12 Photos From PHS Summit
Last weekend I attended the 2016 Pacific Horticultural Society Summit in neighboring Sonoma County. I've been a PHS member for many years , decades in fact, but have never attended the annual Summit. What was I waiting for ? Granted this years event was close to home , required only 1 hour of car travel and no lodging. The speakers were first rate , and I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. Every one of them were passionate and knowledgeable about their topics - I wish I'd taken more notes ! Exploring the PHS website will lead you to content relevant to the theme of the summit 'Changing Times, Changing Gardens' . Climate , drought and the appropriate regional plant palette is something many west coast gardeners are struggling to adjust to while still giving ourselves permission to push the zone envelope and plant what we love .
Sunday was garden tour day and carpooling with Gerhard of Succulents and More, 3 gardens were visited before the 4pm close time. Each of the three could clearly merit it's own post but I will instead offer a dozen photos divided between them . I will say that my images do not begin to convey the beauty and uniqueness of these gardens.
I've longed to see Roger Raiches' garden for years , and it's inclusion on this tour tipped the scales for me , how could I not attend ? It might be my only chance. Visit the Planet Horticulture website for a taste of the gardens designed by Roger and partner David McCrory.
Lots of spikey action, Cordylines ,Yuccas, Palms...
They packed 'em in. Clearly I am not taking advantage of all the space in my small garden.It's always enjoyable to see 'wow' gardens in a footprint similar to that of my own.
The Reid garden was an opposite; a large property on a hillside where the drift option is easily deployed. The layers of textures and colors were beautifully orchestrated .
This photo demonstrates the sort of arrangement that was everywhere n this garden.. I loved how the lavenders pointed in towards the trees and shrubs, all positioned to show off their best attributes.
Most fabulous Cussonia in Sonoma County. In the back ground a blooming dawn redwood (Metasequoia) not something you see every day.
A focal point !
I only have 2 photos to share from the last garden we visited , the garden of Josh Williams, the nursery manager at the venerable Cal Flora Nursery in Fulton. I can say I have never seen so many varieties of Manzanita in one place. This garden bends beautifully with the open space beyond the fence.
The front garden.
Okay, so I'm going over 12, but had to include this beautiful focal point in Joshs' back garden.
Sunday was garden tour day and carpooling with Gerhard of Succulents and More, 3 gardens were visited before the 4pm close time. Each of the three could clearly merit it's own post but I will instead offer a dozen photos divided between them . I will say that my images do not begin to convey the beauty and uniqueness of these gardens.
I've longed to see Roger Raiches' garden for years , and it's inclusion on this tour tipped the scales for me , how could I not attend ? It might be my only chance. Visit the Planet Horticulture website for a taste of the gardens designed by Roger and partner David McCrory.
Lots of spikey action, Cordylines ,Yuccas, Palms...
They packed 'em in. Clearly I am not taking advantage of all the space in my small garden.It's always enjoyable to see 'wow' gardens in a footprint similar to that of my own.
The Reid garden was an opposite; a large property on a hillside where the drift option is easily deployed. The layers of textures and colors were beautifully orchestrated .
This photo demonstrates the sort of arrangement that was everywhere n this garden.. I loved how the lavenders pointed in towards the trees and shrubs, all positioned to show off their best attributes.
Most fabulous Cussonia in Sonoma County. In the back ground a blooming dawn redwood (Metasequoia) not something you see every day.
A focal point !
I only have 2 photos to share from the last garden we visited , the garden of Josh Williams, the nursery manager at the venerable Cal Flora Nursery in Fulton. I can say I have never seen so many varieties of Manzanita in one place. This garden bends beautifully with the open space beyond the fence.
The front garden.
Okay, so I'm going over 12, but had to include this beautiful focal point in Joshs' back garden.
Oh, I think I would have very much liked to see that last garden with all the different manzanitas. I'm in the throes of a manzanita love affair at the moment.
ReplyDeleteIt was an impressive collection Alison ! One of the speakers at Summit showed us before and afters of this garden and it was an impressive transformation.
DeleteSounds like the 2016 Pacific Horticultural Society Summit was a full success. I would have loved to see the gardens you visited myself, but since this wasn't possible I am so glad you are sharing photos of them.
ReplyDeleteI am completely blown away by Roger Raiches' Garden! The plant combinations are just mind boggling. It really makes me think about what could be incorporated in my own garden. I am not willing to give up my roses yet, but with the climate change I have to think about incorporating more climate appropriate plants into my planting scheme. The cordylines, yuccas and palms just seem to be the ticket.
Thanks for a very inspiring post!
Warm regards,
Christina
I don't intend to give up my roses either Christina, but I sure have less of them! I culled based on performance and the hybrid teas are all gone except for Charlotte Armstong. They get watered one a week in high summer and have to sink or swim with it.
DeleteI've NEVER seen a redwood with blooms! That alone would have been worth the trip.
ReplyDeleteKris , these Dawn Redwoods are different from our Coast Redwoods and the Giant Sequoia-they are actually deciduous. I have never seen one blooming either, though they are not a common sight in any case. I looked up some info on it and apparently the blooms are technically male cones..cool huh ?
DeleteFocal point what??? Seriously? That A. americana Mediopicta 'Alba' (all typed without benefit of spell check on my lame iPad so please forgive)...OMG, I don't even know how to think about that thing. It's amazing...
ReplyDeleteAnd I continue to be jealous that I wasn't able to attend this event.
I'm sorry you couldn't come too Loree ! It was very well done, and I bet you fancy board members would have gotten sneak peeks at some of these gardens !
DeleteBeautiful photos all around. Great memory of last weekend's outings! It was so much fun hanging out with you.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun ! I googled the last no one home garden, and recognized having seen photos of it before. It looked well worth a visit. It has been on other tours (incl the Sonoma MG tour) so I just need to keep my eye open for another opportunity.
DeleteThat must have been a great event. Wish you'd posted more than twelve-ish photos because they are all so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe cram-it-all-in style is surely much more difficult than it looks, don't you think?
Well I took more photos Hoov, but many that were crappy. I'm afraid I was distracted.The Cram-It style can be more difficult, but when you have the amount of rain we do it sure helps with weed suppression. If done right !
DeleteSo cool that the Reid garden was on the tour. I loved visiting that garden. Hated to miss this, the Raiche garden etc., so thanks so much for posting.
ReplyDeleteI think you would have enjoyed the whole gig Denise. Maybe next year..
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