Ma Sanctuaire - Garden of Margie Butts

Pass through the purple gate and step into an intimate cottage garden. The large green stepping stones resembling lily pads take you past fluffy roses, flowering shrubs, and perennials. The garden is divided into garden rooms separated by arbors covered in roses and clematis. After the cottage garden it slowly transitions into a shade garden filled with ferns, hostas, and hellebores. Your final destination as you walk past the quaint potting shed is my garden whimsy—a bench and table always set for tea, a “garden crone,” and cobalt blue pots filled with grasses and hostas. A blue bubbling urn dances in the front garden. A small gurgling waterfall surrounded by golden hakonechloa is in the back garden just off the relaxing lattice-covered deck, complete with a glider and more brimming cobalt blue pots. My sanctuary.

 

Directions: From Portland, take Highway 26 west to Exit 62A South/Cornelius Pass Road. Continue south for about 2.5 miles to Baseline Road. Turn right onto Baseline Road and pass the Shell gas station. At second traffic light, turn left onto Borwick Street. Go to end of Borwick Street, turn left onto Century Boulevard. Go 1 block, turn right onto SE Maple Street. Follow the curve to 63rd Street and turn right. Go 1 block and turn left onto SE Heike Street. Our house is second on left; a two-story yellow house.

From Beaverton or Hillsboro, take Tualatin Valley Highway to Cornelius Pass Road. Go north about 2 miles to Baseline Road. Turn left and go past the Shell gas station. Turn left onto Borwick Street. Proceed as directed above. Residential street parking only; do not block mailboxes.

 

Photo: Margie Butts