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As many of you know, the Butterfield Cottage flower gardens are planted and tended by volunteers from the Sou'Wester Garden Club. For several years it has been my garden club assignment to head and coordinate committee of workers. Now, I thought perhaps it was time to share some information about the garden with the museum membership. In each newsletter, I will try to write something about what's happening in the garden, but please remember that reading about a garden is never as good as visiting one so consider this as invitation to stop by and smell the roses. We have three outstanding additions to the Butterfield Cottage garden this spring and they are all planted along the front picket fence across from the porch.
First, we have a rambling rose, Veilchenblau. Rose growers describe it as being as close to a blue rose as you will ever find. First grown by Schmidt in 1909, it is almost thornless. This one was donated by Doris Snodgrass. She found it growing on an abandoned hillside in Elsie, took a cutting, got it started and has shared it with us.
Second, we have a pink rambler donated by Carol Carney in memory of Danette Hutton. Danette's great grandparents brought it across the country in a wagon train in approximately 1860 and Danette had it in her garden in Warrenton. From there, Carol Carney was given a start and now has generously planted it in the museum's garden. We will attempt to identify this one when it blooms so please let me know if you recognize it.
| And third, but certainly not least, we have a start from Nancy and Rex Anderson of a Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri) from their cottage in Gearhart. So far I find no written or oral account on how or when this poppy came to the north coast, but it grows in several of the older gardens in this area and loves our sandy soil because it is a native of So.California's canyons and dry riverbeds. This plant is persnickety about being transplanted but so far ours looks healthy. Hopefully we will have some of those big "fried egg" blooms this summer for all to enjoy. |
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