Any Oregon Coast Gardeners out there?

Are there any other DG out there from the Oregon coast besides Ottie and myself?
DH & I just moved to Tillamook last fall from Bellingham, WA.
There were some plants planted wehn we moved in but not many. We have lots of blackberries and holly trees;)
There is a local book, Coastal Gardening, I'm going to get.

Karen~

Hello Karen, I joined DG couple months ago and had been wondering the same thing myself. Im on the south coast in Coos Bay, moved here a year and a half ago from NY. I love the climate, there seems to be something in bloom all year. The really cool summer temps seem do limit some heat loving plants in the summer. Do you know of any established public gardens on the coast? The range of plants that could be grown here is astounding but it seems that many have not been tried and it would be nice to see what can be done. I know of Shore Acres for beautiful rhododendrons and dahlias and roses in the summer but nothing too unusual.

I haven't gotten that far yet, the seaching part.I know there is a local lady her that has written a book, The Coastal Gardener. It was just new in our library about a month or so ago. I'm sure she has it out other places. If you can't get one she sells them here at the Pioneer Museum. Let me knowif you can find it. I have been told that things grow wonderfully here. All except those super heat, super dry loving plants I suppose.
MAybe we wil be able to meet sometime this summer, it would be fun!
Karen~

Karen, I'm from Tillamook, my brothers and sisters still live there. if you're by Fred Meyer, my sister Debbie owns Debbie D.s sausage and jerky factory. and my brother owns Averill Trucking. you can't miss all the red Tracktor cabs with Don Averell around town. at the lumber mill. I have 1 more sister and brother. there.I might move back someday. it's a lovelly area. I go to the Tillamook County Fair every year and that's a blast!!!. maybe I'll see you there. Jim

Sumermoon there is a woman that moved from Bellingham to where you live maybe you can meet her there. Her name is Karen and her DH is Dave I think she called him Super Dave. They saw how I grow tomatoes and they can grow them that way to. Good luck finding them lol.

Is the book called Coastal gardening in the Pacific Northwest : from Northern California to British Columbia by Carla Albright? I just searched the local library catalogue and it looks like they just got this one in. Ill have to check it out. Definitely a unique climate here with a unique set of conditions to adapt to and learn about. I drove up the coast to Tillamook last summer, great scenery. I have been trying all the cool growing plants I can get my hands on since I got here, lots of fun, and a lot to learn. All the bulbs are coming out now and It looks like a I have some Hippeastrum papilio that made it through the winter in the ground. Last winter I tried a small passiflora mollisima that froze to death during a cold snap but this winter two larger ones survived. So many possibilities.....now all I need is a nice big coastal propery to plant everything I can't afford!:)

EWeed~
I do know where this Karen and Super Dave live...her DH is HOTTT!
I saw him mowing the yard one day, stopped to welcome him to Tillamook. He's not as good looking as my DH River Woods, but she is one lucky lady in the DH department.
I hear she is one of the nicest people you will meet.
Her DH did mention some fanatical tomato growing guru from Whatcom County. Said he had something like 3 large greenhouses housed with every kind of tomato you could imagine AND he gave most of them away! Can you believe that!??
Super Dave said he had to move away, afraid his DW would be haulin' home loads of the cutest little yellow pups you ever saw. With all the cats his son keeps bringing home (son is 22, married and on his own!) Super Dave was afraid he'd have to rent an apartment.
They live alone (with 3 cats and 1 dog) in a good sized 5 bedroom house. I'll bet that kind wife of his would make you up a warm bed and put some Cornflakes in a bowl for you. I'm not sure she is much of a cook since I hear the smoke detectors going off each time I pass their place.
Boy, they have a lot of work to do to that yard! I hear she dug up a piano from an old burn pile today and found a few daffodils growing out in the middle of the grass! It's a treasure hunt......LOL Their house was built in the 1920s.......she's hoping she doesn't find ole Blue or Friskie during her digging.

Jim~
We will definately go into Debbie's now. We have been meaning to stop in and check it out. We are trying all the local eateries and jerky places. The Tillamook Snoker has the 2 foot beef and pepperoni sticks the DH likes. We'll get to Debbie's soon.
Be sure and let us know if you come for fair. We'll meet up and have something nice and deap fried....LOL
Hopefully I will have some flowers growing. Right now it's a little overwhelming looking at everything that has to be done! I had such a cute "little" yard before. The thought of having to get all new plants....I loved my hosta garden. I think they will do well here. I only brought 2 small starts. I'm hoping to get back up North to get a few more starts from my old garden...who knows. It's probably cheaper just to buy new ones with gas so expensive.
We move from Whatcom County home of the highest gas prices to Tillamook Oregon home of those same gas prices..LOL We must just like to pay top $$$ for our gas.
Keep in touch!

My SIL's ex BIL owns Tillamook country smoker. It's good stuff!!

You mean some of these

or some of those.

If you come when maters are being planted maybe some can go home with your hostas

Yum. You're making my mouth water . . .

Ernie~
Those look somewhat familiar! Really!?? Plants for little ole me?

Katie~ Your mouth should be watering! Those were some tasty maters!
And yes the Tillamook Smoker has some good stuff!

Karen, tell my sister Debbie hello for me. I haven't talked to her lately. I definetely will look you up when I'm down for the fair. or if I make another trip, seems like I make 2 or 3 trips a year. I'm bring you one of my Hostas. meaning one of my hybrid seedlings. for you new home. Debbies significant other, Mike. likes Hostas also. Debbie doesn't garden at all. at her home in Bay City, she has 1 Rhody and the rest is lawn. there's a joke going that, Mike only liked her for her Rhody. Jim

Oh, Karen, Lucky you! One of Jim's seedlings!

I just stumbled across this nursery. If you come into Portland anytime on 26, it might be worth a stop for a look-see. It's a nursery that sells donated plants to fund spay & neuter programs. The 1-gallon pots are $4.

http://www.recycledgardens.org/rg/index.asp


What other sorts of plants and flowers are you looking for?

susybell, i'll check that out, nest time I head for the coast. Jim

Thanks! I know where Cornelius Pass Road is. It's actually over in teh Valley. We'll be over there Sat. and it's open right now on Sat. I'll go check it out!
We're going to the Home and Garden Show in Portland.

Jim~ I will stop in and tell your DS hello. Is she usually there?
In exchange for your seedling maybe I can treat you to a trip to the Air Museum?
Anyone who doesn't know about the Tillamook Air Museum, look it up on line, it's amazing! I volunteer there right now but soon they will be paying me to do what I love and would do for nothing.

I took these yesterday while the guys were washing some of the planes.

Inside where the planes live. It's a little blury.


Oh in the one up above that is my truck circled in pink....

Here are the Oreo Cookie Cows

somermoone, Debbie, is usually working. she does take some time off with her SO though. next to the Air Museum there's a Catholic cemetery that all of my family is buried. during the WW2 it was a blimp base, there were 2 hangers but one burnt when Werhowser(spelling) used it as a lumber mill. now the Air Museum. I've seen it so many times in the last 50plus years it's pretty boring to me. the butch belt cows ( oreo is the more common name now ) are in a field near my sister Susans home, which is accross from the Air Museum. I watched a plane crash there several years ago. they were having an air show. and this guy was the head of it. earlier that day, he asked my brother Don Averill if he would like to go up with him, luckily Don was too busy to go. see I do know my way around. there's one thing about Tillamook, change is slow. but more and more they are trying to get those tourist dollar. well they've always had the cheese factory. but the tourist's used to leave the factory and go up or down the coast to visit. Lincoln City, Newport. south or Canon beach north. I always go over to Ocean Side when I visit. I tell people it's the best kept secret on the Oregon Coast. Jim

I suppose you would know your way around...LOL
The picture was taken in the fields across from the air museum...LOL
So I'm close to you sister Susan. It's two miles from my house to the museum. I live on McCormick Loop and 101.
I saw pictures of when Weyerhaeuser occupied the museum, amazing. I've been here on vacation when both hangers were in view. The fire of '96 was too bad. I guess it was full of dry hay.
We were just talking of the crash the other day. They haven't taken the old planes up since. They will start this spring/summer. They are actually going to fly the Japanese Oscar the 27th of this month weather permitting.
What's the story on the plane crash? Someone said he was doing tricks?
Very good that Don didn't go! How horrible to watch that happen!
You are correct in that Tillamook is not a town of change. There's tons to do here, especially if fishing is your thing! DH caught his first salmon in Oct. 33lbs, we're still eating it!

Here's a picture teh day after our hurricane here in Dec. This is the road from Meeres to Oceanside.

road to meeres

Hi Karen,

Have fun at the Home & Garden Show. I'll wave in the direction of the Expo Center :) I went to the Yard, Garden & Patio show last weekend and just got back from two days at the NW Flower & Garden Show in Seattle. Whew, totally Garden-showed out! I did get to meet Jim, though, which was a nice surprise. :)

I'm trying to talk all these northerners into coming down here for a nursery-tour day sometime this spring or summer after our visit to Jim's-you should join us!

Let me know when your getting together, it would be fun to meet up.
Please be sure and let me know if your ever over this way!

I'm not going to Portland after all ::(( DH has to work. That's OK, I'm ticked right now with the gas prices going up .25 in a week and a half! Our prices here on the coast are between $3.23 and $3.29! From Bellingham WA high to Tillamook OR high. Seems we like to live to the highest gas price places in the Pacific Northwest!

Maybe we need to give George some gas

Hi Karen,

Sorry you're not getting to go to the garden show in PDX, but there's always next year...and tons of plant sales coming up over the next couple of months, too.

It's not just Tillamook with outrageous gas prices. I bought gas in Olympia for $3.29/g on Thursday, and the overpriced gas station near my house was showing $3.38 yesterday. Takes all the fun out of things when you can't even go for a nice drive in the country on a pretty day without dropping $30-50!

I'll definitely send you a dmail if I"m headed your way and also let you know when we do the nursery day,too. :)

Hi Ernie, I didn't know you lurked over here-all those gorgeous puppies find homes?

somermoon, My sis susan live on Tillamook River Road. turn right on TRR going south and follow the rd. to the right. they live just a 1/4mi on the left, in the green or blue, can't remember. but the mail box will say Pulliam. Jim

Susybell, it was nice seeing you at the show. I was tuckered out that night. but it's always great to see what's going on in the plant world and meet people, aren't gardeners the best!!!!! I booked another garden tour here, with the Hardy Ferns Society, I should say they will call me on the time and date when they will visit. it's always fun to have people visit. Jim

On gas....how are families suppose to make it these days....not! It's just DH and I and I can't even afford to shave my legs anymore with the price of razors!!!

Jim, that's exactly where I took the pics of the Oreo Cookie Cows...LOL

Jim, it was great to put a face with a name. Looking forward to seeing your gardens! I didn't realize you were into ferns as well as hostas.

Those shows are fun, but so exhausting. Total creativity overload, I think, all the ideas coming to life at once. And then there's all the plants-and the people!

Karen, don't get me started....very frustrating all around...I don't want to get in trouble with DG... ;)

Susy yes he creeps he weeps he glides and slides right out the door lol. Yea all the babes are gone and every one has a good home they will all be spoiled lol. Ernie

Karen show the pic of the coons up the tree bet they enjoy it

Here they are.....Thanks for reminding me of these little guys. There are at least 4. You can see just the tail of one.

awesome thanks thats the one I was thinking about

OH, cute picture!

Glad the babies got good homes, Ernie! I'm a diehard cat person and I was even a little tempted, they really were that cute. (I'd have a tough time trying to litter box train them, though, I think... ;) )

I was sorry I missed out on Ernie's little yellow pups. Trooping all over from Bellingham to Vegas to Oregon to...to...to...then moved! It was a crazy 2007! 3 weddings, two babies and move to another state. Plus the June'07 newlyweds announced they were expecting in June '08!

Ernie has three of the best gold dogs I have ever met.

I went from being way too busy ( I was a caregiver too) to nothing! I have no kids/grandkids here and DH's family is an hour and a half away over the mountain. Needless to say it wasn't a happy time for me. I'm still struggling here.

Youngest DS collected a darling little kitty from one of our neighbor's barns. We LOVE her! Her name is TrixZee and she is a blast. She loves to fetch and pack stuffed animals as big as she around. Cracks us up.

I thought you would enjoy this one Ernie.
She is a funny little one, always has to sniff your face.

Bo was on the ottoman at Dave's feet, TrixZee at his head and Duke napping on the sofa right next to them all!

Duke...

Let me give you my visual at this very moment....King Size bed...Me sitting up in it with my lap top, DH catching some serious zzzzs next to me....Trixzee curled up by my knees....Duke by my feet....Bo in his bed next to mine. If he saw these two cats up here next to me, he would be relentless in his begging. He usually saves that for middle of the night or after Dave goes to work (same thing) because he knows I'll give in just to finish what sleep I do get. But gee, I guess no one wonders why I don't sleep with all these critters in here! I could kick the cats outside but they just bug at me through the glass french doors. Duke knows all the tricks for getting his own way. Even to the point of reaching up and twisting the door knob...yes, one paw on either side and he moves it back and forth.

We can't leave Roger out. We inherited him when DH cousin had to move to MD in Jan. Eventually Duke (for the school) and Roger (Clemmens) will go to live with youngest DS. DS is Duke's boy. Duke (yellow cat) will follow him everywhere, even wait outside the bathroom for him. The cat even loves DS's new wife like she has been his girl.