February in Oregon is often a dreary time. There are signs that spring is on the way – daffodils and tulips poking out of the ground, a few brave early blooms. While we may be itching to get out in the garden, there’s still a couple months before the risk of frost is over. However, there’s no better place to be in February than in Tamara & David’s 2-acre garden in Saint Helens. Tamara documents her garden on her blog, Chickadee Gardens, and plans to open their garden for tours this summer for HPSO members. Put it on your list… 

Another season of the HPSO Open Gardens is coming to a close. This has been a very successful year with approximately 120 private gardens and nursery display gardens open to HPSO members. Gardens will still be open through October 14th (check the HPSO directory or the website for more details).  If you’re not yet a member of HPSO and would like to visit some of these gardens, become a member today to receive your Open Gardens directory with details! If you are a HPSO member and would like to open your garden next year, please contact us. There was a… 

As we approach September, HPSO members are treated to even more opportunities to visit the gardens of other members through our Open Gardens program. Visiting other area gardens is a wonderful way to gain inspiration for your own garden projects, to meet people who share your passion for plants, and to enjoy the gorgeous days September (hopefully!) has in store for us. Some of September’s gardens include nurseries with display gardens, so you can get ready for fall planting with a little shopping too! There are 28 Open Gardens in September, including… Matthew Greydanus & Darin Simmons – Laurel Hedge… 

The annual HPSO Open Gardens program continues in August with almost 30 private and public gardens open on weekends and some on Monday evenings.  Several gardens are open for the first time and it is also a chance to see gardens that you missed earlier in the year. Some of the gardens open in August include: Michael Babbit & Ellen Bartholomew This small garden packs a punch with borders of roses and drought-tolerant plants along the hell-strip and driveway. The back garden is a labyrinth of garden rooms shaded by apricot and apple trees. Glass art and copper structures add… 

The annual HPSO Open Gardens program continues in July with a wide variety of gardens, both private and public, open to our members on weekends and some Monday evenings. The gardens include new ones on the tour for the first time as well as a chance to see gardens that you may have missed in the past. The month of July is a time when a wide variety of perennials and shrubs are flourishing and many gardens are at their peak. Some of the gardens open in July include: The Bud Dietrich Garden Perennials, flowering trees, ornamental grasses and tropicals… 

We previously asked you to save the date, now it’s time to share a preview of five of seven the gardens that make up this year’s HPSO/Garden Conservancy Open Gardens Day on July 14th. To recap: this year’s event includes seven private gardens in North/Northeast Portland as well as free “Digging Deeper” programs at Garden Fever and Thicket Nursery. Timber Press authors will be signing books, and there will be pollinator classes from bee experts and water conservation information from the regional water consortium. PLUS there’s a wrap-up reception at Portland Nursery. Tickets are $7 at each garden, or visit all… 

The annual HPSO Open Gardens program is in full swing with a plethora of gardens open for tours during the month of June.  The June gardens are open on weekends and some are open on Monday evenings (times and locations are listed for members in the HPSO Open Gardens directory). Some of this month’s gardens include – Thomas Vetter A plant lover’s paradise nestled in Hazelwood, the Vetter garden is entering its 20th season and is a favorite stop on garden tours. The garden is a palette of colors and textures with ferns, trees, perennials and shrubs framing one beautiful… 

The temperatures are rising and the sun is making more appearances as the glorious spring season begins in the Pacific Northwest. The annual HPSO Open Gardens program started in April and there are even more gardens to see during the month of May. The May gardens are open on weekend days (times and locations are listed for members in the HPSO Open Gardens directory). Approximately twenty of the gardens on this year’s HPSO Open Gardens are those that are featured on the tour for the first time. One of these is the garden of Matthew Hubbard (aka The Lents Farmer)…. 

In just a few short weeks – April 7 to be exact – the new season of the HPSO Open Gardens begins! Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of our members who are opening their gardens, we have a wide-ranging group of beautiful gardens you can visit each weekend, and even some weekday evenings straight through until early October. This year, approximately 120 private gardens, as well as nursery display gardens, are open for your viewing pleasure. Whether you are seeking design inspiration or you just need a relaxing stroll through a beautiful garden, the tour has something for everyone… 

ARTICLE BY: NANCY GOLDMAN Nancy Goldman is an active member and past president, and board member of HPSO. She leads HPSO tours, and is instrumental in putting on our large programs. She gardens in NE Portland, and regularly opens her garden to members. Lucky us! *** Oh I do love gardening, especially in the Pacific Northwest. I was born and raised in North Dakota and also spent time in northern Minnesota where gardening is, at times, challenging. I do appreciate the prairie and it is a great place where tomatoes ripen and zinnias and petunias excel. But upon moving to…