Thursday, June 8, 2017

Don't miss the 13th annual Designers Garden Tour!

The 2017 Association of Northwest Landscape Designers (ANLD) Designers Garden Tour will take place on Saturday, June 17, 2017 from 10am - 4pm.  I was fortunate to pre-tour the event and, as always, the gardens are full of inspiration and beauty. Garden designers solve a multitude of problems and they do it with style and verve, so the tour is a showcase of their ability and creativity. Here are a few themes that emerged for me and reasons I think you'll enjoy attending.

Edibles can be integrated into any ornamental garden, and look great in the landscape.






From the simple to the sublime, art has a place in every garden.







Art can be functional, too.

An artful mosaic patio can provide seating - another thing any garden needs.

Seating areas invite you to settle down for a while.




From small to huge, rocks add interest, solve problems, create walls, and provide seating.





But the heart and soul of any garden are the plants, and you'll enjoy seeing how landscape designers use them flawlessly.





The tour is self-guided and this year's seven gardens are on the west side of Portland. As in past years, proceeds benefit the ANLD scholarship fund.

For more information on the tour or to purchase tickets, phone 503-683-3003, or go to www.anld.com.
I hope you enjoy the tour as much as I did!

10 comments:

  1. Looks like a great tour. In past years I would be tempted, but with the fling coming up, I've got lots of last minute things to do. I think I recognize at least one of those gardens, actually -- the one with the large rock wall, with terraces (and I'm pretty sure I spy another recognizable garden blogger in that photo too). That last combo in the green pot is so good and simple -- black mondo grass and sedum Angelina.

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    1. Yes, Alison, I was struck by the simplicity and perfection of that pot. No fancy plants needed!

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  2. Nice coverage, Jane. Sorry I missed it this year.

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    1. We missed you, Ricki. I hope you can attend the main event on Saturday!

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  3. I hate that they only have this on one day (a work day for me). I enjoyed it last year.

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    1. It's a shame you have to work, Phillip, but maybe you can assuage your sadness by buying more plants for YOUR garden.

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  4. How I wish I lived within commuting distance! A 1900+ mile round trip isn't practical but I enjoy seeing the tour covered in your photos and those of other bloggers.

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  5. Nice to see you there, Jane. Fun to read people's take on the same gardens, same day. (I wrote one up too, should I post the link?)
    Gosh those Steve Farris rusted urns & sculptures were dreamy (your pictures reminded me). Funny how I missed two of the raised bed features you mention, but I really like them, so I'm glad you posted them. Your lead photo--the metal raised bed--I had to think hard where that was...because there were so many people around it! Lush space anyway, people and all.

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    1. Nice to see you, too, Alyse. Yes, do post the link! We managed to get into most of the gardens on the leading edge of the crowd, so I was able to get some shots with relatively few people in them.

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  6. I love the themes you picked out. Those rusted urns are quite something! I really enjoyed your post :)

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