OK, I'll just go ahead and say it. I don't like really like chinese gardens. It's something about the ornateness of everything - swooping roofs, scrollwork, patterned tiles, painted woodwork, heavily puckered stone - texture upon texture upon texture! I find it a bit overwhelming. There is also a high-contrast to chinese gardens I have a hard time with - those white walls right next to dark plants and how an overly bright courtyard will lead to a very dark shady spot. And the fact that I always seem to go to chinese gardens on really hot, sunny days probably does not help. I'm sure some folks love the drama of these gardens, to me they just feel too unnatural. Yet chinese gardens are supposed to be creating a hyper-natural style. Maybe it's the hyper part that gets to me.
BUT, that said, I did find some scenes I really liked at Portland's Lan Su Chinese Garden. If I can just focus on a detail or two, put blinders on to strip away some of the drama, then I find some beautiful things that would be lovely to incorporate into a garden of my own.
Who wouldn't love to have an amazing gate like this in one's garden?
One feature I couldn't get enough of are the mosaic pebble floors. I love the pattens and the way the plants and moss soften the edges. Apparently the pebbles act like an acupressure treatment to the feet if you take your shoes off. I found it pleasant but a tad bit painful too.
And the architecture I can take in bits and pieces. I asked the guy dusting the bridge how often they had to dust the scrollwork. "Every day" he said, somewhat mournfully I thought. He did add that it can be quite meditative though. Weeding I find meditative, dusting not so much.
Those rocks I can appreciate in small doses.
The boat and lily pads were pretty charming.
Another moon gate.
Some calmer textural layering here.
And the garden had some neat plants too. Impatiens omeiana definitely likes Portland. They don't look that happy in Oakland. And this was a new pine to me - Pinus bungeana or Lacebark Pine. Love the camo look.
OK, so there was plenty to like. I'd even go visit again.
We were warmly welcomed the evening prior to the start of the 2014 Garden Bloggers Fling at the lovely and striking Pomarius Nursery.
Ignoring the delicious smells from coming from the Mexican food truck waiting to feed all of us bloggers, I rushed around checking out the plants. I loved the sophisticated foliage-heavy selection.
Some cool topiaries:
This white trunked tree was overrun with a Kiwi vine, creating a pretty topical canopy.
In the greenhouse (that was transported from another location and rebuilt at the nursery) I found tender bulbs and succulents.
Pomarius seems to specialize in large size bonsai too.
After filling my belly with tamales and beer, I took another loop through the nursery and began to notice some nice hardscape and garden element details.
I like the not-so-waterproof mailbox and the way the nursery used landscape cloth to create black screening walls around the nursery. The black gives a dramatic, sophisticated backdrop to the plants.
Beyond the main retail space were several bright and airy offices connected by raised boardwalks. I wish I could have an office here. The landscaping appeared to be well-arranged back stock from the nursery, an ever-changing garden view for the office workers.
The sunken water gardens next to the boardwalks were particularly nice.
It was a lovely evening catching up with friends in a beautiful setting. Thanks for having us Pomarius!
If I ever get back to Asheville, and I hope I do, I would like to stay at the White Gate Inn. The buildings are set into lush gardens that wind around the property creating lots of sitting areas and are full of interesting plants. The Inn is located in a beautiful neighborhood that invites strolling and further garden peeping. Plus, the Inn is supposedly haunted. Cool!
Nice details on that white gate:
And even before I read that the White Gate Inn was haunted, I totally felt the presence of something spooky in the greenhouse. Don't you see ghosts too?
I'd personally stay out of the greenhouse at night...
