Admirers of the late garden columnist Dulcy Mahar can now breathe a sigh of relief. The new owners of Mahar's Southeast Portland residence say they plan to keep her double lot united, restore her century-old house and maintain her famous landscape, including her storied "pouting" shed.

"Under no circumstances would we divide the lot. It would change the character of the house and the neighborhood," emailed the new owners, who said they are private people and asked that their names not be used in this story.

The property, on a quiet street near the Waverley Country Club, had been owned by Dulcy and her husband, Ted Mahar, since 1985. Over decades, she wrestled beauty from the "plain Jane" lawns, transforming the ho-hum yards into English-inspired landscapes.

For the last 22 years of her life, she wrote witty, weekly columns about her horticultural victories and defeats for The Oregonian. Dulcy filed her last column in 2011, then she passed away from cancer at age 69.

After Ted, a former film critic for The Oregonian, died at age 76 in 2016, friends and followers of both accomplished writers wondered what would happen to the couple's 1915 Georgian Colonial house and, more important, Dulcy's pampered organic garden.

The Mahars were married for 51 years and had no children. They left their home to their longtime landscape partner and friend, Doug Wilson.

Dulcy wrote of Wilson with affection, "like the son she never had," said Peggy McMullen, who was Dulcy Mahar's last editor at The Oregonian. Dulcy referred to Wilson at first as "Doug the Wonder Boy"; after he turned 40, she changed his title in her columns to "Doug the Wonder Guy."

Wilson decided not to move from his longtime home to the Mahars' residence, and on July 31, the couple's property was listed for sale.

"It was a source of daily joy to spend 20 years collaborating with Dulcy to make the garden in her mind real," said Wilson. "It's really beginning to hit me that this garden won't be mine anymore."

People who had visited Dulcy's much-publicized garden or felt attached to her property because of her columns wondered if it would survive after the sale.

Listing agent Brian Pienovi of Pienovi Properties at Realty Trust Group speculated that a developer could keep the gardens, tear down the aging house and build two new houses on the two-thirds of an acre. Or someone could renovate the home, which Pienovi described as "a plantation-style fixer upper."

In an effort to attract a buyer who appreciated this beloved botanical creation, Pienovi marketed the property as "renowned garden journalist" Dulcy Mahar's estate.

Potential buyers could exit through the home's French doors to a covered veranda. From here, they could scan the backyard and see the knot garden, blue gazebo, koi pond and other stars of Dulcy's columns.

Four days after the property was put up for sale, an offer was accepted for $50,000 over the asking price of $999,900, according to public record.

Escrow closed in mid-August, and the new owners agreed to answer our questions:

Did you know of Dulcy or were you just attracted to the property? "We did not know Dulcy or Ted personally and we never visited the property until the estate sale in the spring. We had driven by numerous times over the years. We fell in love with the house about a decade ago. As long-time subscribers of The Oregonian, we had read her column over the years."

Where are you moving from? "We are both longtime Southeast Portland residents. We live in a 1910 Craftsman that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places."

What do you like best about Dulcy's garden? "The garden is amazing and we plan to keep it largely as it is. Over the years we will no doubt make minor modifications, but we love the design and the plants. Perhaps next year you can come by to take photos of the garden."

Do you plan to develop one lot or replace the existing house? "Under no circumstances would we divide the lot. It would change the character of the house and the neighborhood. There are few neighborhoods left in Portland that are as intact as Garthwick. To us, what is charming about this neighborhood is the beautiful older homes and the extra large lots. Even though the house is in a state of disrepair and is in need of extensive repair and restoration, it is a magnificent, well-built home. Demolishing a house like this would be unconscionable. Our plan is to restore this home to its original grandeur."

Editor McMullen said she is glad the garden will be kept intact and the plants Dulcy cultivated are appreciated. Then she added that she hopes the new family will embrace Dulcy's belief that every garden is a reflection of its owners.

"I hope they will make changes to the space, that they will feel free to bring in new plants and be fearless in ripping out parts that do not suit them," said McMullen, who recalled that Dulcy was never afraid to say "off with their heads!" about plants that did not fit with her changing ideas for the space.

"Her garden is large and forgiving," McMullen concluded. "I hope the new owners find as much joy in Dulcy's garden as she and Ted did."

-- Janet Eastman



jeastman@oregonian.com

503-799-8739

@janeteastman



