Neill’s Garden: Part I

As I continue my adventures in gardening I find there are two things that challenge the gardener. The first is to understand the plants needs and matching it to the right environment so it will thrive. The second, is blending color, form and texture to create a visually and aesthetically pleasing environment you enjoy.

My friend Neill tried his hand at gardening this past season, but had little success and found it frustrating. He asked if I could help out and as my experience is limited I asked my friend John of John’s Garden posts to help out.

John and I surveyed the garden. Neill’s property sits in an urban setting on a corner lot. The beds measure about four feet in width from building to sidewalk. Parking strips line both sides of the property between streets and sidewalk. Flagstones in the parking strips act as paths and add texture to the landscape. Tall maples create a shady environment, but the street corner gets direct light from a southern exposure.

Neill planted ornamental sedge grass along one of the parking strips. 

We met with Neill to understand his concerns and wants for his garden. He wanted something that blended in with the neighbors gardens, since the buildings share a similar architecture. He also liked his neighbor's use of pots to add height and dimension to their landscapes. Another important factor for him was a low maintenance garden.

John and I recommended either a three-pot or two-pot combination to line the entrance and break up the straight lines. A hardscape would need to be installed under them for support. John suggested a tall plant form to grow up the blank wall to the left of the entrance and break up the solid space. Since Neill also wanted low maintenance plants, hardy, drought tolerant plants were in order. John suggested evergreens that would keep their color and texture through winter.

We selected this Cephalotaxus H. 'Fastigiata' or Japanese Plum Yew to work as an eye catcher as it grows up the blank wall to the left side of the building's entrance. It's height should get to ten feet tall and its unique form adds texture.

Three of these Aucuba J. 'Rozannie' will add texture and form with their pointy leaves.

This Fatsia japonica adds a tropical form with broad evergreen leaves.

Next we outlined a visual pattern for the hardscape with the intent to use flagstones to mirror the parking strip and create a base support for the pots.

We found these rustic-looking pots that would contrast from the modern architecture.

I created a drawn rendition so Neill could see the effect these pots and the hardscape would create by the entrance.

Next post we start the hardscape and position the plants for the softscape.

Lan Su Chinese Gardens

Here in downtown Portland, Oregon we have the beautiful Lan Su Chinese Gardens. This garden occupies an entire city block and gives us a glimpse into the art and design of Chinese culture. Portland’s Chinese sister city is Suzhou in China’s Jiangsu province famous for its gardens. The name Lan Su derives from a combination of the two cities Portland and Suzhou.

Sixty-five Chinese artisans completed the garden in 2000 using materials and structures built in China. The garden includes 500 tons of rock and 300 plant species and cultivars found in traditional Chinese gardens. Five elements blend together to create harmonic flow of the gardens: Plant, Rock, Architecture, Water and Poetry.

Visitors first enter the Courtyard of Tranquility where the plum blossom is featured in the rock mosaic and doorway into the garden. 

Off of the courtyard is the Hall of Brocade Clouds where the family would traditionally greet visitors.

Dwarf Pomegranite - Punica granatum 'Nana'

Doorways and windows create infinite views and flow from one part of the garden to another.

This window creates a unique picture of rock and plant that changes depending on the weather and light.

Knowing the Fish Pavilion is an open-air structure for meditation and discussion while one takes in the nature surrounding them.

Plants serve many purposes in the Chinese garden. Besides beauty and texture, this Moso bamboo is a symbol of strength as it bends in storms and does not break.

 Heavenly Bamboo - Nandina domestica

Lake Tai is five miles from the city of Suzhou. Over time rocks in the lake erode by the lakes acidic water creating unique rock sculptures.

Reflections in Clear Ripples, also known as the lounge house, is where family gathers to share music, paint or play games like mahjong.

These two inscribed columns are an example of the "couplet game," in which one person provides the first line of a two-line poem and the second person completes it.

Penjing are living landscapes in three-dimensional poetic form.

Water is central to the garden and connects nature and the structures through Lake Zither. This pavilion, Flowers Bathing in Spring Rain, holds panels that depict six different gardens in Suzhou connecting the individual to nature through scenes of mountains and forests in the city.

Scholar’s Courtyard is an extension of the study and a place for reflection. The plum tree blossoms in late winter and is a symbol of resilience and revival.

 Plum blossom on cracked ice mosaic

Poncirus trifoliate ‘Flying Dragon’

 Wintersweet – Chimonanthus praecox

 Chinese flowering plum with Tai Lake stone

Scholar’s Study

 Chinese Tea house

Weeping katsura – Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’

Magnolia zenii

Moon Locking Pavilion acts as a focal point and can be seen from most areas of the garden. On a clear night it allows viewing of the moon’s reflection in the center of the lake.

The Boat Pavilion appears to be tied to the dock and is a symbol of friendship between the cities of Portland and Suzhou.

This rock formation appears as rugged mountains from a distance complete with a waterfall and stream.

This path allows for a close peaceful connection to nature.

Hall of Brocade Clouds is where the family met and entertained guests and allowed views of the families wealth.

Lan Su Chinese Gardens is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and has something to inspire you every season of the year. You can learn more about Lan Su Chinese Gardens here.