Garden Photo of the Day

Vignettes in an Oregon Garden

Remembering warmer times as the snow falls

As the snow falls, it’s such a pleasure to remember summer! These photos were taken in my Corbett, Oregon, garden last May and June. I have been gardening this acre for 35 years and wish I had another 35! I enjoy creating vignettes as well as taking a wider view, and paying attention to structure, lights, and shadow.

Trillium chloropetalum var giganteumA large and very old clump of Trillium chloropetalum var. giganteum (Zones 5–9), planted by the previous gardener (more on trilliums).

Cornus kousaThe lawn and perennial border. The pink tree on the left is Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ (Zones 5–8). ‘Satomi’ was the first pink-flowered variety of Cornus kousa to be introduced. The Japanese nurseryman who introduced it named it after his granddaughter.

‘James Galway’ rosesMy husband built the gate of my fenced kitchen garden. It was unfenced until the bunny population increased. The roses are ‘James Galway’ and ‘Strawberry Hill’, both English climbers.

Geranium ‘Rozanne’Geranium ‘Rozanne’ (Zones 5–8) weaves through a blue platycodon (Platycodon grandiflorus, Zones 4–9).

Actaea rubraThe rhododendron garden, with red berries on Actaea rubra (Zones 3–7).

A shady spot for iris, astilbe, hosta, heuchera, and ferns.

Cotinus ‘Velvet Cloak’Centaurea macrophylla (Zones 3–8) contrasts with the juvenile foliage of Cotinus ‘Velvet Cloak’ (Zones 5–8).

Kalmia latifolia ‘Minuet’Kalmia latifolia ‘Minuet’ (Zones 4–9)

Parrotia persicaA home for the birds in the Parrotia persica (Zones 4–8).

Indian Runner ducksMy Indian Runner ducks keep the garden free of slugs and give us a daily egg for part of the year.

 

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Comments

  1. garden1953 01/24/2020

    Gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing.

  2. User avater
    user-7007816 01/24/2020

    Your settings are so artistically done. Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

  3. Maggieat11 01/24/2020

    Your gardens are lovely! What a great clump of trilliums. Wonderful photos.
    Your husband also has a lot of talent...the garden gate is beautiful!

    Great tree structure in the rhododendron photo, also.

  4. User avater
    meander_michaele 01/24/2020

    Your garden is like a treasured necklace where each element shines and sparkles... whether it's seen as an overall whole or the separate jewels are gazed upon with close up scrutiny. I am in love and lust with your continus 'Velvet Cloak'...such an alluring dark eased beauty. Do you prune it hard every spring so it stays so bushy and produces all that awesome color filled juvenile foliage?

  5. User avater
    treasuresmom 01/24/2020

    This is just a knock your socks off wow! And that clump of trilliums are out of this world. But sad the name of the gardener was not included.

  6. paiya 01/24/2020

    Each photo shows such beauty in comp

  7. paiya 01/24/2020

    Each photo shows such beauty in color, texture, com

  8. paiya 01/24/2020

    Each photo shows such beauty in color, texture, composition;the garden gate and shape of trimmed hedges are beautiful .. but the trilliums take my breath away

  9. coastalgardener 01/24/2020

    I love the juxtaposition of shapes and colors in your lead photo, and those trilliums are showstoppers! You've done a wonderful job of mixing a variety of plants. Thanks for sharing your lovely garden.

  10. btucker9675 01/24/2020

    Your garden makes my heart sing! Perfection! Your husband's gate for the kitchen garden is so charming - wonderful.

  11. User avater
    simplesue 01/24/2020

    Really beautiful...a little paradise with happy ducks running around!
    The hedge like fence with it's graceful curves looks so classically formal and then the naturally arranged groups of perennials, bushes and trees...such a nice combination of a natural looking garden with touches of a classic formal garden!

  12. Cenepk10 01/24/2020

    Wait... this stunning garden is on Earth ?????

  13. calliopegirl 01/24/2020

    All beautiful but the shady spot vignette intrigues me the most. What are the conifers in the background? The vertical beauty behind the hosta, a rounded gold one to the right and then there is something wonderful in the background that is in the shadows. Thanks!

  14. cheryl_c 01/24/2020

    What great eye candy you have given us today! Most of your plants are NOT ones I grow, and you have put them together in such exciting groupings. Truly inspirational. Thanks for sharing.

  15. user-5117752 01/27/2020

    WELL! You HAVE created a paradise!!! Each photo tells a luscious story. Your vignettes are just perfect!!! I guess we all love the trillium. I've never seen them like that. I've also never seen a yellow Centaurea and paired with that Cotinus and a bit of yellow yarrow, well, you certainly have such an experienced eye. Your trees, your design ideas, your combinations are simply marvelous!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!

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