Alan’s Backyard August 6

I’ve lived in Portland Oregon for ten years now and the summer of 2013 has really produced some amazing days with very little rain and lots of sun! Alan’s backyard is peaking at this time of the season and is a great place for friends to meet.

This giant chimney is a focal point for the backyard and it holds three of the pots I planted.

The mantle pot contains red cordyline, red verbena, 'Sundance Yellow' sanvitalia and 'Star Dust' euphorbia.

The left chimney pot contains red petunia, yellow calibrachoa and 'Star Dust' euphorbia. The right chimney pot contains orange petunia, tangerine calibrachoa and 'Star Dust' euphorbia. All the chimney pots were designed to simulate fire, but due to lack of sun these annuals burnt out more often then popped with their hot and bright colors. 

I big part of the accents in the backyard comes in the form of many flowerpots often full of or surrounded by impatiens that thrive well in this shady garden.

Alan’s backyard has some well established plants.

Fatsia japonica, on the right, and Japanese maple frame this bed with a climbing hydrangea on the trellis against the wall.

Jasmine with two pots of Impatiens

 

Windmill Palm

Banana Palm

  

Alan had a birthday over the summer and I gave him this fountain to add form and sound to his backyard. Alan placed it in a planter of ivy to give it height. The little puppy reminded me of Cooper, Alan's dog. Where is Cooper anyway? Usually he's poked his head into a picture by now.

This honeysuckle I planted has had a rough summer fighting aphids. The ladybugs I released in Ladybugs Attack! Part 2 seemed to have successfully controlled them.

Time to say goodbye to this little urban paradise.

There’s Cooper! One-track mind.