Part 3 of Leslie’s Dream Garden – Designing The Private Office Entry
While planning the lanscape design for the entrance of Leslie’s office, we put considerable thought into accessibility. Instead of adding a second path off the front walk, we used wide planting bed paver edging on both sides for symmetry. This subtle landscape design choice preserved the front yard’s elegance as a residence while providing a practical solution for access to her office.
We also retained two perfectly square boxwoods on either side of the front walk, beautifully pruned by Leslie, which added a structured element to the design and the old hydrangea. All the other overgrown shrubs will be replaced with evergreen shrubs and multi season perennials and ground covers for a welcoming appearance year-round.
Creating a Rich Plant Palette for the Front Yard
Winter Snowman Camellia flowers in the fall, and has a more compact shape than most.
Front yard foundation plant list: Camellia japonica ‘Winters Snowman’ is a variety that makes a perfect, small, vase-shaped shrub or small tree and it flowers in fall.
Fatsia ‘Spiders Web’ has attractive green and cream variegated leaves, Sarcococca confusa is lovely evergreen with fragrance and shiny dark green leaves. Hellebores, brunnera, heuchera (coral bells) specialty hens and chicks, Lithodora diffusa ‘White Star’ (sky blue flower with white eye) and other groundcovers make a tapestry of color at the front edge of the landscape.
Fatsia japonica ‘Spiders Web’ in SE Portland clients backyard
Working with Portland Native Plants
Dark red flowers grace these Hellebore perennials planted with Japanese Forest grass in N.E. Portland landscape design.
The east side of the property features a pedestrian boulevard planted with native flora like vine maple, cascara tree, Oregon grape, and sword fern. We kept a lot of the existing native plants. We wanted to add complementary species to ensure the boulevard garden looked like an extension of Leslie’s yard but the front yard was too small to add native shrubs. Instead we added low water compatible perennials like the intense magenta flowered hardy geranium ‘Tiny Monster,’ which blooms for two months and a blue flowering Amsonia which is fully drought tolerant.
Before the design. We are keeping the NW Native Huckleberry shrubs that edge the public walkway.
Native plants – Creeping Oregon Grape (Mahonia repens from eastern Oregon) thrives in this morning sun area without summer water in this N.E. Portland side yard.
Leslie is thrilled with the design and eagerly awaits implementation. I’m excited for her to enjoy her garden entrance to her office and to be energized by her interesting and colorful plantings.
Do You Have A Dream Garden?
Creating a dream garden takes time conversing and understanding a client’s vision so that the space available can reflect that dream. This process includes, design choices that compliment the property using hardscaping and a planting plan that delights the eye (and suits your garden care skills). This is my passion—creating custom landscape designs for small city properties.
Rudbeckia lacinata Herbstonne’ with Gold Band Miscanthus grass in Portland summer garden. It’s still flowering in October.
My clients (in Portland, Oregon) often want a garden design with lots of flowers for making flower arrangements. I’m happy to create plantings in the landscape that can do double duty, plants that solve a problem. This tall black-eyed Susan plant, Rudbeckia l. ‘Herbstonne’ works well to screen a fence and use the flowers in the vase from mid summer to frost. They are dramatic all on their own or paired with a more dainty flower. They are easy to grow and are very useful to pollinators.
If you want to use Rudbeckia for summer to fall flower arrangements, your choices are abundant. Some varieties start flowering in June, others start in mid July and may continue til frost. Deadhead or remove spent flowers on your plants to encourage new blooms.
Short Lived Perennial Rudbeckia have an Abundance of Flowers
Rudbeckia hirta: A native that hosts some butterflies. Grow the species if you want to be serious about providing for native insects or buy a few and allow it to reseed. The species is tall ( 4’ ) so expect some leaning here and there. It is called a short lived perennial but can behave like an annual or a biennial in Portland gardens some years. It will wear itself out flowering profusely in a year or two, so be sure to let some seedlings remain.
Popular varieties of Rudbeckia h. like ‘Denver Daisy’ and ‘Irish Eyes’ offer attractive bright green seed heads. Their progeny (seedlings) will not necessarily look the same as what you bought but there is a lot of fun seeing what they look like over the years. Bees and other pollinators will like them too but unless it is the species some of our native pollinators won’t be able to feed or host on the cultivated varieties. This is a very easy plant to grow.
Long Lasting Perennial Rudbeckia
My favorite is Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Little Henry’, with an unusual spoon shape at the end of each petal and it is about 24 to 30” tall so a dwarf version of ‘Henry Eilers’ which is closer to 4’ tall. It starts flowering in late summer to frost.
Obviously, (because I write about this one so often), Rudbeckia lacinata ‘Herbstonne’ or ‘Autumn Sun’, reaching up to 7 feet tall, offers a vibrant clean yellow flower with a large and bright green cone in the center.
Low maintenance long flowering Rudbeckia f. (probably Goldstrum) in SE Portland garden.
Rudbeckia fulgida, the species at 4′ plus can be too tall for some of my gardens. Varieties like ‘Goldstrum‘ are tall enough for longer stems but much shorter than the species. Little Gold Star is a great plant but at 18” tall, don’t expect long stems. It’s compact and with a neat sort of uniform shape it looks good enough for use in a front yard planting plan.
Rudbeckia triloba variety has shorter slightly rounded petals versus other black-eyed Susan with spiky petals.
Rudbeckia triloba: Also called brown-eyed Susan, this species has an airy, billowing shape to the plant and requires more summer water than hirta or most perennial forms of Rudbeckia. I love this flower in the vase because it is a smaller more delicate flower than other black-eyed Susans. Cultivated varieties of Rudbeckia triloba can include shades of oranges and dark reds, as well as the more typical goldenrod color. It seeds about intensely, is tall and will lean into other plants which can be charming. If you like order in your garden pass this one by. Here is one from our local Portland nursery Xera called ‘Prairie Glow’.
Vase Preparation Tips-Making your flower arrangement last
On line you will find all kinds of advice for treating the stems to help them uptake water and therefore make the flower last longer. I’m a big fan of super simple Simon and I swear some people want to make things more difficult. So I never treat the stems of rudbeckia with flame or hot water or pounding them, before putting them in the vase. I place all the flowers in cool water as soon as possible, remove any leaves below water level, and then recut the stems at an angle. Once that is done they go in the vase.
I don’t use preservative packets and I won’t judge if you do but my flowers last a long time because I change the water every few days. If I have time… and only if I love love love the arrangement… I make fresh cuts on the bottom of the stems every few days and change the water. Wow does that ever make my cut flowers last a lot longer!
Stripping petals from some black-eyed Susan flowers to use just the naked seed head on the stem adds texture and drama to my arrangement. Many seed heads of Rudbeckia are a zippy lime or olive green, offering a wonderful color contrast too. They dry to a dark brown and remain useful in the vase for at least a month or two.
Considerations for Wildlife and Pollinators
How to manage the taller species plants that are so great for wildlife (and your vase)? 4’ or taller can be difficult for small gardens. The true natives, species versus cultivated varieties, are much better for native bees and pollinators because the varieties don’t look right to the bee or pollinator and they don’t visit them. We have hundreds of native bees and pollinators and they struggle to find food or a host plant.
You can employ what my gramma called “pinching back’. Cut your plant to ½ its height in mid to late May. I use my by pass hand pruner for the job not my fingers. The stems are too tough for fingers. Your plant will still flower lots but the stem will be shorter and sturdier for the rest of the growing season and still long enough for flower arranging.
Feed Winter Finches with Rudbeckia Seed Heads
I stop deadheading in early fall to allow the plant to focus its energy for seed production. The seeds become food for finches and black cap chickadees and the dried cones look good in my winter garden. Solitary native bees will use the hollow stems for nests so I leave the old stems as long as I can.
My Favorite Fall Flower Arrangement
My favorite fall flower arrangement uses Rudbeckia ‘Herbstonne’ with variegated Miscanthus grass blades and large, lacy white cones of Hydrangea paniculata for an elegant late-summer arrangement. The rudbeckia flowers dry losing their petals and leaving behind the seed head along with the dry hydrangea flower head. This bouquet can be maintained as a dried flower arrangement for months.
Are you looking for a thoughtful planting plan focused on color, visual satisfaction, or feeding pollinators and birds? Do you want a designer who knows more than just trees and shrubs? Perhaps you want a low-maintenance backyard that still supports cutting flowers and feeds bees? You can have beauty, low maintenance, and pollinator-friendly plantings. Just ask us to create it for you. I return phone calls and respond quickly to contact forms.
My fall bouquet finally falling apart after over 2 months. Rudbeckia seed heads, panicle hydrangea cones are still going strong.
Taming the slope for a family that loves to be in their back yard!
Imagine walking into your own lush, forested oasis, where every corner is alive with the buzz of pollinators and the chirping of native birds. If you value sustainability, desire to sequester carbon, and want a landscape that thrives with native flora and fauna, then you’ve found the right landscape designer to bring your vision to life.
Take, for example, Ben and Naja, who were eager to transform their Portland hillside property. Though their home had stunning front-facing windows for sunsets, the backyard posed a challenge with its intimidating slope. Nevertheless, their love for the outdoors drove them to find a solution.
Before our landscape design process ivy was removed but the steep slope remained difficult to navigate and was not inviting….at all.
Eco Friendly Backyard Dream
Dedicated to their eco-friendly backyard dream, Ben and Naja contacted Bird Alliance of Oregon to learn what it would take to earn a Backyard Habitats Certification for their property. Next they contacted me, Carol Lindsay, Landscape Design in a Day. They wanted someone who could think about all the needs of their large property and create a custom landscape plan they could install. While they waited for our design day they removed more invasive plant species with determination, a testament to their dedication to crafting a restorative woodland garden.
Crafting cozy, inviting spaces for relaxation and entertainment.
Improving the accessibility of their third-acre sloping property in SW Portland.
Designing a serene hammock retreat, nestled in the woods yet conveniently close to the house, and…that could double as a firepit area.
Establishing pathways that seamlessly connect the front yard to the new backyard seating area and woodlands beyond, ensuring easy maintenance access to control invasive species. The existing mature trees and native soil were just waiting for liberation from invasive weeds.
Locally-Sourced Juniper Wood Retaining Wall
The transformation began with a forest patio integrated into the hillside near their back door deck. We used locally-sourced juniper wood, crafted retaining walls that doubled as seating instead of using concrete. This patio space enjoys cool shade in the afternoons and sunlight in the morning.
Since their existing deck is not hospitable in the afternoons, our second seating area allowed more outdoor living in the summer than they had ever had.
The first phase integrates the existing deck up into the woods with a series of steps and a wide sitting wall that also retains the hillside.
Before our design process the side yard was unattractive and difficult to use especially when it was raining and muddy.
The design of the steep stairs has sloped tread area to make the stairs less visually formidable and comfortable to use. Native plants adorn the side planting areas. Stair risers are juniper wood.
Environmental Backyard Landscape Design Results:
Nature Trail and Pathways
The once-steep and unusable side yard was reimagined into an accessible, inviting area. It’s truly beautiful and was a tremendous amount of work. Count those stairs; every single one was installed by our clients. With a labor of love and assistance from family (talented fathers helped), Ben, Naja, and their daughter hauled 2.5 tons of materials, proving that professional construction wasn’t necessary for this project. Naja, showcasing her impressive work boots, even removed a large stump single-handedly.
We (Alana Chau) designed a nature trail leading to the top of the property, enhancing the experience with over 100 native plants all species (no cultivars that can confuse pollinators), carefully placed in their correct planting spot.
A section of woodland path near the top of our client’s sloped backyard with native plants.
Visiting the Completed Design Installation
Select the very best grade of juniper wood to have it last 30 years without rotting.
Two years later we set up a visit with our clients to see the results. The landscape plantings have matured beautifully; it’s heartwarming to see the patio, walls, and forest surroundings work so well for this family’s backyard. And also to hear how happy they are using their backyard.
The hammock patio, initially designed for multiple use, is predominantly a peaceful hammock haven used daily by Naja.
The hundreds of native plants have flourished, with the exception of our original choice for a privacy shrub, Oregon Wax Myrtle, which we anticipate will grow denser with time. The enchanting stroll up through the matured native plant garden reveals abundant wildlife, from busy chickadees and juncos to the surprising resident, an ermine, who has claimed its territory with a charming boldness. Photos that Ben shared with us show the ermine either smiling or showing its teeth–we will go with smiling. They are close to qualifying for the silver Backyard Habitats Certification with most of invasive plants banished.
After photo of our landscape design and our clients thoughtful installation was completed. A mix of native and native adjacent plants soften the steps and seating areas of the new back yard. Carol Lindsay seated on the wide juniper retaining wall.
Transform Your Property
Working with and helping clients like Ben and Naja, who are committed to combating climate change and supporting native wildlife, is truly rewarding. Designing a landscape that invites both critter and human relaxation requires expertise and passion. If you’re ready to transform your property into an environmentally conscious haven, Call me 503 223 2426 or use my contact form. You will hear back from me quickly.
Let’s discuss your dream landscape to support humans and our wildlife partners.
Switch Grass: Colorful grass blades with drought tolerance too
Switch grass is a native American grass that offers dramatic color and form, making it a standout in any garden:
Mass Planting: This grass looks fantastic when massed or used as a focal point. It’s particularly effective in modern landscapes but fits well into naturalistic gardens too.
Seasonal Interest: With its vibrant mid-summer and fall colors, switch grass provides interest when many other plants are fading. I have noticed many of the newer varieties of switch grass blades color up even by mid June depending on how hot it has been.
Water Needs: Once established, switch grass is very low water. However, it’s crucial to plant it in well-drained soil. Avoid areas where water can puddle, as this will cause the roots to rot. If you still have powerful overhead sprinkler spray be aware the water spray can cause these grasses to fall over. Drip irrigation is better for this reason and that it is easier to water deeply and infrequently which is a perfect fit for this grass.
Height Considerations:
Stick with grasses under 4′ tall for low maintenance. I always use shorter cultivars 36 to 44 inches tall to avoid my clients having to add supports. But, taller varieties (such as 6 or 7′ tall switch grass) can be so stunning if you’re willing to put a ring or other support around the plant in spring. Piet Ouldalf, a famous garden designer uses heavy metal rings with feet (the ring was about 14” to 18”) around his 6′ tall ornamental grasses. I found this video link on the web for a grass ring but wow these grasses in the video are huge and much wider than any of the tall grasses that I use. I was in Piet’s garden back in 2001 and saw the supports he uses. It made me laugh because I had thought when my tall grasses flopped that I was overwatering or doing something wrong but even the master uses supports for tall grasses. If you are an adventurous gardener, willing to use supports, go for some of the tall varieties like 8′ foot tall Thundercloud Switch Grass.
Switch grass used as a colorful entry walk plant in S.W. Portland in a drought tolerant garden of grasses, herbs, and succulents.
Switch grass is a versatile and resilient choice, offering beauty and adaptability to various garden styles. It doesn’t provide well for Willamette Valley native insects but it pairs beautifully with pollinator friendly plants like Blanket Flower, Salvias, Penstemons and more. It makes an orderly but loose effect with native pollinator friendly shrubs like Coyote Bush.
Bringing It All Together
Sedum Autumn Joy contrasts beautifully with Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum background) in Portland garden.
Creating a custom landscape design requires a deep understanding of plant behavior. As a landscape designer, my goal is to select plants that not only look beautiful but also thrive in your specific environment with minimal maintenance. Here’s how I can help:
Custom Designs: I tailor designs to fit your space and lifestyle and your eco consciousness. I won’t proselytize but am happy to create plantings that feed our native insects. Birds gotta eat too and what they eat are insects. Or maybe we will only use a few native plants and use more non native plants that help bees and use less water all without cramping your style. Whether you want a low-maintenance garden or are more interested in plants that require learning how to care for them… I’ll create a plan that works for you.
Knowledge and Experience: I understand how different plants grow and perform and what it takes to care for them. Lets create a thriving and vibrant planting plan for your new landscape.
Personalized Advice: We’ll discuss what “low maintenance” actually means to you and design a garden that meets your expectations and provides the stunning visual appeal you expect from a landscape designer.
Get in Touch
Creating a custom landscape design is more than just picking plants – it’s about understanding how they will perform in your unique environment and how much care they will need. If you’re ready to transform your garden, contact me for a phone consultation. Let’s create a stunning, low-maintenance landscape tailored to your needs and preferences.
Get these easy and simple tips on how to keep your garden, patio, or other outdoor entertaining places beautiful. You’ll also receive my monthly newsletter and stay up to date on: design ideas, dog friendly designs, native plants, nurseries we love, upcoming garden events and tours.
