It was a partly cloudy morning last August when I made my annual pilgrimage (dating back to
2011) to John Kuzma and Kathleen Halme's SW Portland garden.
As we walked the garden John pointed out losses and damage from the epic storm of January 2024. I remember the mood being a little somber as we compared notes and discussed how bad it was. However with one notable exception (which you'll see at the end of this post) my photographs didn't capture much of that. Instead you see the same gorgeous garden we've come to know and love.
Looking towards the house across the front garden courtyard.
I don't remember, but suspect this Agave ovatifilia must have been protected during the cold.
Yes, there's a house back there!
I've been rather vocal in my dislike of Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web', but here it actually looks really good.
It sets off the rhododendron (might be R. pachysanthum, but I don't think so) perfectly.
The tree ferns! They're really gaining some size, those trunks are impressive.
John is a lover of abutilons and he grows them well.
Those Yucca rostrata! It's a family photo with crazy personality.
Something is missing at the fence line (it's a little more open), but I can't remember what.
This guy definitely got protection! Doesn't he look like an octopus slinking across the ground?
The sun was moving in and out of the clouds during my visit, so the lighting is all over the place; bright, then cloudy then bright again.
Into the back garden now and the chalky trunks of the eucalyptus...
Underplanted of course!
It's always temping to head up those stairs, but I rarely do. I have my usual route, and those stairs are the exit—although on this visit I walked down the stairs and then promptly turned around and did the pathway in reverse.
Several of the palms in the garden were hit hard. I know one of the Trachycarpus princeps has pushed new growth, I think that might be it in the center there, with the furry trunk.
Aren't these colocasia fabulous?
And I never tire of the water feature and it's colorful cannas.
Turning around towards the back of the house, we see a very sad palm, this was a beautiful Jubaea chilensis. John reports that since I took this photo it's been replaced with a Butia x Jubaea cross "that is apparently hardier and faster growing."
Euphorbia stygiana.
I was thrilled to see the Passiflora 'Fata Confetto' was still alive and blooming. I love this plant!
Sadness and beauty. This shot of a blooming Agave ovatifolia and another suffering Jubaea chilensis (but this one is pushing out new growth!) wraps up Part One of my visit. Come back this Friday for more.
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