Challenges and A Bit of Hope

 Late August is usually not the best look for a garden. At least, not on the West Coast where we are painfully aware of our summer dry climate. While I prefer it to February, for example, the lack of water is a challenge not only for the garden but for animals, too. In search of worms, moles are especially active where we irrigate. In search of nourishment, voles follow suit looking for plant material while utilizing the moles' vast tunnel system. Both wreak havoc, which frankly makes me want to throw in the towel. But we garden on, in search of solutions and balance. Here then is a look at some of our challenges as well as some end-of-summer bright moments that give me hope.

I begin this post with a vantage point I don't think I've ever shown before. I am facing east with FM's newest garden bed on the right and the edge of the labyrinth/Himalayan mounds on the left with the veggie garden straight ahead through the grape vine growing over a gate. The dormant grass is typical for this time of the year all over the region and frankly, even if we did irrigate it (which we never have), it would still go dormant unless we did so practically every day. I would say that this bit of gardening is a success, as the irrigation is minimal and it is still rich with foliage and textures.

Now for a few of our challenges. This is in the shade garden where the dead areas are riddled with vole tunnels. I walk though the area daily squishing down the raised areas that dry out (as if I need more drying) and large areas of plants die off. This was a lush area of Galium odoratum (sweet woodruff), but has been reduced to what you see because of moles and voles. In the center is an epimedium trying to grow but it has struggled. I realize that many of the "dead" areas (in the shade garden especially) are probably due to vast tunnel networks.

This was a mossy side path off of the main one. Currently a disaster with dozens of mole holes and the entire area riddled with vole tunnels. So much soil is disturbed that the moss won't grow. Again, every day I need to walk through it to tamp down the vole tunnels or roots would die off and make it worse.

In the center is a Hydrangea serrata 'Shiro Gaku', one of many in the garden. It is beginning to sulk from lack of water. I experimented by cutting them all back fairly hard earlier in the year to see if less plant material would mean less watering and I report that they need just as much water. They are all coming out this autumn and being replaced with less thirsty shrubs. This whole area is not maturing at a normal rate because of the lack of water and the fact that the neighbor's thirsty Leyland cypress trees suck up every drop. I simply cannot irrigate this area enough and even when I do water, the moles and voles are right behind.

My pretty mossy path has been littered with these lately. So. As it is so late in the season anyway, I think I will stop watering the shade garden for a while. I know plants will suffer and some may die, but what's the point? Being bombarded by underground mammals when they are watered is almost worse. I hope the rains return in time to replenish the entire ecosystem.

Chamaecyparis 'Heatherbun' did not survive. I went to prune out a dead branch or two and quickly realized the whole thing was dead and chunks came off in my hand with the lightest touch. After digging it out I am still not sure what killed it, but I suspect a mole hole caused it to dry out (water went down the hole, not to the soil), then I overwatered it when it was very hot out. You win some you lose some.

Hebe 'Red Edge' suffered branch breakage in the April 2022 snowstorm. This branch was apparently also damaged and only this week told me so.

After pruning it out, a large hole is left. While many would rip the whole thing out, I know it's healthy otherwise so will leave it.

Our poor, mature, withered Cornus nuttallii, (native dogwood) likely has anthracnose. It has been declining the past few years, certainly weather stresses have not helped matters. We will wait one more season to see if it rebounds then we are pruning off all branches and leaving it as a snag.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Barry's Silver' had some snow damage last year and has had a rough recovery. I recently combed out the dead interior to expose the branches to a little more light and it seems to be rebounding, though it's a slightly sad sight right now. Some issues I can see past with little effort.

Now for a few bits of hope. While the grass is dormant and weed-filled, we really don't care. The new areas on either side are drought-adapted and doing well. I love the new areas and are so happy we went to the effort to make this what it is.

Near the top of the driveway this area has given me a lot of heartache the past two years. I lost four mature cistus, an Atriplex halimus and had a lot of mole mounds. Now with a cleaner look and additional areas given over to more gravel, the Dorycnium hirsutum is seeding around and a few more appropriate plants are settling in, such as Mirabilis multiflora and a couple yuccas (not in view). It took two years for me to be happy with it once again.

A garden bed in process - the triangular area to the left of the Yucca recurvifolia. The little green bumps are Teucrium chamaedrys, behind them are more Dorycnium hirsutum and behind that are several clumps of Eriophyllum lanatum. Madia elegans has seeded in here also. I think by next year the effect will be much greater as plants start to weave together. Much better than the bare, dormant grass that was/is here.

This year the Digitalis ferruginea made a statement in the meadow garden.

I enjoy the dark stalk and also their dark silhouette through winter.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus' is a fantastic upright grass that does not flop. Its colors are stunning in autumn, turning all shades of orange and brown.

Where the Himalayan mounds and labyrinth gardens meet. Again the dormant grass is irrelevant to me when there is enough green material to fill my eyes. All drought-adapted - they have to be in this part of the garden that is rarely irrigated.

Looking up the driveway from our gate, many deciduous shrubs give a woodland feel. These areas have been heavily mulched with arborist's wood chips and have been incredibly effective at keeping in moisture during the dry months.

Case in point: Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' used to live in the shade garden under very thirsty Douglas fir trees. They never looked good despite being irrigated sometimes every other day (ridiculous, I know). Having been relocated to this area with much heavier soil mulched with wood chips last autumn, I have maybe watered these three times this summer and they all look great. This gives me hope that I can have nice things with enough mulch.

A pulled-back view with a newly defined path area. The little green dots are mostly Aster 'Purple Dome' which will grow to about 2' high x 3' wide and cover much of the ground. In autumn when they bloom they are spectacular and add a punch of color here.

In the same area, Hydrangea villosa is one hydrangea I am definitely keeping. It stays relatively happy here, but on super hot days it does ask for a drink.

Mahonia x savilleana, a hybrid between M. eurybracteata and M. gracilipes, originally from the Miller Botanical Gardens. This was a gift from Evan Bean when they moved from their former garden last year. I love it, Evan; thank you. Mahonias in general give me a bit of hope because they are drought-adapted and look wonderful despite the tough root competition in my shade garden. More of these, please.

Polystichum setiferum 'Bevis' is a lovely and finally rather large fern in the shade garden. Not needing excessive water it is a superstar for me.

Northern edge of the labyrinth garden with many sedum, Cotinus 'Pink Champagne', Hebe diosmifolia and Miscanthus sinensis 'Cabaret'. Though I lost an Ozothamnus 'Silver Jubilee' in there (was next to the cotinus, was too dry as I never thought to water it), other plants have filled in around it and it may yet regrow from its roots.

Eryngium giganteum, Miss Wilmott's Ghost is a prolific re-seeder in gravel. I love this time of the year when the color shifts from silvers, to whites, to greens and browns, it has a rainbow effect.

Parthenocissus henryana, silver vein creeper, has finally reached a respectable size. I let it climb up a support of our overhang near the garage where it has made itself lush and full while not being a clinging thug. Its bright sunset colors in autumn is reason alone to grow it, but surprisingly it is a huge hit with bees even with its inconspicuous flowers.

At the edge of the Himalayan mounds, more drought-adapted plants are thriving. Salvia 'Celestial Blue', although it has not bloomed for me yet, is promising in its form, color and health. Sedum spurium is everywhere and looks good much of the year while Achillea millefolium, Agave parryi supsp. truncata and Arctostaphylos pumila are quite happy with the hot, dry location.

Penstemon 'Firebird' is a steady bloomer and has survived many moves by me and still keeps going. I appreciate its dark stems.

Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' is a tall, eye-catching beauty but it does sulk in my dry garden after a week or so of dry weather. While I may move it this autumn, it is a cheerful thing that I look forward to every year despite having to give it extra water.

Sedum 'Matrona', (Hylotelephium telephium 'Matrona') is a reliable plant in the labyrinth garden where it receives very little water. More dark stems.

Rosa glauca is surprisingly drought-adapted, looking great with its long arched branches and dangling hips. I am impressed with its resilience and disease resistance. It's a total winner.

Sweet Salvia 'UC Pink' was swallowed up in a bed of Ceanothus gloriosus earlier this year. I freed it and planted it in an area with better air circulation and it has rebounded and doubled in size just this summer.

Diplacus aurantiacus 'Jeff's Tangerine', which I took cuttings of last year, is now in many places in the labyrinth garden and has been a non-stop bloomer despite its small size. I'm hoping these all overwinter successfully, a challenge with new plants not fully established.

From the edge of the labyrinth garden looking towards the house and deck. Despite the dry weather, many areas of the garden look lush to my eyes.

Last but not least, we're having another pop-up plant sale! There's something to be hopeful about! Portland area friends come on by, there will be several of us selling hardy perennials, shrubs, grasses, succulents, houseplants, spiky things, garden books and more. We'll be there from 11 - 3-ish. I hope to see some of you there! It's always such fun talking plants with one another.

Gardening is an act of hope and courage. It also requires a certain amount of stubbornness. The rules are changing rapidly and I'm trying to keep up. I must remind myself that when I do lose something, it's just a plant. There are other, perhaps better, choices. Still, it stings for at least a while but having garden friends whose shoulders I can cry on helps. We're all in this together.

That's a wrap for this week at Chickadee Gardens. Thank you so much for reading and commenting, we do love hearing from you! Happy gardening and I really do hope to see some of you Sunday! Cheers!