"Dream Team's" Portland Garden

Lee Kelly's sculpture, "Window to the Gone World," at the entrance of this Portland, Oregon, garden provides the southern edge to the sculpted terraces. It also acts as a gateway to the wildest sections of the property, while meadowlike plantings below soften its industrial, man-made edge, making it more of an enticing door. It is a favorite play area for children who like to walk through the opening.

The western slope and entrance to the home was planted with Idaho blue fescue grass and Willamette daisies in surrender to the intense summer sunlight. A path is mowed through it from the rock steps above to the entry gate below.

Seen from the main north entry to the house, the hot tub deck remains hidden though in plain view.

Stepped terraces are tucked into the natural hillside behind the outdoor fireplace. Stewartia and katsura trees provide afternoon shade for the owner's office deck, shown here with the outdoor grill at the entry.

This terrace serves two people or 25 people with equal comfort and intimacy. A variety of grasses flower throughout the year to engage birds, while a Japanese pine in the foreground provides perches for safety.

Mowed paths from the house entice visitors to enjoy private views during parties, with Back Jack seats and solar lights hidden along the way.

The glass walls of the yoga house/poolhouse open completely to the surrounding terraces. The black-bottomed pool reflects dancing light on the celings during summer sunsets. A dwarf conifer in the foreground mirrors the Japanese pine near the house.

The stony hillside water feature (as seen from the yoga house) appears to gently bubble from a seep near the tractor house at the top of the slope. Moisture loving sedges at the base accompany 'Robert Chapman' heather that clings to the dry rocks above. A dramatic potted arrangement gets water from the irrigation system and provides civility to the setting in preparation to enter the yoga house.

The entrance to the property from the parking area below dramatically highlights the Grecian look and golden proportions of the yoga house.

As captured by the reflection in the pool, the yoga house's architectural lines mimic the lines of the trees behind it. The structure also mirrors the shape of the hillside and the original home, designed by Pietro Belluschi.

Evening firelight colors follow similar colors seen during the day — brilliant red Flanders poppies and sunflowers grace the foreground while 'Jakob Klein' Monarda paints the upper path to the greenhouse.

Lightweight rattan furnishings allow for rapid set changes depending on the size of the group anticipated. The afternoon shade provided by the Stewartia lets parents lounge in the shade while watching children at play in the sun-soaked pool.

A Parrotia provides fabulous color in fall and great presence in summer. Plantings of Epimedium and Nasella tenuissima tickle the edges of the hardscape.

Architect Michael McCulloch intended the use of rock around the water feature to appear as though it was revealed from just beneath the surface of the soil.

A mowed path through the pear trees in the pasture encourages walkers to explore the views from the top of the hill.

As the yarrow 'Moonshine' passes in bloom, the lamb's ears 'Silver Carpet' begin.

Sweeps of Monarda 'Jakob Klein' attract dozens of hummingbirds at once.

Agastache 'Acapulco Pink & Orange' attracts bees and hummingbirds along the garden wall.

Daylilies and Phlomis provide height.

Tiny golden Alpine strawberries trail over a wall.

The homeowners recently donated more than 10 pounds of sweet peas to a local soup kitchen.

Elephant garlic scapes start to bloom among potatoes.

Lamb's ears and Lobelia cling to rocks on the path from house to greenhouse.

Plants along the path to the greenhouse and tractor house were purposely placed to touch passersby. The owners' children like to grab the Pennisetum 'Karley Rose' blossoms along the way.

Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and Phlomis flank the southern beds. Both are low maintenance and drought tolerant.

Birds spread sunflower seeds from a test bed throughout the garden, which are left to bloom where they are planted.

Pumpkins love the warmth of the rock wall in the fenced edibles garden. Other edibles more attractive to deer are kept behind the fencing.

Green beans fix nitrogen for crop rotations vital to organic gardening. In the background, sunflowers provide color and attract birds.

Learn more about growing vegetables in raised beds.

Coneflower 'Sundown' attracts so many bees that the hillside is abuzz in summer. They require very little water and are a deer resistant feature of the garden.

Yarrow and Russian sage lend popping summer color in the early evenings. Architect/homeowner Michael McCulloch designed the yoga house/poolhouse.

The poolhouse makes a dramatic statement in the evening. Light artist Hap Tivey created the colored light painting inside.