Sun Slope

Liz and Wally recently moved to Portland to be closer to their kids and grandkids. Before that, Liz had a Seattle themed garden at her Minnesota home, an homage to her childhood roots. But so many of the plants didn't do as well in Minnesota conditions. She was thrilled to have a legitimate PNW garden and came to the table with a list of favorite plants. Using my design, we went shopping together so Liz could pick out some plants that spoke to her. 

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The previous owners used this south-facing sunny slope as their vegetable garden, with homemade terracing and pathways -- a DIY project that used a lot of mismatching materials. We cleaned up the space, removed the large shrubs blocking the windows, and re-shaped the slope to look naturalistic with boulders, a mosaic of rocks, and miniature rain gardens. Plants were selected for their ability to handle south-facing heat and fast drainage on a slope, while offering lush color and texture, year-round interest, and pollinator benefits.