29 July 2012: Gearhart, Oregon, a benefit for Clatsop County CASA
Garden three, our favourite!!!! The Dee Madden garden: “It’s not hard to imagine being at the perfect outdoor party as you walk around this entertaining garden.” Might I add that the greeting table had, along with yummy cookies, a container of Red Vines just like Allan picked out to include with our tour day snacks!
On the way into the garden, we had the man who creates these rock stacks (behind the chair, right, and below). He was the same man, mentioned two entries ago, who is good friends and works with Steve Clarke. These rocks are NOT bolted together; they are perfectly stacked in balance.
He said he does not install them in gardens with children or rambunctious dogs, but he added that he can press on them and not have them topple. (I assume he meant press down, not sideways).
From the corner with the double adirondack chair and the stacked rocks, we turned left and walked behind the walled back deck.
The back deck, enclosed in cedar shake walls, had at least three access points. I think that it is what made this my favourite garden. That, and the friendly and winning personality of garden owner Dee herself.
I loved the way the deck had an inset garden bed, and the simplicity of the big table and benches and the variety of interesting plants in bed, containers, and windowboxes, including one of my favourites, Salvia patens (lower left).
At the northeast corner of the deck (if I don’t have my directions all turned around), an opening led to a river rock fire circle. Now I could so clearly picture wonderful parties here.
At the corner of the house we came upon a table with delicious cookies, photos of the rock stack man’s creations on the beach and a postcard for Harvest Moon Designs, Dee’s helper with garden ideas.
We did not want to leave Dee’s garden, but of course, as usual, we had more gardens to see and the tour ended early (for us) at 3 PM. With a last look over the fence…
On the way around the corner, we lingered briefly to admire a round rock edged garden bed. It might be a pain to weed, but it looks so nice.
Interlude
On the walk to the next garden, we enjoyed a house with a simple but effective planting of roses and Stipa tenuissima,
and a pair of garden benches that would make even an ungardened yard a pleasant place to be.
And now on to garden number four…
I can see why Dee Madden’s garden is your favorite. It is very charming!
Thanks for sharing all these nice garden tour photos. We moved into a new-to-us house last year, and this year we’ll be focusing on some outdoor clean up and improving or redoing the garden areas. Your photos are providing great inspiration.
LikeLike
I am glad you are enjoying them!
LikeLike