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 / Estacada

Laurel Hedge Garden / Photo by Phillip Oliver of Dirt Therapy

Laurel Hedge is both a designer’s private home and gardens as well as a boutique nursery and shop. This two-acre estate is arranged into garden rooms hosting a bamboo garden with tea house, koi pond with rustic pavilion, white-flowering spiral garden, rose garden, hornbeam-lined allee, flower garden with greenhouse, and many others. Laurel Hedge has been transformed from a Noble tree farm into an eclectic mix of specimen, species and beloved plants which highlight multiple design concepts. Along with fountains, statuary, and rustic garden structures, the visitor will also see espalier, formal hedging and topiary including a five-foot tall rabbit and a small herd of deer. LaurelHedge.com.

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Ann Amato & John Zorich – Campiello Maurizio / Portland

Campiello Maurizio / Photo by Ann Amato

Located at the base of Mt. Tabor, Campiello Maurizio is a small garden space behind the house where the owners drink coffee, entertain guests, and lounge beneath the large living willow arbor that was created over 10 years ago. Due to the owners’ shared heritage, there is an Italian feel to the garden, but that’s not all that you’ll encounter here. The rest of the garden is modest and bohemian. One of the owners is a plant collector, propagator, and lover of plants so there is a hodgepodge in this city garden. The garden is far from being established at this point. There is a xeric area, two shade gardens beneath mature Doug firs, and a propagation area as well as the graveled living area out back.

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Sebright Gardens / Salem

Sebright Gardens / Photo by Kate McMillan of Cultiverity

Sebright Gardens includes four acres of botanical display gardens adjacent to the nursery with many mature hosta specimens & other perennials planted around rare shrubs and trees. A sunny berm houses a dwarf conifer collection. Plants throughout are well-labeled. There is also a gazebo for visitors to enjoy relaxing with a view of the countryside. The retail shopping area specializes in a huge variety of hostas, plus ferns, epimediums and a plethora of shade tolerant plants.

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Linda Wisner & Chet Orloff – Flicker Farm / Sauvie Island

Flicker Farm / Photo by Linda Wisner

Come explore this 1.3-acre Sauvie Island home. Walk through gates sculpted by Ray Huston into the magical world of Flicker Farm, the heart of which is a Mediterranean meets-Pacific-Northwest courtyard. From the shady borders and beds in the front, to the herb garden and berms, to the vegetable gardens and berry round, to the meadows and native plant hedgerows beyond, there is much to discover. You’ll find plenty of places to sit a while, from a dry-stacked stone bench in front, to a cluster of chairs under the contorted mulberry, to the birch grove.

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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 with an open garden this season & would like to have your garden featured on the blog, please contact us.