Revisit: JC Raulston Arboretum

While in North Carolina for Christmas, my planned visit to Greenbridge Development in Chapel Hill. The closest I got was a peek through the closed windows of the office, and a quick driveby to the building site, which was vacant. Alas, not much to report, until I get some materials... although the real-estate folks were quick to call me back after the holidays, as they may have percieved a potential sale.

A side visit to the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University proved a worthy, and probably more informative field trip. My girlfriend SuSu worked at the arboretum while getting a horticulture degree at NCSU, so I was also equipped with a wonderful tour guide and plant nerd. Plants, much to our delight, seldom require much commentary... so i will abide by the rule of pictures=1000 words, and keep it brief.


:: Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia faurei)


:: the right coast OG - Media Mahonia (Mahonia x media)

While not incredibly striking, Mahonia spp. in the PNW are a native staple and do evoke the regional landscape. The above Media Mahonia was lush and continually striking whenever I saw them. In addition, there are some rare specimens, or just those with striking placement and seasonal color. These Dwarf Loblolly Pines are unique features not found in many locations.


:: Dwarf Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda 'Nana')


:: Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus)

A roof garden project I designed in mid-2007 made use of the Muhly Grass, which was a new species to me (and a SuSu recommendation) to provide waves of reddish tufted seed-heads that would wave in the breezes atop the building. I was doubly convinced of this choice after seeing this grouping along the perennial border.


:: Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

In addition to the ability to see and experience firsthand materials and seasonal change, as well as full-grown forms that bely their nursery sizes, the arboretum (read: ANY arboretum) is a great opportunity to study the beauty and variety of plant form. Looking at shape, color, texture, contrast, and unique character is only accomplished firsthand - thus maybe a picture is worth 1000 words, but a visit is priceless.


:: Fruit of the Hardy-orange (Poncirus trifoliata)

Revisit: Oregon Garden

It's a rainy, gray day in Portland, so i was sorting digital photographs and stumbled upon a few from a November trip to The Oregon Garden in Silverton, Oregon. This was my first visit to the garden, and alas, the camera died about 500 feet into the garden, so a return trip is required. The garden was envisioned in the 1940s, and finally took shape in the mid-90s, and opening around 1999. Consisting of a series of 20 gardens, focussed around a typical horticultural display, or a theme based on local ecology, children, agriculture, or art.

The focal point is the A-mazing Water Garden, designed by Carol Mayer-Reed, principal of Mayer/Reed in Portland. The garden consists of a series of water features and ornamental water plants, configured around a sweeping bridge. This is one of the more formerly defined and well done areas of the garden.


:: The Amazing Water Garden - image by author

Another more recent addition was the ecoroof demonstration project added by Ecoroofs Everywhere, back when it was a non-profit building ecoroofs in the Portland area. This small project on one of the gardens pumphouses tested three different ecoroof soil mixes and a variety of succulents suitable for local conditions. One item of a more horticultural approach that provides some added value by identifying plant species.


:: image of ecoroof and author by SuSu Hunniecutt


:: image by author

Another feature that I have not visited, but plan to this year, is the relocated Gordon House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and moved adjacent to the garden in 2002. A prominent example of FLW's Usonian architecture, which were developed during the depression as middle-income L-shaped houses which are derived from a simplicity of form and materials, and was considered a predecessor of the mid-century ranch house and the carport. Houses typically had a strong visual connnection with exterior and interior spaces, and were developed with a garden terrace in the exterior of the L-shaped structure.


:: image of Gordon House via Flickr by Major Clanger

Many local designeres at the time played parts in many areas of the garden throughout the years, so as much as it is a display of local plant variation, it becomes a display of local design variation as well. The Oregon Garden differs from some more horticulturally-oriented displays in the sense that it provides some more orderly arrangements, as well as some working demonstration and and test gardens. A goal of the upcoming year is to visit the Oregon Garden in all four seasons (with camera batteries charged), to see the variations throughout the year. So more to come.

Madness/Genius?

You decide... what can I say... Taking the idea of 'playing with your food' to, I guess, 'healthy' extremes, photographer Carl Warner has created landscapes using only food items, photographed and digitally manipulating pastoral nature scenes. Whereas broccoli is a no-brainer for a tree analog, who would've pictured pink salmon ocean water lapping on to shore in the tropical scene below.


:: image and link via Treehugger


:: image via BBC - follow link for more photos