Archive for Gardening Green

Creating Small City Backyard Retreats in Portland

Why Experience Matters in Backyard Landscape Design

I was pleased to share the before photos of this Portland backyard garden retreat with you earlier this year in this blog post. Today, I’m thrilled to reveal some after photos—and tell a few stories along the way about how thoughtful design and careful decision-making transform tricky city backyards into personal retreats.

A view of the first door in this backyard retreat landscaping project.
This small city backyard is almost ready for the new porch and steps to the sunroom.
Under construction, this backyard landscaping project was a puzzle.
The rotting old deck was removed and Cascade Fence and Deck crew were careful not to damage the bark on the prized shade tree.  Before new porch w dining deck and bar.

The Challenge: Two Doors, Two Sets of Stairs, and One Big Puzzle

When I first met my clients Rich and his family, we discussed their small city backyard—a space hemmed in by two sets of stairs, two doors opening to the garden, and a beautiful but (seemingly) in-the-way spring-flowering magnolia.

Having two doors in a small backyard always makes planning your “movement”—the flow from space to space—a bit of a puzzle. But as an experienced designer, I see these challenges as opportunities to create clever, intimate spaces that truly work for my clients’ lives.

Experience Pays Off: Putting Trees First

Without the mature magnolia, the design might have missed that “magic.” Honestly, if we’d lost the tree, I would have had to approach the entire project differently—and the cost to recreate this kind of shade and presence? Astronomical! My clients are dedicated to their tree and consult pros for its care. In a space like this, that’s invaluable.

A big part of what I bring to every landscape design project is deep respect for what’s already there—especially trees. An experienced landscape designer doesn’t just plop down new features, we carefully weigh the benefits of every existing plant, evaluating what should be preserved and how best to protect those green treasures. That pays off both aesthetically and financially.

Protecting Roots, Protecting Value

This magnolia’s root flare was nearly at the base of our new deck, its roots winding through the yards on both sides. We consulted a certified arborist at Honl Tree Care for advice. We avoided raising soil grade, and—most importantly—didn’t compact the patio surface.

Compacted crushed rock is nearly the industry standard for paths and patios in Portland, but experience has taught me that breathing space for roots is paramount. Compacting soil strips out oxygen, literally suffocating roots. That’s not worth the risk to a 50-year-old magnolia.

The backyard sitting area being at ground level, rather than on a backyard deck, adds privacy and zen to this tranquil retreat.
My clients can enjoy being in their garden rather than perched above it.  This location has even more privacy than the new deck.
By using uncompressed gravel, this backyard design lets water get into the ground and nourish roots.
Steel edging butts into stone making the path part of the garden experience.

Returning Water to the Earth

Selecting the right surfaces is another place my experience really counts. In this backyard, I used a 5/8-inch crushed rock for the sitting area—without compacting it—so rainwater goes right through, back into the ground. My clients wondered about cleanup after “the great annual petal drop,” but with a broom and a little patience, it worked beautifully. Functionality, aesthetics, and environmental friendliness, all rolled into one solution.

It’s important to not change the oxygen ratio in the soil near tree roots.  Compacting the soil removes oxygen.   Adding soil over the root zone will change the oxygen ration and damage the roots ability to uptake water….After all they can’t just pick up and move their roots overnight if we change their environment.

Creating Privacy, Creating Sanctuary

A huge part of my work—and where intuition and experience play the biggest role—is understanding how to frame space for maximum comfort. By setting the conversation area down in the garden, we created privacy and a cozy, enveloping feel—a true garden “room.” This was my clients heart’s desire.

Privacy Art Screens Work to Create a Backyard Sitting Room

The screens repeat the rust color, add depth to the small city backyard and break up the horizontal lines of the fence making our sitting area feel more like its own room.  They are located to view from inside the house from the sun room and a whole bank of windows in the kitchen.

Landscape-Design-In-A-Day designed this tranquil backyard retreat.
View from the dining deck to the sunroom porch after the design was installed.
We used matching colors all around to add harmony to this small city backyard retreat.
Finished steel planters dress the house wall and welcome us to the dining deck. My client Rich treated the steel to change it from a black to this mottled rust orange which contrasts with the slate blue house body color beautifully.

To punch up visual interest and privacy, we repeated the rust color from custom-finished steel planters (shout out to Rich for his creative process using hydrogen peroxide, rock salt, and vinegar on raw steel!). He used this technique to change the planters from a basic black raw steel to the rust finish you see.  The steel screens from Home Depot echo the planters’ patina, break up the shallow yard’s horizontal lines, and make even a petite space feel layered and intentional—like a private, hidden retreat for dining, lounging, clinking glasses, or sipping coffee.

Small Details, Big Delight

Details matter: the way Brian Woodruff, (Mortar and Petal) selected and set our boulders and used steel edges for the paths is refined and quietly beautiful—simple, deliberate moments that give the space soul. The new deck’s soft, neutral tone boards isn’t boring at all,  but creates the perfect backdrop.

And a fun surprise? My clients realized, post-design, that there was room for a bar counter at the deck’s end—giving them their first-ever sit spot view into their lush, Japanese-inspired front garden. And now, even their sunroom furniture was relocated to face the garden, and wow we see there’s a new “favorite” spot at the bar for morning coffee. These delightful, unforeseen changes are the best signs that our design is a perfect fit and that our new backyard retreat is truly being lived in and loved. That’s the real reward of thoughtful, experienced design.

Ready to Love Your Tricky City Backyard?

If you have a small, challenging city backyard in the Portland area, I’d love to help you make it wonderful and welcoming—a place you’re drawn to every single day. With an experienced landscape designer, your outdoor space can become not just more functional, but an oasis that reflects your style and maximizes every inch!

Let’s talk. Contact me and let’s create the retreat you’ve been dreaming of.

P.S. The old, rotting deck is gone (thanks to the careful crew at Cascade Fence and Deck), the new porch and dining deck are in, and the  plants are growing and looking healthy. The transformation is nearly complete… and I couldn’t be happier for my clients!

 

 

Success with Olive Trees (and other Drought-Tolerant Plants) in Portland

Olive trees in Portland passing the test of time.
Designers test tree.  This Olive tree stands the test of time. I drive by this tree often and have watched it handle 10 Portland winters.  In summer it gets hot south sun with reflected heat from paving in NW Industrial area of Portland (NW Pettygrove).

Why Olive Trees in Portland?

Welcome to a fresh take on Portland landscaping, where each client’s garden is crafted with care, precision, and a touch of the unexpected. As a dedicated landscape designer, I take great joy in transforming outdoor spaces using drought-tolerant and unique plants. Portland homeowners often seek a landscape that stands out, featuring plants that are not only resilient but also unusual and captivating. Enter using the unexpected: olive trees in Portland!

Embrace the Beauty of Unique, Drought-Tolerant Landscapes with Olive Trees in Portland

Olive trees, celebrated for their year long silvery leaves and calming presence, are becoming a favorite in Portland. They fit beautifully into small urban gardens, offering evergreen elegance throughout the winter. Not only are they drought-tolerant, but some varieties may even surprise you with fruit—olives, of course! Placing these trees requires a well educated and artistic touch to ensure they thrive, making your garden plantings resilient and attractive.  They are also a favorite for modern landscape design style in Portland.

Learning Through Decades of Keen Observation of Portland Landscapes

My passion for plant placement stems from years of observation. As I explore Portland’s streets, visit new and old client landscapes, and participate in local garden tours, I collect insights from each tree and unique plant. A notable lesson came when olive trees in Portland — on NW 19th and Pettygrove — faced our worst ever winter cold February of 2024 with an unusually frigid and powerful east wind. So many broadleaf evergreens in Portland were damaged beyond anything I’ve ever seen but these mature trees maintained their serene and glowing leaves with no damage at all. They’ve stood the test of time in a south-facing, east-protected location—a testament to thoughtful placement.

The Right Plant in the Right Place

From experience, I know that plant exposure is a key to the right location for a plant. My go-to rule for olive trees is a southern or southwest exposure, where city structures can shield them from harsh winds and cold east exposure. Such insights are enriched by conversations with experts like Sean Hogan at Cistus Designs and  Barbara Porter of Oregon Olive Trees in Dallas Oregon, alongside valuable reads like Pacific Horticulture…….. and talking with other landscape designers and of course Mike Darcy.  

Oregon Olive Tree sells olive trees in Portland and is trustworthy for advice on these beautiful Mediterranean plants.
Oregon Olive Tree grows  and sells this beautiful multi stem Mission Olive Tree for instant privacy and beauty. Olea europaea ‘Mission Olive’. Photo credit: Barbara Porter
Olive leaf on parking strip tree + my favorite nail polish, "Where Did My Mango" by OPI
Olive leaf on parking strip tree + my favorite nail polish, “Where Did My Mango” by OPI

Research: More Than a Popularity Contest

When researching plant care, I rely on trusted sources, avoiding the echo chamber of unreliable websites. By echo chamber I mean the tendency of people to simply copy information about a plant from a web site into their blog or their retail plant web site without checking its accuracy.  Finding the same information about a plant on ten web sites doesn’t make it accurate. Cross-referencing reliable information and consulting knowledgeable peers ensures that my recommendations are tailored to Portland’s unique climate, rather than simply following internet trends.

Planning for Success with Olive Trees in Portland, Oregon

Take, for instance, a client’s heart felt desire for an olive tree in an east exposure. My client was willing to gamble so despite breaking my rule, the olive tree is thriving, in part thanks to a strategically placed near by building providing some protection from harsh winds and early morning sun. This success story (so far so good) underscores the importance of customizing each landscape plan to the client and to the site.  However I will only call it a true success after this olive tree has made it 5 years.

Fruit and foliage of 'Mission' olive tree Olea europaea 'Mission Olive'. This variety was developed in California in the 1800's by Franciscan missionaries. Photo courtesy of Oregon Olive Tree Barbara Porter
Fruit and foliage of ‘Mission’ olive tree Olea europaea ‘Mission Olive’. This variety was developed in California in the 1800’s by Franciscan missionaries. Photo courtesy of Oregon Olive Tree Barbara Porter

Recently, (February 2025)  I stumbled upon mature olive trees thriving in an unexpected east-facing location, providing me with more opportunities to learn. These trees were only a mile away from the NW Pettygrove street trees.  My curiosity is aroused but until proven otherwise, I’ll continue recommending south or southwest exposure for optimal olive tree cold hardiness, resilience and growth.

The Power of Collaboration and Innovative Design

Nature occasionally challenges our expectations. While I have principles for placing olive trees, I remain open to learning from nature’s surprises and integrating these lessons into future projects.

Contact me

Ultimately, creating a garden with a diverse, low water to drought-tolerant palette is our passion. Whether you dream of a pollinator plant paradise, more traditional plants, or unique Mediterranean plants like olive trees, our success is measured by how well we fulfill your needs and wants.  By combining our expertise with your known desired wish list or vision, we can craft a landscape that is unique and enduring. 

I enjoy talking with prospective Portland clients so contact me and let’s talk.  Stay tuned for our next blog, where I will share more practical advice for enhancing cold hardiness in your plants, including olive trees. 

Native Plants and Functional Backyard Design for a Steep Hillside

Taming the slope for a family that loves to be in their back yard!

Imagine walking into your own lush, forested oasis, where every corner is alive with the buzz of pollinators and the chirping of native birds. If you value sustainability, desire to sequester carbon, and want a landscape that thrives with native flora and fauna, then you’ve found the right landscape designer to bring your vision to life.

Take, for example, Ben and Naja, who were eager to transform their Portland hillside property. Though their home had stunning front-facing windows for sunsets, the backyard posed a challenge with its intimidating slope. Nevertheless, their love for the outdoors drove them to find a solution.

Before our landscape design process ivy was removed but the steep slope remained difficult to navigate and was not inviting....at all.
Before our landscape design process ivy was removed but the steep slope remained difficult to navigate and was not inviting….at all.

Eco Friendly Backyard Dream

Dedicated to their eco-friendly backyard dream, Ben and Naja contacted Bird Alliance of Oregon to learn what it would take to earn a Backyard Habitats Certification for their property. Next they contacted me, Carol Lindsay, Landscape Design in a Day.  They wanted someone who could think about all the needs of their large property and create a custom landscape plan they could install. While they waited for our design day they removed more invasive plant species with determination, a testament to their dedication to crafting a restorative woodland garden.

When I first met them, these goals became ours:

  • Harnessing their carpentry skills, our design would center on environmentally sustainable materials like juniper wood and low-water native plants.
  • Crafting cozy, inviting spaces for relaxation and entertainment.
  • Improving the accessibility of their third-acre sloping property in SW Portland.
  • Designing a serene hammock retreat, nestled in the woods yet conveniently close to the house, and…that could double as a firepit area.
  • Establishing pathways that seamlessly connect the front yard to the new backyard seating area and woodlands beyond, ensuring easy maintenance access to control invasive species.  The existing mature trees and native soil were just waiting for liberation from invasive weeds.

Locally-Sourced Juniper Wood Retaining Wall

The transformation began with a forest patio integrated into the hillside near their back door deck. We used locally-sourced juniper wood, crafted retaining walls that doubled as seating instead of using concrete. This patio space enjoys cool shade in the afternoons and sunlight in the morning.

Since their existing deck is not hospitable in the afternoons, our second seating area allowed more outdoor living in the summer than they had ever had.

The first phase integrates the existing deck up into the woods with a series of steps and a wide sitting wall that also retains the hillside.
Before our design process the side yard was unattractive and difficult to use especially when it was raining and muddy.
The design of the steep stairs has sloped tread area to make the stairs less visually formidable and comfortable to use. Native plants adorn the side planting areas.  Stair risers are juniper wood.

Environmental Backyard Landscape Design Results:

Nature Trail and Pathways

The once-steep and unusable side yard was reimagined into an accessible, inviting area. It’s truly beautiful and was a tremendous amount of work. Count those stairs; every single one was installed by our clients. With a labor of love and assistance from family (talented fathers helped), Ben, Naja, and their daughter hauled 2.5 tons of materials, proving that professional construction wasn’t necessary for this project.  Naja, showcasing her impressive work boots, even removed a large stump single-handedly.

We (Alana Chau) designed a nature trail leading to the top of the property, enhancing the experience with over 100 native plants all species (no cultivars that can confuse pollinators), carefully placed in their correct planting spot.

A section of woodland path near the top of our client’s sloped backyard with native plants.

Visiting the Completed Design Installation

Select the very best grade of juniper wood to have it last 30 years without rotting.

Two years later we set up a visit with our clients to see the results.  The landscape plantings have matured beautifully; it’s heartwarming to see the patio, walls, and forest surroundings work so well for this family’s backyard.  And also to hear how happy they are using their backyard. 

The hammock patio, initially designed for multiple use, is predominantly a peaceful hammock haven used daily by Naja.

Native Plants Supply Wildlife Friendly Environment

The hundreds of native plants have flourished, with the exception of our original choice for a privacy shrub, Oregon Wax Myrtle, which we anticipate will grow denser with time.  The enchanting stroll up through the matured native plant garden reveals abundant wildlife, from busy chickadees and juncos to the surprising resident, an ermine, who has claimed its territory with a charming boldness.  Photos that Ben shared with us show the ermine either smiling or showing its teeth–we will go with smiling.  They are close to qualifying for the silver Backyard Habitats Certification with most of invasive plants banished.

After photo of our landscape design and our clients thoughtful installation was completed. A mix of native and native adjacent plants soften the steps and seating areas of the new back yard. Carol Lindsay seated on the wide juniper retaining wall.
After photo of our landscape design and our clients thoughtful installation was completed. A mix of native and native adjacent plants soften the steps and seating areas of the new back yard. Carol Lindsay seated on the wide juniper retaining wall.

Transform Your Property

Working with and helping clients like Ben and Naja, who are committed to combating climate change and supporting native wildlife, is truly rewarding. Designing a landscape that invites both critter and human relaxation requires expertise and passion. If you’re ready to transform your property into an environmentally conscious haven, Call me 503 223 2426 or use my contact form.  You will hear back from me quickly. 

Let’s discuss your dream landscape to support humans and our wildlife partners.

Pollinator Friendly Garden Makeover in NE Portland

NE Portland Yard Gets a Pollinator Friendly Makeover

pollinator friendly garden makeover in Portland

I’m Hilary Hutler and I am thrilled to be joining Carol and Landscape Design in a Day! Carol asked me to introduce myself and share one of my pollinator friendly landscape designs here on our blog.

About me:  While this is my fifth year working full-time as a landscape designer, I’ve been interested in horticulture and plants for many years. My first job was working with edible gardening on an organic produce farm, next I trained as a Portland Master Gardener which gave me a solid foundation for understanding all things plant-related in the Pacific Northwest. I continued taking landscape design courses while working at Pomarius Nursery, one of Portland’s most unique retail plant nurseries.

Pollinator friendly Rock Rose used in Portland garden makeover

Helianthemum nummularium ‘Ben Hope’ (Rock Rose Ground Cover) in NE Portland Pollinator Garden Design for front yard. May photo.

They specialize in growing and selling a much wider range of plants than a garden center.  Working at a plant nursery is an incredible way to broaden your plant palette so within just a few years I learned the existence of more ornamental plants (and how to use them) than I could have ever dreamed of.  I worked as a landscape designer on the Oregon Coast for several years and while I loved it and learned so much I live in NE Portland – that’s a long commute.

 

NE Portland yard in need of a residential landscape makeover

Before Photo – North Portland landscape needs a landscape design to give the new homeowner  pollinator friendly plantings, lots of color and friendly curb appeal. Photo by Hilary Hutler

How I met Carol founder of Landscape Design in a Day, a Portland Oregon company.

While Carol and I had met a handful of times over the years, we decided to consider working together in 2022. Carol was a fabulous business mentor to my friend and fellow designer Alana Chau, and had a unique approach to landscape design services, so when she invited me to meet up for coffee to discuss working together I said yes.   I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn from her.  We collaborated on a few designs in the fall of 2022, and I gladly accepted her offer to join Landscape Design in a Day.

 

Hilary’s Favorite Front Yard Landscape Design in N.E Portland

One of my most cherished projects is a landscape design opportunity I fell into by luck. I was walking my regular neighborhood route in the University Park neighborhood when I stopped to chat with a woman who was placing boulders out in her driveway to give away.

Pollinator friendly Hens and Chicks used with some existing boulders in garden makeover.

The boulders are planted with lots of Hens and Chicks filling in nicely between boulders with a mound of dark burgundy leafed Sedum above. (Sempervivums and Sedum hylotelphium ‘Matrona’.)

Her front yard was devoid of beauty – it was over planted with  numerous (as in over ten) Japanese Maples placed too close together and no understory plantings to speak of. The previous owner had attempted to build a large pond, but the project had fallen into disrepair and there were way too many boulders. She wanted to change the existing landscape from bleak to wonderful.  On a whim, I gave her my telephone number.

Well, our meeting up that day turned out to be one of those wonderful gifts from serendipity, because not only did I create a total landscape redesign of her front yard, we’re also now good friends.  She loved making the focus of the planting plan about feeding pollinators and colorful plants.  I loved being part of such an amazing new front yard.

Pollinator bee friendly garden plantings used in Portland yard makeover.

These pollinator friendly plantings are also low water. Purple Salvia, Cistus – Rock Rose and in the back the very dark purple is a spanish lavander named ‘Otto Quast’.  Spanish lavander blooms earlier than most lavander and that helps feed bees and bumblebees. May photo.

Front Yard Pollinator Paradise Landscape Design

I love this no lawn front garden design for colorful plants, fragrance, interesting textures and a perfect pollinator paradise.  Here are just a few of the plants I used in our very collaborative design process.

(These are all super duper pollinator friendly)

Pollinator friendly plantings of English lavender and Elfin Pink Thyme used in garden makeover.

English lavander in bud underplanted with “Elfin Pink’ thyme is a study in textures in May but by mid June their flowers will come on strong and feed many kinds of bees.

Hellianthemum n. ‘Ben Hope’ – Sunrose

Sedum h. ‘Autumn Joy’ and also ‘Matrona’

Lavandula s. ‘Otto Quast’

Salvia n. ‘May Night’

Cistus Purpurea –  Rock Rose

Helictotrichon sempervirens – Blue Oat Grass

Senecio greyi (Brachyglottis) – Evergreen Daisy Bush

Sempervivum – Hen and Chicks

 

Contact Us for a Collaborative Design Experience

We prefer collaborating with our clients at their kitchen table to get a perfect fit landscape design.  Are you looking for a designer who wants to help you find your style?  Would you like to support bees and other pollinators?  We love city landscapes and bringing the color and vibrancy of nature to our clients.  Contact us today! 

 

 

 

 

Northeast Portland Test Garden for Drought Tolerant & Pollinator Friendly Plants

Tips for Tricky Native Plants in NE Portland Garden Design

Northeast Portland Landscape Designer Hilary Hutler with pollinator friendly Fox Tail Lilly Flowers Bouquet.

Hilary Hutler North Portland Landscape Designer with Fox Tail Lilly  (Eremurus) an excellent pollinator plant

Welcome to part 2 of my blog series on drought tolerant pollinator friendly plants for North Portland home landscapes.

My disclaimer: This is my experimental and play garden so while some of the plants listed here are easy to grow and meant for a typical homeowner , others are a bit tricky or cause skin irritation, are a bit toxic or are especially thorny.  They are very interesting and plant-nerd cool plants that are also pollinator friendly and drought tolerant. I love foliage but obviously flowers feed bees and who doesn’t love flowers?

Mixing PNW Natives with Mediterranean Plants

Northeast Portland drought tolerant Canary Clover

Dorycnium hirsutum or Canary Clover is drought tolerant in St Johns Front Yard Portland Oregon

First up is Dorycnium hirsutum*. This plant loves it dry and handles the heat beautifully. It has such a soft sea foam green foliage that the wonderful flowers and colorful small fruit capsules (captivating on their own merits) are just the dessert to my mind. Be aware that this plant can seed around a bit. If you are not the person who can pull out a plant that has seeded in the wrong place…walk on by. The web still says it’s evergreen but here in Portland it often dies back and +comes back strong once the heat of summer hits. Common name is Hairy Clover Canary or Canary Clover, but it does not look anything like typical clover…hmmm. It lasts for perhaps as long as ten years but will cast a few seeds so you have a new plant to take its place.

Drought tolerant pairing of Lewisia & Artemesia Northeast Portland plants.

Lewisia thrives in north portland front yard also called Cliff Maid or Siskiyou Lewisia. Background silver plant is Artemesia ‘Valerie Finnis’.

I’m surprised with how big and healthy my Lewisia (our southern Oregon native plant Lewisia cotyledon.) I didn’t expect it to do well because it is planted in compacted heavy soil, (it prefers loose open dry soils) but it has really taken off.  It’s twice the size I typically see in Portland gardens.  As you can see by the picture,  I’ve planted it in front of the Artemisia ‘Valerie Finnis’.

Some Aggressive Plants Can Be Tamed by Planting in My Worst Soil Area

‘Valerie Finnis’ Artemisia is a beautiful mounding silver green shrub. It can be an aggressive plant so use it’s tendencies to your favor by planting it in a heavier clay soil area, as it can take over in loose open soil.  In my garden it is planted in my worst soil and totally handles the heat and dry conditions once established. You can let the flowers come on for a few weeks and then cut the whole plant back. The flowers are a pale yellow, that will feed pollinators and are not unattractive. I prefer to cut my plant back in May to prevent flowers because I love the silvery green leaves but also to keep the plant full.  If you don’t cut it back it gets leggy.   Note this plant dies back to bare stems in the winter.

Pruning tip for Artemisia:  I employ The Chelsea Chop, a pruning technique which is usually done in May and involves removing 2/3rds of a summer or fall flowering perennial.  This term was coined by Tracy DiSabiato in her excellent book “The Well Tended Perennial Garden” I happen to have sitting right next to my computer.  It’s an older book so you can get a good deal on this book at our Powells Books in Portland.

Drought tolerant & pollinator friendly plants for northeast Portland.

Drought tolerant planting combination is a thriller, colorful and great for pollinators too.

Create a Drought Tolerant Planting Combination for Year Round Interest

I’ve also had success with a combination planting of Echium*, Phormium, a small blue leafed Agave and Sedum rupestre ‘Angeliana’. This plant quartet has something going on all year round. The Phormium gives us year round structure, while the Agave gives both foliage color, contrast and texture. The mass of low semi-evergreen Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ adds a soft textured low foliage element and the Echium is the total drama queen with a 30” flower spike. Although Echium is somewhat toxic to people, the bees love it! And be aware the Sedum ‘Angelina’ is no angel and will spread, so best to use it in heavy soils and rarely water it to keep it polite.  Summer flowering Echium  must be pruned down at the end of the season to keep it from seeding about too much.  It can cause skin irritation so wear heavy gloves when handling this plant.  Echium will seed so I typically cut the spent flower stalk and put it in the garbage rather than my compost.

More Summer Flowers for Bees in North Portland

California Fuchsia, drought tolerant plant for Northeast Portland gardens.

Flowering for four months straight in hot full sun with no irrigation is my idea of a drought tolerant plant for my north Portland garden.

Epilobium ‘Catalina’ – California Fuchsia loves the hot dry Mediterranean summers we have and flowers from August through November. I see the hummingbirds flock to this plant for months.  Once it was well established it has never been watered since. This plant gets trimmed back a few times a year to keep it looking great but it’s worth it.

It also looks great adjacent to this public sidewalk in northeast Portland planted in this boulder wall.

Pollinator, bee friendly northeast Portland Eryngium.

Eryngium ‘Big Blue’ pulls our native bumble bees in by the droves. Like the Sedum ‘Matrona’ the flower itself is made  of many tiny flowers so lots of food for pollinators in a single flower.

Here’s a perfect plant that is both pollinator friendly and drought tolerant.  Eryngium ‘Big Blue’ –  Sea Holly in addition to attracting and feeding lots of pollinators, it adds dramatic beauty through the summer landscape and well into fall. The seed heads dry and remain a part of the garden view long after the silvery blue flowers have faded. Unlike many plants that claim to have blue flowers only to disappoint, this flower is absolutely blue.  And don’t forget our native bumble bees-they adore feeding from my Eryngium Sea Holly.

Purple Flowers Pollinator Plant Combination

Monardia Bradburiana – Eastern Beebalm is best in heavy soil and some shade to slow it down.  It is an excellent pollinator food plant and is native to the Midwest.  It is planted with a poppy called ‘Lauren’s Grape’ and the deep purple of this poppy is simply amazing.

Honey bees are busy feeding and collecting pollen from this dark purple poppy flower.

Papaver somniferum ‘Lauren’s Grape’ is fully drought tolerant in Hilary Hutler garden north Portland

You can grow it from seed and here is a source, Renees Garden   For great contrast with the poppy flower and foliage, I used Sedum ‘Matrona’ for its large succulent leaf.  The big flat umbel flower head is made up of a host of tiny flowers and has hundreds of nectar sites for pollinators.  It’s mauve purple foliage is a dazzler with this planting combo.

Pollinator & bee friendly northeast Portland garden plants; Eastern Bee Balm, Dark Grape Poppy and Sedum Matrona.

Eastern Bee Balm on the left, amazing poppy (Lauren’s Dark Grape) in the very back and Sedum ‘Matrona’ on the right.

My landscape in north Portland is a perfect place to experiment with plants for a drought tolerant and pollinator friendly garden in the Pacific Northwest.  With a thoughtful selection of plants, I’ve created beautiful and relatively low maintenance plantings that provide for pollinators, and is very drought tolerant.

Contact us to work with experienced landscape designers who love to use plants that conserve water, feed bees without sacrificing beauty and color in our home landscape.  We can make a difference in global warming by conserving water and protecting bees by the plantings we use in our Portland residential landscapes.