Fuchias in the City
The Oregon Garden
Silverton, Oregon
Visiting The Oregon Garden, it occurred to me that New Jersey should finally abandon its pretense of being the Garden State. Most of its farms are too long gone for that anachronism to make the slightest bit of sense anymore. If it ever even did. Oregon, however, is the real thing and its claim to the title can stretch from vineyards to farms to orchards to nurseries.

The remarkable idea to illustrate the state’s extensive connections to the garden trade with an amazing new botanical installation showcasing the plants for all to enjoy was conceived by the Oregon Garden Foundation. An appropriate site was selected in Silverton in 1995, ground was broken in 1997, and The Oregon Garden was born with its grand opening in 2001.

If you’re just passing through as I was--or lucky to live in the state permanently--I couldn’t recommend a more peaceful way to while away the day than with a visit here. Again and again. It’s a garden, of course, so there’s always something new under the sun. Especially fuchsias.

Hey, you can even stay at the Oregon Garden Resort. Admission to the garden included! How cool is that?

  • The entry arch's massive logs make a spectacular statement
    as you pass under and on up the long drive into the garden.
  • There's even a resort you can stay at right next door.
    Admission to the garden included. How cool is that?
  • Don't forget to stop at Frank Lloyd Wright's Gordon House bulit in 1957 on the way in. Its site on the Willamette River fell to developers and it was moved here to save it from sure demolition.
  • Admission at the entrance and a small gift shop. I'll recommend the Oregon Garden baseball cap... but then I have a whole collection of them from whatever garden I visit. :-)
  • Off down the path and the fuchsias are already drawing crowds.
  • Fuchsia magellanica 'Alba' is paired with goldenrod.
  • It's a strinking combination. I'd try it at home but don't have enough sun to support normal goldenrod. Maybe Solidago caesia, Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod? It's a forest dweller.
  • But then the 'Alba' works well on its own, too.
  • Fuchsia regia. This should make a large bush here. No indication of the sub-species, though.
  • There are a number of lovely vistas in the garden. This one spreads to the west.
    Would love to be here at sunset!
  • No garden is ever complete with some watery special effects.
    Don't get too close. Ha ha.
  • This has got to be a true hobbit house. They live in holes in the ground and not in trees.
  • Hello Mr.Baggins, I'm here for Elevensies.
  • For those who want to sit around the Shire and admire things, or who just refuse to leave until closing, there are a goodly number of benches about.
  • Unless you're a frog. Then you just stick to whatever surface is convenient.
  • There were quite a number of the li'l fellers resting on the sign.
  • Whole forests of Himalayan Fan Palms.
    Wish I could get away with growing those at home.
  • The shape of these weeping cedars is so mysterious and fanatastical.
    They look like they also come from somewhere in Middle Earth.
  • There's a living roof on this green house.
  • So many things to see here. What am I hunting again? Oh... Yeah.. Fuchsias! Fuchsia magellanica 'Aurea' paired with a blue ageratum certainly catches my attention.
  • So it's past a graceful deodar cedar . . .
  • . . . and down this path to the main fuchsia beds.
  • Here we go.
  • Sorry. Not sure of the identity of this pink beauty. I lost my photo of the label. Can anyone help?
  • 'Beacon'
  • 'Beacon'
  • Unfortunately, there are some unknown plants as the label was tuked too far inside to photograph as an identity aid. But this is one of the many Fuchsia magellanica hybrids.
  • 'Dollar Princess'
  • 'Shelford'
  • This Fuchsia magellanica 'Variegata' is reverting so the all green stems need to be prunded off. They're more vigorous and would eventally take over.
  • Here's another beauty: 'Mrs. Popple.'
  • A series of nice fuchsia mounds. They're all hardy in the mild climate here.
  • Don't forget to check out the gift shop nursery on the way home.
    There's always a irresistable gem or two.
  • I have to resist, though, hard as it is. It's a couple of weeks
    before I'm fllying back to New York and Hortulus Fuchsiarum. Sigh.