Meet HPSO member Ruth Clark who gardens in Vancouver, Washington, Zone 8. Ruth has been opening her peaceful, park-like garden to HPSO members for ten years and her garden will be part of the Clark County Mini-Tour on June 11th.  What methods do I use to reduce water usage in my garden? I don’t buy plants that need a lot of water. If the tag says ‘moist soil’ it goes back on the table. I’m really just trying to reduce work for myself as watering is not something I enjoy doing. I have drip lines in my vegetable garden and… 

Meet HPSO member Anton Klemens who gardens in West Linn, Oregon. He is opening his garden to HPSO members this year on June 4th from 10AM to 3PM. Anton’s garden features his collection of over 600 plants, particularly rare conifers and Japanese maples. He shares his favorite plants and tips for growing beautiful conifers in this Profile.   What gardens have most influenced me? Long before my wife Jill and I moved to Oregon we planned our vacations around visiting gardens in the PNW. Two of those gardens from our first visit in 2007 and 2008 still inspire me today. Both gardens… 

Meet Jeanne DeBenedetti Keyes, HPSO board member and Open Garden Owner. She gardens in USDA Zone 8, SE Portland, Oregon and is sharing her garden with HPSO members on her Open Garden date, May 1st, 2022, and by appointment. Jeanne applies climate-wise gardening methods to create a beautiful, sustainable garden, and shares some of her tips in this Profile.  Some of the climate-wise elements I include in my garden are: Respecting my garden’s natural conditions – I designed the gardens to meet the site conditions. I would think what kind of soil do I have here, how much sunlight is… 

Meet Matthew Hubbard, HPSO member and gardener in SE Portland, Zone 8. He shares more stories and photos of his garden on his blog, The Garden of the Lents Farmer. Matthew has been sharing his garden with HPSO members for 6 years as part of the Open Gardens program, and this year his garden will be featured in a SE Portland Mini-Tour of  member gardens on May 7th! HPSO Members, please log in to the Member Center and scroll down to the Open Gardens section where you will find the full details for this Mini-Tour. What do I wish I’d… 

The power of gardens can be difficult to quantify, although we know a great garden when we see it. But what is it that makes a garden great? Is it unique plants, art and furniture, or landscape design? This all contributes to a beautiful garden, but it often comes down to the personal touch of the gardener that really makes a garden stand out. In Rita’s case, the garden transports her family to their favorite vacation spot – Hawaii. Located in a suburban neighborhood in Lake Oswego on a little over a 1/4 acre, the garden bursts with tropical color… 

HPSO members create some truly incredible gardens and share them with others as part of our Open Gardens program! It’s an opportunity to learn from other gardeners, get inspiration for your own garden, and meet other Pacific Northwest gardeners. Thank you to those of you who opened your garden in 2021! This video is to thank those of you that opened your gardens in 2021 as well as those that visited the gardens. Please sit back, enjoy some gorgeous member gardens, and most of all THANK YOU !!!!!  How to list your garden in the Open Gardens Directory All… 

What do you get when a meticulous gardener with an eye for color teams up with a master craftsman? A truly one of a kind, unique garden bursting with personality. Mary and Harlan Courtney started gardening on their property in 2015 and as they gave a tour during their HPSO Open Garden day in August 2021, their excitement and love for the garden was obvious. Perched in the hills in Banks, Oregon, stunning views of the forest surround Mary and Harlan’s gorgeous garden full of fun. The Garden Layout & Design You won’t find straight lines in the garden –… 

What do you do when you love propagating but don’t have room in your garden for more plants? Start a nursery in your backyard! That’s exactly what Lisa Graff did about a year ago when she started Lux Perennials, based in the hills on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon. Lisa opens her garden throughout the year and opened to HPSO members on a rather drizzly, gray day in August. Enjoy this photo tour of her garden and be sure to review the Open Garden Directory to plan a visit to other member gardens this summer! She only propagates the plants… 

Buying a property can be hit or miss when it comes to the garden. It’s rare to find a home with a beautifully maintained and established garden. Oftentimes the best-case scenario is a blank slate, a standard lawn, rather than struggling with a garden overgrown with weeds. But imagine buying a home whose previous owners were talented gardeners that had spent 30 years creating an established garden on the 1-acre property. That’s not to say Kathleen Shelman and her family haven’t made it their own. Ducks peep through the borders from their pen, artful sculptures and tokens adorn the garden,… 

How many of us gardeners dream of a big piece of land to call our own and let our plant obsessions run wild? For Bruce Wakefield and Jerry Grossnickle, creators of Old Germantown Gardens, that dream is reality. They’ve been gardening here for over 30 years and have transformed a scrubby 5-acre property into a plant paradise. Bruce is heavily involved in HPSO, having served as president for years, and countless visitors have toured his garden. The garden is probably best known for the stunning displays of Giant Himalayan Lilies in summer, but I got the chance to visit in…