After Neena Barreto moved to Glendower Street, she took out the old, overgrown trees and built a garden weighted to native, fire-wise and low-maintenance plants
By Elizabeth Essex
At dawn the gardens at 837 Glendower St. lie in serene splendor, the curved pathways empty. But soon daybreak will bring the first ray of sunshine illuminating a water droplet suspended on a spider web, a petal unfurling in the warmth, a butterfly weaving between the flowers, a bumblebee tumbling in the pollen, a tabby strutting down the path. A virtual metropolis of activity.
It’s hard to imagine, but when Neena Barreto purchased the property in 2021 the ground was choked with crabgrass, and a single row of maples bordered the street. Because of their invasive root system and because their limbs encroached upon the power lines, Neena decided to have them removed by the city, providing her with multiple opportunities for garden design.
Learning about the native plants
Neena had moved to Oregon in 2019 with virtually no plant background. But as a hiker, she started paying attention to what grew and thrived here. Manzanita had always been one of her favorites. She already knew that her goal was to incorporate as many native, fire-wise and low-maintenance plants as possible. Hence it was only natural for Neena to seek out Plant Oregon. Working with David Bish and Jenny Black, Neena expanded her plant selection to include specimens that provided year-round nectar and pollen for butterflies, moths, bees, wasps and hummingbirds. She was also advised to have a range of flower colors, shapes and sizes.
Slowly, a vision took shape and berms were created, sheltering the residence from street traffic and adding privacy for the small patio, where hot chai might be served on a cool morning. Pathways wind their way through the beds and around the corner to include the side yard, bordering Tudor Street. Large flat-topped boulders were thoughtfully sited to take advantage of their view lines. At sunset Neena enjoys a view of Mount Ashland.
In with the new
The maples were replaced with trees of a smaller stature, including dwarf, slow-growing Bosnian pine (Pinus leucodermis) and weeping Norway spruce (Picea abies ‘pendula’) which anchor the raised beds. These are interspersed with eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) and Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica). A pair of Japanese Maples mark the front entry and sawtooth zelkova (Zelkova serrata) stand on either side of the driveway. These deciduous selections ensure a spectacular display of fall color.
Broad-leaved evergreen shrubs include Neena’s favorite manzanita together with mahonia and garrya (both coastal and Fremonts). A fig tree, flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicaum), a butterfly bush (Buddleia spp.) and a stunning blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) are deciduous accents. Evergreen ground cover, including creeping rosemary (Rosmarinus prostratus), nandina, and heather (Erica King George) and several ornamental grasses are set out throughout the raised beds, ensuring visual interest after the perennials have been pruned back for the winter.
The butterflies like it
On a recent visit it was evident from the industrious activity of butterflies and bees that the variety of perennials planted was to their liking! Purple and red salvias, blue rosemary, penstemon and calamintha, yellow Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum), orange and lavender hyssop (Agastache aurantiaca), California fuchsia (Zauschneria or Epilobium canum) all provide a virtual feast for pollinators on their journey, their thirst satiated by a sip from a glass water dish.
Altogether, the placement of trees, shrubs and perennials creates a pleasing rhythm of textures, colors and shapes. Even more significant, perhaps, is that already three generations have become integral to this story. Both Neena’s parents have added items of interest to the landscape, and graduation pictures Neena’s three sons were recently taken with the garden as a backdrop.
The joy of gardening
Neena says that creating and maintaining her garden has brought her new found joy. It is a natural expression of who she is, and her love of the natural world is evident for any passerby to enjoy.
Those seeking out the July 2025 Garden of the Month are encouraged to drive a little further down Glendower to the trailhead leading to the Ashland Pond, where an extensive restoration project took place following the Almeda Fire in 2020. Native and riparian plant material was contributed by many local organizations and planted by Lomakatsi’s crew and inter-tribal workforce through a contract with the Freshwater Trust.
The Ashland Garden Club has been selecting Gardens of the Month from April through September since 2000. Nominations are gratefully received at aogardenclub@gmail.com. Check out the club’s website at ashlandorgardenclub.org for information on meeting times and places.
