Eddies White Wonder Dogwood – Cornus ‘Eddies White Wonder’

This lovely tree is a hybrid of our native Pacific Dogwood – Cornus nuttallii and the traditionally popular Cornus florida.

We are using the hybrid here instead of the pure native because of the trees location next to the highway with almost full sun exposure. The Pacific Dogwood is a sensitive species growing at the edge of woodlands in sheltered semi-exposed locations. Its proven to be particularly sensitive to pollution and human traffic. So, in the plaza, so close to the parking lot and hwy we are using the hybrid. Later in the fall, additional restoration planting on the path to the falls will include the pure native species.

Now that we’ve got the technical explanation for Eddies White Wonder out of the way, let me tell you why its going to be so spectacularly beautiful in the plaza!

Picture the walk up to the falls as it passes the lodge. Now, imagine that walk framed by lacy white blossoms in late April (If you haven’t noticed, Dogwoods are blooming right now all over town!). The white saucer sized blossoms will accent the the roaring white of Multnomah Falls. This is the most dramatic element of the new landscape design at the falls and why you will likely find me visiting the Multnomah Falls every April for years to come.

Where to find Eddies White Wonder at Multnomah Falls: Next the the Multnomah falls Highway Sign (A favorite photo opportunity for the tourists!) and in the two outside planters that frame the Lodge.

So fashionable its been featured on Grimm! Click on the photo to read the whole story.

Bleeding Heart – Dicentra formosa

So, I’m starting to worry that I have referred to every single one of these plants at Multnomah Falls as my favorite. They are just all so great! And even more importantly they are all so great TOGETHER!

Bleading Heart is no exception. I particularly adore this plant with ferns. At the falls we have it with Sword ferns. I think it is also fabulous with our native maiden hair fern! With such delicate lacy leaves and a broken hearted blossom, it is certainly one of the most desperately romantic flowers in the Pacific NW.

Where to find it at the Multnomah Falls Lodge: In the outside planters in front of the lodge.

2008. Click on the photo to learn more about the photographer.

Common Yarrow – Achellea millefolium

There is nothing common about it… okay actually this one really is a more commonly seen native plant, but in my opinion, its advantages as a garden specimen are wholly undervalued.

While bloom colors are the most obvious way to add interest and contrast to a garden design, foliage color and texture is also an important part of the planting pallet to consider. I’m particularly fond of the fine scaled texture of Common Yarrow’s foliage. It makes for a strong contrast to the broader leaves of the Western Sword fern and Creeping Mahonia.

Where to find it at Multnomah Falls: At either end of the central planter beds adjacent to the Creeping Mahonia.

Blanket Flower – Gaillardia aristata

I’ve read that the blanket flower is named for its resemblance to the patterns of of color on woven blankets. It is also a low growing perennial that tends to appear as a carpet of red and yellow blooms when found in the wild. A great color spot for any sunny garden!

Where: You’ll find Blanket flower planted just behind the benches in the central middle planter in front of the Multnomah Falls Lodge.

Penny Postcard, ca.1930, “Multnomah Lodge, Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Highway, Oregon.”.

Caption on back reads: “Multnomah Falls on the Columbia River Highway, 23 miles east of Portland, Oregon: Where a cataract leaps down shear 620 feet in a roaring, mystic white.”.

columbiariverimages.com

White Spirea ‘Lucida’ Spirea betulifolia var. ‘Lucida’

White Spirea is the species I am most excited to see going into the planting beds at Multnomah Falls Lodge. Its a low growing variety with lovely white blooms that will highlight the white spray of the water fall in the spring and finish up in the fall with showing of fabulous red and orange color! As the flowers fade, even the seed pods will create a dramatic effect in front of the western sword fern!

Where: In all four planters right in front of the western sword fern. Bam!