A visit to Arbutus Gardens

First let me explain that I majorly messed up. To prepare for my visit today I charged my Nikon camera battery overnight and then neglected to put it back in the camera as I packed gear for the day. I suppose that is what a multitasking mom gets. I did remember to pack all the gear necessary for my kids soccer games. Sigh.

But I was not worried, I had my iPhone camera and I figured it would work well enough to get the landscape shots I was after. (and the tree I came for of course!)

After spending a wonderful day touring the gardens, I came home to download the photos and in my haste, I did not get them downloaded but did manage to delete them off my camera.

Seriously.

So, I highly encourage you to visit the photo slide show on the website of Arbutus. Clearly, I need to go back with my Nikon and get proper pictures. The display gardens are gorgeous, with a rich variety of species that would warrant a second photo attempt.

Allow me to back up. Last weekend I attended the Spring Plant Fair at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds. It was there that I first encountered Arbutus and their fine selections of Japanese Maples.

Acer Palmatum 'Adriane'

I had already spent my plant budget and of course fell in love with a beautiful, Twombly's Red Sentinel Maple that Arbutus had for sale. I've been searching for one to match the one I put in my front yard, before we even officially moved in a year and a half ago. We've recently had the house resided and painted the original Twombly is looking fantastic.

Twombly's Red Sentinel Maple Acer Palmatum

I looked up Arbutus and saw that the nursery was having an open gardens this weekend. Hubby said he would buy the additional tree for me for a Mother's Day gift. Now that's what I'm talking about!

I headed out to Yamhill County after I coached both of my kids indoor soccer games. The weather was intermittent with some heavy showers from thunder storm cells.

Upon arrival, Arbutus owner Norm greeted us and gave us an in-depth tour of his gardens, including plant introductions and explanations. It was an incredibly entertaining treat.

Norm specializes in propagating new species of Acer palmatums & circinatum. He has an amazing collection of dwarf conifers and epimediums. He can tell you stories and histories behind his plants. I am truly in awe of his gardens and life work collecting and propagating plants.

His gardens are dry shade. Over the years he has found plants that work and has stuck with those to build his under-story plantings. He used wood peonies, epimediums, lily of the valley, and low growing or 'table top' acer's under taller, upright Acer's. Really fantastic.

His gardens had romantic, curving paths, wood bridges and stepping stones. Little bits of carefully placed garden art, mostly with an Asian theme and zillions of aquilegia blooming.

And so I came for the Twombly's Red Sentinel....

Twombly's Red Sentinel Acer Palmatum

But I also ended up taking home these:

Dwarf vine maple 'Sunglow' Acer circinatum

Dwarf Serbian Spruce, Picea omorika Tijn

I cannot express my disappointment that I lost all my pictures. I feel like a total heel. But, I can tell you that taking the drive out to visit Arbutus was well worth it.

If you cannot spare the time to venture to the nursery, keep your eyes peeled for Arbutus at both the spring and fall Hortlandia plant sales. Take a moment to dig into Norm's fabulous plant mind and you'll be blown away at how much you can learn with a little time spent with him.

Cheers and Happy Mother's Day.
Jenni