Logs in the urban landscape

Every time I drive by this log-filled hellstrip I think "I really need to stop and take photos" but I'm usually headed home and don't have the time.

However, one cloudy afternoon last week I made the time. Unfortunately the view from my car is my favorite, and since capturing that view would mean standing in the middle of a street with a blind curve, well, you're not going to get to see it.

Instead you'll see it from the sidewalk.

I can't tell if these trees were felled on site, or if they came in from elsewhere.

They're used in many interesting ways though, and there are rocks adding to the upscale look of things. I hadn't seen the rocks from my car.

Briefly stepping out into the street so you can see the border of rounds and upright sections.

I love the woven sidewalk border and wonder if there are more plants on the way, or if this is the finished look.

Mud and a rock base make the end piece solid.

The stacked rock wall on the other side of the sidewall is pretty sweet too.

Another quick street-side view...

And just a couple more from the sidewalk...

I'm curious what this purpose-built niche is for. I'll have to keep an eye on it.

From the street I hadn't noticed the property's twig fence.

They're obviously reusing/repurposing every part of a few trees here...

It's a corner property and the other hellstrip is filled with a mounding conifer, edged with rocks.

Looking up at the home, which based on the two address plaques I saw must be a duplex.

Oh ya... now THAT is a wreath. Damn. I hadn't noticed that before.

A fitting adornment for over the large wooden door at the top of those grand stairs.

Last photo at this location...

And now were at another spot I drive by fairly regularly, a much smaller lot/home that is also repurposing cut sections of trees in their urban garden and hellstrip.

This one is perfect for planting up...

Hellstrip pathways...

It's a bit austere, hopefully more plants are on the way. 

I wonder if this (and the others) is a result of trees that came down during the January storm we had? So many trees fell with the wind and the ice. 

Plant that stump!

This log-scape is on a super-wide median in NE Portland. It's also home to a linear arboretum.

Each block of the median is very different, depending on the style and desires of the homes that border it and the people who tend to it.

My very small and very unscientific study tells me people are doing more to let trees naturally decompose on site and maybe provide habitat in the process. These examples are of people really making it happen in a big way, but I'm seeing it in smaller ways too. Heck even when I built my table planting on the stock tank I used branches and stumps that I'd cut here in my own garden. 

I'll wrap up with a screenshot from my friend Grace Hensley's Instagram. She'd asked to be reminded of the name of the guy who stacks logs decoratively, check out Nigel Dunnett's Instagram feed if you aren't familiar with him.

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All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Ventura Botanical Gardens

I visited the Ventura Botanical Gardens as part of a trip to Southern California last November.

This was my second visit, the first was back in late 2015 (coverage here). Back then I was surprised by how the sad the plants looked as a result of the record drought the area had been dealing with. Unfortunately things got even worse in 2017 when the Thomas Fire hit the area, as a result the garden closed. This current version of the garden (reopened in late 2018) is much improved and looks to be on its way to great things...

Our visit (me + my sister-in-law, niece, and mother-in-law) started at the welcome center, which doubles as a small nursery and gift shop. 

Love the containers and plants out front...

...as well as the colorful pots for sale inside. Behind the fence was an off-limits nursery area, it looked to be full of plants getting ready to be planted out in the garden.

Follow the flower pathway...

Jubaea chilensis, aka Chilean wine palm

I didn't catch the name of these cactus, but no doubt they'll grow up to be a nice extension of the rock wall.

Love the rock and metal work...

This scene reminds me very much of my first visit. Thirsty plants!

Puya coerulea (I believe)

Lobelia excelsa (Tabaco del Diablo)

The foliage on the left reminded me of fabiana, we'll see more of this in a bit.

Puya chilensis were everywhere...

I never did see signage for the pink succulent that carpets large areas of the garden.

Cordia decandra

Eulychnia acida

Didn't see a name for this spiky character.

You're rewarded for the climb with a nice view of Ventura and the Pacific Ocean.

NoID

Here's more of the plant I thought looked like a fabiana, turns out it is! Fabiana imbricata, aka pichi.

Quillaja saponaria, aka soap bark tree. Love those seed pods...

Larrea nitida, love those leaves.

Starting our descent now...

A close up of the pink succulent, it's definitely experiencing drought stress. Or maybe I should say it was last November when I took these photos, I know the area as gotten rain in the months since that visit.

Hopefully this sea of sad kalanchoe has perked up too.

Although the condition of the plants wasn't stopping them from producing their beautiful blooms.

Back down at the visitors center/gift shop we shopped. I was mostly interested in their wheeled carts...

Fabulous, but to big to get home.

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All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.