New For The Gardens

Came across this Echinacea 'Tomato Soup" today and had to have it for the Gardens. Once again give Terra Nova Nurseries credit for another outstanding plant. Those guys just do not give up!!!!!!
Stunning warm, tomato-red flowers to 5" wide, fast growing to 3' tall and nearly as wide covered with flowers till frost. Plants are well branched and show excellent vigor. Easy to grow in full sun with good drainage. The Echinacea is a wonderful plant for the drought tolerant garden. USDA hardiness zone 4 to zone 9.

New Ceanothus "Tuxedo"

I just purchased and planted in the garden the newest introduction of Ceanothus or California Lilac "Tuxedo". The beautiful powder blue flowers when it blooms this coming Summer will be outstanding against the very dark purple/black evergreen foliage. The Ceanothus is a wonderful plant for a drought tolerant gardens. This is the fifth Ceanothus I have planted. All gardens should have at least one variety of this plant, mason bees will love you for it. If you come across this plant pick it up, I purchased my at Garden Fever located at 3433 NE 24th Ave.

Tuxedo is an upright selection with an open well branched habit. It responds well to pruning and will make a dramatic garden specimen. A summer blooming variety with lavender blue flowers that will grow to approximately 8' tall by 8' wide. Plants will bloom sporadically through warmer months but reach their full flowering potential in late summer to fall. USDA hardiness zone 8 to zone 10.

Blooming in the Death Valley Shack

Not only will I show you things from the garden but also from the cactus greenhouse, which I named the Death Valley Shack. This is a Gymnocalycium pflanzii var. lagunillasense

in bloom in my collection, the flower is a soft pale pink with a raspberry center. The cactus is about 5" x 4".

Welcome to Beech Street Gardens

Beech Street Gardens is located at an elevation of 253 ft./ latitude 45.54983/ longitude 122.603747 in the beautiful Pacific Northwest or also known as NE Portland, Oregon. My partner Will and I purchased our home that the gardens are based around 19 years ago. I have redone the gardens many times, but I believe this to be the last phase because I finally figured out what I want it to look like. When the gardens first started there was lawn (2 1/2 hours of edging and mowing) and a few flower beds. Today there is a very small lawn (15 mins. top to edge and mow) and small minor gardens within three major gardens consisting of trees, shrubs, and perennials. These gardens are based on drought tolerant plants, very close to a Mediterranean style. Plants receive most of their water during the fall, winter, spring months from the rains and with very little help from me during the summer. Even though I have watered three days this year, when it hits 100+ I feel guilty.

Please visit often, there will be a great mix of pictures during the year. At Beech Street Gardens there is always something in bloom. Once in a while I will show you a photo of what the yard looked like a few years ago, comparing it to what it looks like today. I'm sure you will enjoy the difference.