much beauty you can't really sit for long. You won't be able to help but look around. And what we saw was amazing.
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| Gaz catching up on Oregonian news |
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| With very tall Trachycarpus and other plants giving canopy, privacy, and sense of enclosure to the space |
The garden is a relatively small one, which according to Sean is a pretty standard garden space for a lot of Portland houses. But he has creatively put in a a lot of plants to use as much of the available space, and in layers too with planting that is lush and very leafy.
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| Take note of the Schefflera delavayi hedge |
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| I'll borrow this idea, variegated Trachelospermum asiaticum climbing up a Trachycarpus trunk |
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| Metapanax delavayi |
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| Podophyllum pleianthum |
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| A variegated Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica |
The front garden was just as beautiful as the back...
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| Yucca linearifolia with variegated Hedera |
Sean has created a beautiful garden, packed with loads of unusual plants and is a beautiful place to relax in. And his garden is a reflection and a taster of plant treasures that can be found in Cistus Nursery, a post about it coming up soon.
We are bracing ourselves for a busy next few days but spending time in a garden like this is certainly very revitalising!
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
OH my!!!!!! how beautiful. I'm green with envy. I so wish I was out there with all of you. have a wonderful time and keep posting these fabulous pics!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWish you can join us this weekend Deanne :) it'll be busy but we'll try our best
DeleteSean's garden is the perfect place for you to relax since you must feel right at home. No reason to miss your own garden since this one is so like yours.
ReplyDeleteLoving the garden of Sean :) it does feel similar but most of his plants are much taller than ours Shirley
DeleteWow, what a beautiful place! Wish I was there with you. Can't wait for more beautiful photos like this!
ReplyDeleteWould have been great if you made it Candice!
DeleteStunning, and I appreciate how he melds lush and some spikiness. What a serene morning!
ReplyDeleteIt was, and the serenity was much needed too!
DeleteCertainly looks like a tropical oasis, enjoy your holiday x
ReplyDeleteThanks Libby! It's an inspiring garden :)
DeleteFrom one jungle to another! Have a great time!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think so :) Thanks Kris!
DeleteI felt right at home viewing those tropicalesque plants. I'll bet you did too. Thanks for the peak into a beautiful and lush garden.
ReplyDeleteDavid/:0)
A pleasure David, and we got the message, thank you! Hopefully we'll get the chance to meet soon :)
DeleteThis garden reminds me so much of your own. I love that gate! Have fun in Portland. My son lives there, and he has taken me on a tour of some of the neighborhoods where beautiful gardens seem to bloom with little effort. I am so jealous of his climate.
ReplyDeleteThat gate is fab isn't it? So is the rest of the garden :) your son lives on a lovely part of the world Debs, where there are so many enthusiastic about gardening!
DeleteIt's always amazing what the Northwest can manage in their gardens vs the rest of us in Northern states. It is all lovely.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
The climate here seems to have just the right balance Cher :)
DeleteWhat a stunning garden, very clever planting, all those contrasting layers of foliage. Who needs flowers? I have serious gate envy now though...
ReplyDeleteIt's a gorgeous foliage garden Janet, nice touch with the gate too!
DeleteCongrats on getting Sean's & Nathan's garden to yourselves. I've only seen it teeming with a fellow wine swillers--which I'm not complaining about, mind you--just sayin. Glad you're enjoying it. Nice to meet you in person finally.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely to meet you too Patricia! Sean was a fabulous host to the both of us and Gerhard, we had an amazing time in his and Nathan's company :) And we got to immerse ourselves in his fab garden too!
DeleteWhat a wonderful space! I can imagine that felt great after suffering through a transatlantic flight! Love the gate and all the marvelous foliage...
ReplyDeleteIt was, you immediately go into relax mode the moment you step out into the garden
DeleteSo wonderful that you guys are here and soaking up the best of our Portland plant scene. Gaz makes a great garden model, by the way.
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never but to say that it was wonderful to experience Portland for the first time with all of you guys!
DeleteWow, notebooks out, guys! For a first garden on your tour, this one is going to take some beating. Just glorious - all that fresh greenery and sunshine. One thing I really want to know, though - what is that fabulous glaucous pompom plant in the front garden? It's in the photo underneath the Eriobotrya japonica … I really want one!
ReplyDeleteSean's garden was a great introduction to Portland gardens Caro! The pom pom plant is Yucca rostrata :)
DeleteLoved getting some face time with you two. How nice (and appropriate) that you could make your home away from home at Sean's. Come back soon!
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely to finally meet you Ricki :) and yes we will, definitely!
DeleteI just bought my first 2 Trachycarpus. I love the look of shady enclosure and I will also want to borrow the idea of using the trunk as a scaffold for vines. Simply brilliant. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThose towering trachycarpus greatly contributes to the exotic atmosphere of Sean's garden. Well done Grace on getting your first two of this hardy palm :)
DeleteWow, how exciting! You guys will have a ball I'm sure :) What a lovely established garden. It looks very natural and calming.
ReplyDeleteIt is Amy, and yes we had a ball :)
DeleteNow there's a garden I wish I could have visited!!! Thanks for the photos and hope to meet up with you guys at some future blogger event!
ReplyDeleteSame here John, be great to meet you in the near future we hope :)
DeleteYou've captured Sean's garden beautifully! How fortunate that you actually got to stay there. Seeing this garden changed my mind about trachycarpus as I usually saw them lined up like soldiers in a row surrounded by concrete at car dealerships. Seeing how these (and yours) are layered and integrated with other plants had me buying my own palms a couple of years ago.
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter! Once these palms get established you can get over a foot of growth of trunk from it every year. It'll look great in your garden I'm sure :)
DeleteWow thanks for sharing your great photos. Hopefully I'll be able to visit his garden someday! Hope you are getting over the jetlag and back to gardening at home! It was SUCH a treat to meet you both!
ReplyDeleteDitto Tamara, and yes we'll be back!
DeleteWhat a beautiful garden!! perfect for plant lovers!! you were so lucky to stay there :). Thank you so much for the pictures!!!
ReplyDeleteA pleasure Lisa, and it was a delight to finally meet you :)
DeleteI am so glad you got to see this and also so VERY VERY jealous!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteWe feel lucky to have seen Sean's garden in person :)
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