Monday, December 01, 2014

Fling 2014: Danger Garden

Several months have passed since our trip to West Coast USA for the Portland Bloggers Fling and we are still only part way though all the posts we wanted to write. However it time to have a virtual trip back to Portland and the summer of 2014, with a visit to Loree's Danger Garden.

Of all the gardens and attractions on the agenda, this was the one we were looking forward to the most. Danger Garden was one of the blogs we discovered in our first days of blogging so have followed the gardens evolution for several years. Loree also visited our garden back in 2012 and we promised to make the return visit, so it was extremely fortuitous when Portland was selected for the fling.


The front garden is given over to a gravel garden packed with succulents, a pathway cuts across the garden at an angle to the front door. 




I love how cute the house is, sat surrounded by gravel and planting. It suits the dark painted wood, which does contrast with most of the neighbours who have generally gone for lighter colours. 





From Loree's blog I knew that the garden was not overly large, however the garden felt a lot bigger than I had expected. The back garden has so many areas, changes in level, structures, and things to keep your interest so it makes it feel bigger than if it had just been left to lawn.







One of the things I have mentioned on posts about some of the other hosts was how at first I tended to feel disorientated when visiting the gardens. Even though I have seen many photos of Loree's garden over the years and many of those gave clear views and show where key plants and structures are situation, I still found myself having to correct my mental map of where things were situated. The main one was the shade pavilion, I was convinced in my mind that the structure was situated on the back fence, but no as we all found it was on the side behind the garage. I think next time I'm visiting a garden I know from a blog I will send a map of where everything should be situated with enough time for the home owner to make the necessary changes.

If only I had thought about this before, Andrew could have moved the shade pavilion to its correct location!


I love the shade pavilion, such a well thought out space, and unsurprisingly orange! Mark and I both loved the feel of this part of the garden and the bright ceramics. We are no strangers to building structures in our garden, however neither of us are carpenters. The shade pavilion is so well put together and I just loved the over sized industrial bolts. 


The feeling of space continues with the large patio area. Many people would have gone for a smaller space but I think the generous patio helps make the garden feel big. Of course the space is also packed full of bright pots of more dangerous plants.


Our host and the gardens creator, Loree
We just loved the bright orange pots


The overall composition suggests somewhere far more exotic than Portland (not that Portland is not fabulously exotic!) 

The real star of the show, Lila
Splashes of colour everywhere. I love this hanging Tillandsia



On the right hand side of the garden is a newly planted bed. This had contained a huge overgrown hedge that Loree removed earlier in the year and was planted with a variety of tropicals that will eventually screen the view. Although why anyone would want to screen the multicoloured garage behind the fence I can not understand!




We were fortunate to squeeze in an extra visit to Danger Garden as we stayed on an extra day after the fling. Having visited Portland once I know we will be back, hopefully it won't be too long!

Gaz

32 comments :

  1. I've been looking forward to your Brit's eye view of the Danger Garden. You did not disappoint. We're hoping you will consider Portland your home away from home.

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    1. Thanks Ricki! That's a very lovely thought, who knows... :)

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  2. I just love those succulents!
    It might surprise you - it does most locals here - that I have opuntias just as big growing outside AYR here in York. I have a about five hardy types and a couple dozen more cacti that go into my unheated greenhouse for about 14 weeks of the winter. My Aeoniums aloes agaves have to go in a frost free place.

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    1. Hi Roger, I'm really glad to hear that and is very encouraging to try some out here. A lot of succulents are surprisingly hardier than first thought, some like what your experience indicates just needs to be kept on the drier side and the winter and it can shrug off the winter cold :)

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  3. Ah, the extra day provided the blogger-free shots. I really was wondering how you managed that!

    Great coverage of Loree's garden, although I'm disappointed you didn't get a photo of the chimney sedum... I don't think anybody did! I think I had the same mental map of the shade pavilion as you did, so I like the idea of having gardeners correct things before you visit. :)

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    1. It was great that we were able to go back Alan, to see Loree's garden on a more relaxed pace and better lighting :) I better check out the photos we took again, in case we did take one of the sedum chimney...

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  4. Dear Gaz, wow, this garden might be small, but it is one of the most outstanding gardens in blogland that I have ever seen! Kudos to Loree! I don't know what I am impressed by the most: how meticulously the garden is cared for, the stunning unusual plants, the very brave and conscious and yet restrained use of color, the general feeling for outstanding design, that every plant seemed to be happy and healthy in this garden and the list would go on and on and on. Loree did an absolutely amazing job creating this garden and I think what I love the most is that it has a totally individual and personal feel. Thanks for featuring this garden on your blog. I really feel richer having been able to read about it and see the wonderful fascinating photos. Warm regards,
    Christina

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    1. There are so many aspects of Loree's garden that are so praise worthy Christina :) it was a pleasure to share her iconic garden to blogosphere!

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  5. It's always fun to see a garden you think you know from the creator's blog through other eyes. You picked up some things I don't think I've ever seen before. Thanks for sharing your visit!

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    1. A pleasure Kris! Same garden, different bloggers, different takes :)

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  6. It's interesting to read that from the blog you knew it wasn't overly large - I must not be very good at visualising the space, as it still seems huge to me! Like you said, having lots of different areas of interest and different levels and sections gives the impression of a greater size.

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    1. Loree has done really well with the layout of her garden, not to mention her fine planting! I actually see lots of fab similarities between her garden and yours Amy :)

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  7. Oh, such a lovely viewpoint to a lovely garden, thanks for the tour. I know, I was totally disoriented when I visited too, I thought the pavilion was on the other side as well. It does seem huge but you are right, it is not that large. Great post, thanks guys!

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    1. Loree's done a fabulous job with the layout and planting Tamara, there's something interesting to see at every turn :)

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  8. Great coverage of this special garden! Loree is an amazing gardener and blogger and it's always a treat to see her garden in person or virtually. I'm glad that you enjoyed your trip to Portland. Next time, maybe we can get you to come up north as well!

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    1. Loree's garden is iconic, it was an honour to see it in person :) a trip up north would be wonderful Peter, it'll be great to see everyone's garden and meet up with you all, definitely on the cards!

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  9. I'm blushing you guys (and Christina)! I'm so glad you were able to come to Portland and that we got the extra, post-Fling, day to spend together, it made all the difference for me, that extra day with you guys and Gerhard. Thank you for your kind words, and I love how your photos go from LOTS of people in the garden to nobody, like you're photoshop geniuses!

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    1. Well deserved compliments Loree, it was a treat to see your garden and that extra day made a huge difference and made the experience extra special :)

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  10. I am so glad your Fling posts are well spaced out -- nice to read in December! So funny about preconceptions -- to me there were no surprises about the layout, but the accumulation of the pots and controlled use of color really packs a wallop in person as opposed to reading on Loree's blog. I loved watching bloggers explore Loree's garden -- another layer of the virtual world peeled back!

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    1. In a way I'm glad we're lagging behind with our fling posts Denise, going through the photos is a nice reminder of the warmer months that's just gone past. Seeing Loree's garden in person was like unveiling a mystery, and yet you leave with more wonder and more mystery :)

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  11. A great tribute to a great garden! You really captured the unique spirit of Loree's garden (and I'm glad you got a photo of Loree and Andrew).

    As Denise said, it's so nice to be reminded of the great sights we saw in Portland when it's cold and rainy outside.

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    1. It's a great garden indeed Gerhard, can't praise it enough :) and spending time with you all there made it extra special!

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  12. Beautiful pictures. It looks like an oasis and a special hidden place :). It is so great you got to spend an extra day!!!

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    1. That extra made the experience extra special Lisa :)

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  13. Unique and exotic! Thank you for the tour!

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  14. Great views of a lovely garden! There is so much to see. With all the prickly plants, now I understand why it is called Danger Garden! I am somewhat surprised, given Portland's wet climate, that so many succulents succeed there, especially those in the ground.

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    1. Danger Garden claimed a couple of fling victims Debs, with the garden living up to its name :) it's amazing how many spiky plants are doing so well in Loree's garden, just shows her abilities too!

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  15. What an interesting garden! I love the mixture of the tropical plants and the succulents. Who would have thought they would go together so well. The shade pavilion is just gorgeous and reminds me of several tropical island holiday destinations.

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    1. They do indeed :) and the pavilion does look like a contemporary structure found in exotic places

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  16. Those first shots of Loree's garden reminds me of Derek Jarman's iconic garden. It was such fun to visit and get the full Danger Garden experience ;)

    I also loved Loree's use of lime alongside that striking orange, and if I could I would have loved to whisk away that Tillandsia in it's striking planter.

    I need to catch up with my Fling posts too - it'll be a perfect task to help combat the post Christmas holiday blues.

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    1. Funny you mentioned about Derek Jarman as its one of her favourite gardens Michelle :)

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