Love just around the bend at Bella Madrona: Portland Garden Bloggers Fling
For our final tour on the Garden Bloggers Fling in Portland last month, our bus stopped on a rural highway and deposited us in a field with a few pieces of rusty farming equipment strewn about. Not sure what to expect, I walked through open gates adorned with the garden’s name, Bella Madrona. Suddenly a pulsing beat and falsetto vocals filled the air. The disco anthem “Stayin’ Alive” was playing throughout the garden via hidden speakers. This was going to be a party!
A dramatic red and black garden greeted us as we entered.
Va-va-voom reds
Beech hedges, like arched Gothic columns, framed the space, creating doorways and windows, while this black pot sat like a cauldron atop a mossy pedestal.
A mysterious and romantic mood was set.
A concrete dolphin sporting a red crystal on its head? Why not?
Crocosmia and red-tinged banana leaves, along with mossy chairs, make for a lost-in-the-jungle vibe.
Intimate seating areas like this appear throughout the 5-acre garden, amid slightly overgrown, romantically tangled gardens.
Paths branch off in different directions, curving around hedges and shrubs so that you can’t tell what’s ahead. Randomly selecting the left-branching path, I came across a barn-like, ivy-cloaked guest house. Old wash buckets decorate the side.
On the porch, all manner of cast-off items are turned into strange and spooky still lifes.
Following the path onward, I paused to admire these stars set in the gravel. As soon as I got home I dug some old metal stars out of my garage and set them in one of my paths.
At the base of some steps, a series of monumental, angular arbors appeared, beckoning one downhill and into the woods.
I did not heed their call, tempted as I was by another path leading elsewhere, and I never made it back to this area in my 2-hour wanderings. How I wish I had! It led to an eerie gnome garden and high-flying swing that others have blogged about.
Instead, I walked this way, drawn by a small seating area atop a curved double stair backed by a doorway hedge.
Looking through from the other side
The terracing contained a dripping fountain of metal pipes jutting out of the rocks, which fed a small pool.
Just beyond that, a larger gathering space appeared, as well as “waterfall” steps leading up past billowing white hydrangeas. You can’t really see it in this photo, but a terraced stream runs downhill alongside the path. Heading upward and around the bend…
…my heart gave a start as I peeked beneath low-hanging branches to see what a glimmer of blue might be. I find this vignette creepily fascinating. It’s like the garden is populated with otherworldly characters that come to life after dark.
But although the sun was low in the sky, it was still light, and Aretha Franklin was belting out “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” over the speakers. I couldn’t be too spooked. Soon I came upon a tousled, English-style border, and all eeriness disappeared.
Spiky eryngium — love!
Tall pedestals along the back of the border support potted ‘Color Guard’ yuccas and add drama to the scene.
The columns themselves are set in planters made of steel rings.
More flower-border goodness
And more. I love the rich colors.
I watched a hummingbird working the border for some time and caught one blurred image.
The other side of the border was intriguing also, with a spiky, orange-tinged Solanum pyracanthum in front of a tiered metal fountain. I once tried to talk Loree of Danger Garden into this plant at Cistus Nursery. “But you need it. It’s dangerous!”
Speaking of whom, there’s Loree with Peter, The Outlaw Gardener, who’s giving me a this-is-the-life wave.
And here’s Loree again, one of our incredibly organized, generous, and welcoming Fling hosts.
Bella Madrona is the 34-year-old creation of two retired physicians, Geof Beasley and Jim Sampson. Their magical garden is regularly the site of fundraising benefits, and the band Pink Martini, which has performed here, wrote “The Gardens of Sampson and Beasley” about it. Stacks of Pink Martini’s CD Hang On Little Tomato, which contain the song, were generously donated to our group by the band when they heard we would be visiting the garden.
This skeleton affixed to the front of a truck in the driveway is perhaps a nod to the owners’ former profession? It reminded me of a similar hood ornament at Wamboldtopia at the Asheville Fling in 2012. Actually, the whole garden bears a certain resemblance to Wamboldtopia, especially in its mysteriously magical mood and cast-off-object artistry.
Wandering past the front of the house, I came across a living bottle tree.
Chunks of glass were stuck in the folds of its massive trunk, reminding me of the pig’s teeth in the wych elm of Howards End.
A carved, wooden figure wearing a tin hat, with a piercing, blue-eyed gaze, emerged from a swath of ferns.
Here’s a striking use for a steel pipe remnant.
And a wire sphere
Heading back down into the main gardens I entered a room bordered by a randomly crennelated hedge — Piet Oudolf meets Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
Secret gardens at every turn
And inviting, wandering paths…
…full of mystery…
…and beauty…
…and “danger”…
…and romance.
A cracked, hollow sphere appears, egg-like, to hatch an ornamental grass. I’m fairly certain this is a Little and Lewis piece.
How could anyone resist paths that beckon you on with curves and hidden rooms ahead?
What lies around the bend?
A boulder with glass horns and a spot to sit with a friend and enjoy the view…
…surrounded only by grasses and conifers.
A few steps down from the chairs and table…
…I came upon a golden garden around sunset.
It glowed with gold and chartreuse foliage. I felt I’d stepped into King Midas’s garden.
Continuing on, I encountered a pair of red chairs enclosed by tall…thistles?
In yet another small clearing, a sundial or clock made of chains, round pavers, and straight sections of slate reminded me that it was getting late.
Heading back, I was enchanted to find a small patio paved with bottoms-up wine bottles. I wonder where they get all these bottles?
Oh, never mind. Here’s a beautiful bouquet on a table of drinks and food set up for our group on the main lawn.
Our group of 80 bloggers, plus one very enthusiastic bus driver, gathered here for refreshments and conversation…
…sitting with friends for a while before drifting away to explore the winding paths of Bella Madrona.
What a magically wonderful way to end the Fling.
My thanks to the owners of Bella Madrona and all the other gardens for welcoming us so warmly into your delightful creations. And huge applause and congratulations to the Portland Fling planning committee — Scott Weber at Rhone Street Gardens, Loree Bohl at Danger Garden, Heather Tucker at Just a Girl with a Hammer, Jane Howell-Finch at MulchMaid, and Ann Amato-Zorich at Amateur Bot-ann-ist — for putting together such an incredible event. Thank you, thank you!
Up next: A pre-Fling drive out to the scenic, wild Columbia River Gorge and then to Cannon Beach. For a look back at the foliage-rich, xeric garden of John Kuzma, click here.
All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
We adore this whimsical garden Pam, thank you for bringing some of the magic back with your photos!
It took a while to edit this post down to size, but it was worth it for magical memories it brought back. I’m glad you both enjoyed it too! —Pam
Being a fan of Pink Martini, I’d heard the song for quite some time and wondered about this garden! When a friend saw it at a fund raiser and described it to me I hoped to experience it some day. When the fabulous Portland planning committee announced that we would be visiting Bella Madrona during the fling, I was thrilled. The experience of being in this garden left me speechless. What an incredible place, perfect for the fling’s last hurrah! I wandered nearly the whole time we were there and could have stayed longer! Thanks so much for your fab post bringing back the wonder of the place and the evening!
I wandered the whole time too, Peter, and still didn’t see it all. What an amazing place. You looked like you were blissed out. 🙂 —Pam
I can’t get enough of the Portland tour. The various perspectives of all you (lucky) bloggers who got to do the tour first-hand makes for an INCREDIBLE pictorial tour. Thanks a MILLION for taking the time to photograph, post & arrange these photos and descriptions!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the series, Rebecca, and other bloggers’ posts too! You should come to Toronto Fling next year. —Pam
This looks like my sort of place although I think some of the ornaments might have been too much for me. I do like the idea of plants on pedestals I have spotted it on Lorees blog so I might just have to explore doing that in my garden. Thanks for sharing
Pedestal pots are a good way to add drama to the garden, but they’d have to be pretty drought-tolerant and mulched well. You wouldn’t want to have to water them often or weed them way up there. —Pam
This garden is one for the senses. Wow. I would love to see it some day.
I hope you do, Lisa. Stay tuned for a somewhat similar artistic and at times mysteriously eerie garden I visited in N.H. —Pam
Thanks so much for this great post about Bella Madrona. I’m glad you went in a different direction from some other bloggers, because I got to see new images and vignettes that others haven’t posted. Living close to Portland, I have high hopes that at some future time I’ll get to see this great garden.
Yes, if it comes up on tour, don’t miss it, Alison. It is a special place. —Pam
omg, the personality & vibe of this garden come thru in your photos Pam. Easy to see how one could get lost in this garden. It’s incredible. I bet the owners are as interesting and exciting as the landscape they created.
I admire their creativity and fearlessness, Kathleen. And even considering that they’ve worked on it for 3 decades, it’s amazing what they’ve been able to make. —Pam
You have a talent for knowing when to focus on the gardens “sans” humans and when to populate the scenes with people. Beautiful account of our communal experience.
Thank you, Kate! —Pam
You did this remarkable garden up right Pam! Such a wonderful place with a gracious host. I am so incredibly in awe of it all.
Loree, it was the perfect way to end the Fling. Thank you for getting us in! —Pam
So much to love here and it looks like you’ve captured it all with your discerning eye for framing. I’d never seen a “peep hole” cut in a hedge before but now I want one. The living bottle tree, the bottoms up bottle paving and use of whimsy is inspiring on every level. Even if I can’t transplant or put in new flora in August I can sure enough play around with otehr elements. Off I go and another sincere thank you for all the inspiration.
Yep, gardening in August in Austin is all about hardscaping, right? Have fun being creative! —Pam
This was a really different kind of garden than you usually post. Very full of intrigue and mystery.
Where does one find those metal stars to set in a path?
Thanks.
I had three from my son’s room when he was little — cast-iron stars that had been painted a rusty red. You see them in Texas-y shops all the time. We’re big on stars here. —Pam
This garden was clearly the creation of some clever – and mischievous – minds. I loved that sphere with succulents inside and the bottle patio. And who wouldn’t love a tour with a musical accompaniment?! Thanks for all your photo tours, Pam!
It was my pleasure, Kris! —Pam
Amazingly thorough job on this enormous, hyper-creative and detailed garden. Hope you had time to sit down for a drink!
Ha, afraid not, Denise. I find it as hard to sit down on tours as I do at home. —Pam
Your photo tour is engrossing as always, Pam, and I would also dearly love to experience this garden in person. First, it’s a beautiful garden, but it’s those injected Dark Shadows bits of the mysteriously creepy that register high on my weirdness enjoyable scale. What a great garden for a Halloween party! Pass the Witch’s Fingers grapes, please.
Another one of your posts that I’ll be revisiting numerous times.
Oh, this would be the PERFECT garden for a Halloween party! Spooooky! —Pam
This garden brings out the poet in those who have the courage to write about it (it nearly defies description, with its deep mystery and sly humor). I think this post, along with Anna’s at Flutter & Hum, should go into the Sampson & Beasely scrapbook right next to the Pink Martini tribute.
Well, Ricki, I’m hugely flattered. Blushing! By the way, it was delightful to meet you in person at last. I hope I’ll see you again next Fling. —Pam
Forgot to mention that that is the best photo of Loree yet. She is so camera-shy that we know you have earned her trust.
Thanks, R. Doesn’t she look happy and relaxed, knowing that the Fling is winding down and it was a success? Also, she’s framed by bold foliage and spiky eryngium, both perfect for the Danger Gardener. —Pam
You made incredible shots! I still can’t believe this place exists! It is magical. I can see I missed many things…there were so many hidden secrets…
I know I missed a lot too, Lisa. Maybe one day we’ll be lucky enough to see it again. —Pam
I am way behind on my blog reading, it is summer after all with too much to do, but I am so glad I took the time to see your fling photos. Wow! What is in the Portland water. The creativity shown in these gardens awes me, and also makes me feel somewhat inadequate. Maybe I wouldn’t feel so bad if I had not seen these gardens depicted through your talented lens.
Those lucky Portlanders are blessed with a favorable climate for gardening, but they don’t rest on that, do they? They are creatively gardening with a sense of humor and excitement that just doesn’t quit! Like you, I’m feeling a bit inadequate, and thinking sourly about Austin’s difficult gardening climate (as I always do in late summer). But I’m sure I’ll get over it — ha! —Pam
So THAT’S the path leading to the swing!!! I missed it too… Lovely photos of a lovely place, Pam. So many touches and details, I think it is impossible to catch it all in one go. In two hours, no less! Thanks for bringing it all back to life!
I really enjoyed your post about it too, Anna. What a place! —Pam
Great pics of this amazing garden. I think I missed a few of those spots. It seems like a lifetime ago since we were there. Nice to see it through your lens.
It does seem a while ago that we were there. We’ve both been busy since then! —Pam
would you tell me what size is the iron sphere. And where can you purchase one.
With the succulents inside? I would say it was about a foot or so in diameter, but I have no idea where to get one. —Pam
Pam, what a gorgeous post! There was so much to see there, I love seeing what I missed through your post at this amazing garden!