Liriodendron tulipifera
MAGNOLIACEAE, The Magnolia family
With such high branches, it’s not easy to enjoy the flowers of the tulip tree. On my way home from the studio this evening I saw a lot of the green and bright orange blooms scattered on the ground and hopped off my bike to have a look. Evidently, squirrels had […]

Rhododendron cv.
ERICACEAE, The Heath family
It’s a late bloomer, to round out the season of colorfulflowerbushes. Could be part of a grand finale to spring, along with weigela, miss kim lilac and philadelphus..
The dark pink petals are pointed, giving the blooms a star shape. They have a slight fragrance and attract butterflies.

Helianthemum ‘Cheviot’
CISTACEAE, The Rockrose family
Yes, sunrose has been the plant of the day before, twice, but it’s too luscious. It’s that time of year again: the walls and rockeries of gardeners-in-the-know drip with the sublime contrast of the Chinese red blooms and the soft sage leaves of ‘Henfield’s Brilliant’.
On my bike route home from […]

Billburgia nutans
BROMELIACEAE, The Bromeliad family
In the same family as pineapple and air plants, this striking houseplant (hardy in the garden in zone 10,) is also called Angel’s tears and Friendship plant. It is native to Brazil. It blooms in winter and may go dormant in summer. It likes a cool room, but is supposedly tolerant […]

ERICACEAE, THE Heath family
This planter was my favorite of the 14 I made for the show this year. It is called the ‘Strata planter’ because it is like geological layers, but also it is like cake. It is mostly made of jewel tone succulents, with some leafy rich colored things like Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis, in […]

Sedum ‘Blaze of Fulda’
CRASSULACEAE, The Stonecrop family
Today is the last day of The Yard, Garden and Patio show in Portland. The whole display garden, 50′ x 50′ (the largest at the show and the biggest that the company has made), was created in four days by a remarkable crew. It is enjoyed for three days, […]

Sempervivum ‘Commander Hay’
CRASSULACEAE, The Sedum family
Inspired by a recent Sustainable Design symposium in Seattle, where I heard a speaker on green roofs and walls, I am creating a “green sign”. It is 3′ by 5′, with a cedar frame and copper finials. Today I planted it with Danae’s help, and left it to settle, horizontally.

Hypogymnia enteromorpha
On the second snowshoeing trek of the season, in honor of Michael’s birthday, we went to Mirror Lake. It was lucky weather- sun shining at the beginning and a glimpse of the mountain, and softly snowing on the way back. Even though it’s not a long path, we made a day of it, stopping […]

Cryptomeria japonica
CUPRESSACEAE, The Cedar/Cypress family
On the walk yesterday I spotted this purple conifer in the West hills. A budded Magnolia stellata is in the foreground.

New Year’s Day walk.