I almost called this post "21 hours at the beach," because yes, that's how long I was there.
A plant talk at the
Hoffman Center for the Arts in Manzanita was the reason for the trip, but time at the beach is always a good thing, so I took advantage and spent the night (2 hours drive time each way made it an easy choice).
A walk on the beach before my talk gave me time to check out the area's architecture.
It's always nice to see what the locals are building.
Since the Hoffman Wonder Garden (a small garden filled with plants that thrive in this location, a sort of demonstration garden) is right across the street from the Center for the Arts, there was time for a walk there too...
On the left, Arctostaphylos auriculata 'Diablo's Blush'...
Arctostaphylos 'John Dourley'
Arctostaphylos silvicola 'Ghostly'
Arctostaphylos densiflora
A pulled back shot of the Arctostaphylos (manzanita) border and the Hoffman Center in the background.
That euphorbia is one I covet...
Is it E. stygiana or E. mellifera? I'm not sure anymore but since I love them both the coveting goes on.
The restio (Rhodocoma capensis) does well in this garden.
Diplarrena latifolia, a new to me plant that Ketzel (as in Ketzel Levine, former NPR correspondent and their "Doyenne of Dirt"—now the force behind the Wonder Garden) pointed out.
Those flowers are pretty sweet.
I look at this structure and think it's calling out for a vine, but then again with a vine you wouldn't be able to see it as well.
An eryngium with very thin leaves, perhaps E. paniculatum?
Another euphorbia, this one (with the orange blooms) I think is E. griffithii.
Acanthus sennii (so spiny!)
Yet another eryngium there on the lower left, maybe E. guatamalense?
Pretty fabulous, am I right?
This one is definitely Eryngium guatamalense.
One of mine is just starting to push out a bloom spike, I look forward to watching it grow.
I didn't get a chance to ask the origin story of this raised trough planter, it's all sorts of fabulous don't you think?.
Agave americana var. medio picta 'Alba' gets protected in the winter and planted back out again when things warm up and dry out.
There were folks relaxing here just moments before, it looks like a great place to kick-back and soak it all up.
Melianthus major (perhaps 'Purple Haze') and Dodonaea viscosa var. purpurea.
Leucadendron galpinii 'Silver Cone' and...
...Acacia pravissima show just how mild this area's climate is compared to mine here in Portland.
Close-up of the acacia's fabulous foliage.
There's a eucalyptus towering over a corner of the garden.
And I was thrilled to catch Fabiana imbricata 'Violacea' in bloom.
What a stunner!
Chondropetalum tectorum (Small Cape Rush)
Astelia chathamica
Back-lit callistemon buds.
And my final Wonder Garden photo (succulents as summer annuals)...
...before returning to the hotel and a gorgeous sunset.
The moon!
The next day was misty moody.
But of course a beach-walk was in order before I left.
At first I thought this was a fish sticking out of the sand... (just a piece of wood).
Finally, I couldn't resist stopping to snap photos of a couple gardens I passed by on the 101 between Rockaway Beach (where I stayed) and Manzanita.
That's a wrap on this beach trip!
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