More Gardening Than Stitching

This doesn't look like much I admit.  It is the beginning of Heart in Hand's "Joyful Journal - June" and will become a bee skep. We've had very hot weather - in the 90's - the past few days and I've spent far more time watering and caring for plants than stitching.

Speaking of plants...It is time for the Tuesday Garden Party and the Maple Hill Blog Hop. So let's get this party started!

Last Friday my Mom and I took a bus trip with other Avid Gardeners to Clackamas County, Oregon to visit a nursery and a private garden.  Clackamas County is the headquarters of Oregon's large wholesale nursery industry and has some of the best soil for farming in the state as well as stunning view of Mount Hood!

Through a special arrangement we were able to tour Iseli Nursery.  

They are a large (over 500 acres) wholesale nursery that employs over 200 people and sells plants nationwide.

Their specialty is conifers.

We broke into small groups to tour the three acre garden that surrounds their office headquarters.

This garden highlights the beauty of conifers and makes the case that gardens don't have to have flowers to be lovely.

I became obsessed with the amazing cones on the trees. 

See what I mean?!

There were several small seating areas and water features.

Love the shapes of this group of trees.

And the great thing about conifers is that they come in every size possible from large... 

...to smaller ones like Picea pungens "Hermann Naue".

This rocky terrace provided a perfect setting for a group of small conifers.  

Here's one that caught my eye - it glows - Abies nordmanniana "Golden Spreader".

Isn't this a clever way to emulate a fall of water?

The combination of conifers and acers made for lots of wonderful color.

It was great to see mature specimens. 

Loved this as well - Sciadopity's verticillata "Mitsch Select".

With lots and lots of different trees and shrubs and water there was no need to feed the birds to attract them!  I saw Cedar Waxwings, White-crowned Sparrows, Anna's Hummingbirds, Robins, Goldfinches, Lesser Goldfinches, and Song Sparrows.  And as large nurseries are required to recycling and reclaim their ground water with large lagoons, there were also all kinds of waterfowl.

I had a wonderful time at the nursery and am now revising my list of "Must Have Someday Plants".

Our private woodland garden tour was also a treat!

The use of art pieces was first rate.

By nature woodland gardens are serene I think.

This one was punctuate with interesting bits...

...and large pieces of sculpture...

...that reached up like the trees.

Even a jumble of rocks can be artful.

I loved how the gardener accented the deep greens with pops of bright orange.