Last weekend our local Garden Bloggers group (a laughable label at this point, since only a few of us post to our blogs anymore) made the trip down to Northrop Acres in Amity, Oregon, to visit Mindy Northrop and have our biannual plant swap.
We dropped our swapping plants off in front of the barn, before touring the garden proper.
Folks, this isn't any old barn. I could have taken dozens of photos of the space with all of it's vignettes and hang-out areas, plus there were tasty snacks too (mango chutney dip with bacon and almonds, and sangria, for the win).
The barn is also where Mindy puts together her extensive floral creations for the many weddings and special events she lends her talents to, as well as lots of farm-fresh bouquets for the farm stand.
A little background for those of you who don't know Mindy. She used to live in Portland's Montavilla neighborhood. That's where she started her blog,
Rindy Mae, and her family (husband and three amazing kids). They all moved to 12 acres in Amity, Oregon (rural Yamhill County, south of Portland) nine years ago. This property (Northrop Acres) is where Mindy was meant to be. Calling her Yamhill county's Martha Stewart sounds like a joke, but it's not. You guys, she is the real deal.
Martha has a whole crew of people to tend to the details while she sets about being a first class hostess, cook, baker, decorator, crafter, gardener, floral designer, etc... but Mindy does it all herself, while being a super-mom. You can follow her at
Northrop Acres Farmstand to see some of what she's up to.
Several years ago I was there for another plant swap but I can't find a record of that visit. My
2018 post will have to suffice as the "then"... let's go explore the now! The Airstream belongs to a friend, but of course Mindy has styled it up to fit right in.
I think this is Campanula glomerata 'Caroline'...
The front porch...
One of several gorgeous Clematis.
I didn't get the name of this one.
The old potting bench made the move with them from Portland, now it's a side table on the patio.
Alan decided this was Clematis 'Phyllis Diller', which I thought was the perfect name.
Mindy later supplied the "real" name; Clematis 'Blue Light'
If I could grow clematis I'd definitely be tracking this one down.
My glass of sangria with one of Mindy's fabulous napkins.
This seating area was one of many around the property. In addition to dozens of comfy chairs in the barn, there are also numerous chairs and benches around the garden. I really wish I would have counted.
Cutting garden and inherited one-of-a-kind greenhouse.
Another angle.
Another task on Mindy's chore list, she's got little vignettes like this with tender plants spread all over the garden. Moving them each spring and autumn is no small task.
It's so fun to see big plants given all the room they need to shine.
The front side of the greenhouse complex (there's a storage room/ex-chicken coop on the non-greenhouse half).
Running between the barn and the home/garden are train tracks, and yes, the train still runs, right through their property. If you follow that driveway...
...you end up at Mindy's Farm Stand along the main road. Her lucky neighbors can stop by and buy fresh sourdough bread, herb salts, plants, flowers, and in-season berries and other produce.
Plants!
I scored a loaf of bread that Andrew and I quickly devoured, it was so good!
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