Secret Garden or Hummingbird Haven

Our 100+ year-old family home sits on an acre, though only about one-third is landscaped. I began developing the gardens in 1990, and they continue to change, with an open country/cottage feel. The garden features an 80-year-old wisteria, a holly tree, a 10-foot camellia, a madrone, and a laurel hedge. The view of Mt. Hood, with a backdrop down to Tryon Creek Park, is the crowning glory. The laurel hedge borders the street and provides privacy—hence the name “The Secret Garden,” where floral wonders appear once you step inside. I choose plants that support hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, include Pacific Northwest natives, are drought tolerant, and are deer resistant. I love flowers and pack plants into every space, using lots of containers and baskets. Favorites include fuchsias, hydrangeas, roses, clematis, heuchera, lilies, hibiscus, iris, lavender, phlox, dahlias, coneflower, and native plants.