When I moved to Bend in 2006 I had been living in a USDA zone 9 and I thought I was crazy moving to a zone 5 (sometimes 4 and sometimes 5 depending on the microclimate). I had a garden full of flowers, bulbs, trees, shrubs, vines and had just planted one of my favorite apple trees (King apple). I even had a screen of clumping bamboo in the backyard, it was paradise!
But I soon realized that Central Oregon helped me to become more creative with the new challenges I faced and I have grown tremendously as a designer. Since I can't rely so heavily on the plants to carry the show I focus more on the structure, the patterns and the textures in a landscape, and the plants then become more of an icing on top of the cake.
Of course I still love my plants and my little yard here in Bend is filling up with varieties I am testing out and experimenting with. When I am working with a client though most likely they request low maintenance and/or deer resistant (as much as is possible with deer!) plants. I thought I would share with you some hardy varieties I am using for a current design on Awbrey Butte. These are all deer resistant. Enjoy!
Alpine Fir Trees
Japanese Red Leaf Barberry 
Orange Rocket Barberry
Golden Spirit Smoketree Bush
Red Sunset Potentilla
A very mature Vine Maple, best with some shade
Mountain Ash tree, one of my favorites!
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| Native Idaho Fescue Grass |
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| Shenandoah Switch Grass, great coloring! |
There are many more plants I will be using, see the rest Carlseng Designs Pinterest
