Aberdeen-Cosmopolis Garden Tour: Gardening Neighbours

Saturday, 16 July 2016

The WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties present:

One of my most longtime gardening dreams is to have a sympatico gardening neighbour right next door.  As our garden tour day continued, Allan and I visited two gardens whose creators share that ideal situation.

Garden Six:  “A Captivating Mix”

Allan’s photo

The front garden bed flows between the two houses.

Allan’s photo

thyme (Allan’s photo)

A path enticed me to a planted berm.

Allan’s photo

across the berm, a glimpse of the neighbouring garden

I love the melding together of the groundcovers.

Here we go around the side.

and into the back garden…

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

 well-kept lawn in the center

Allan’s photo

Each edge of the garden bed is crisply sheared (Allan’s photo)

an interesting and attractive planting idea to give tree roots room to breathe.

To the side: a sit spot

The paved area is next to the lawn, on the opposite side from the other tour garden.

two matching sit spots

choice and well grown plants

 

Past the paved garden, the ground fell away in a series of terraces.

path to the precipice

I didn’t go closer to the edge.

lavender at the top of the slope

shrub border next to the lawn

At the other side of the lawn, we could glimpse the view of the neighbouring garden and tour guests.

garden seven: “Beauty and the Bees”

Many of the gardens of today had been meticulously maintained and pleasing to the eye in the front, with no hint of being extraordinary “behind the garden gate”.

the second front garden of the gardening neighbours

the path to the back garden

Allan points out that this simple path was spaced perfectly for his natural footfall.  He is right; it was easy and natural to walk on.

and the entry to yet another gardening paradise

looking back at the entry path

garden bed against back wall of the house (Allan’s photo)

snapdragons (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

a container of sweet peas

Garden beds encircle a gravel patio.

On the other side of the patio, a peekaboo view into the next door garden (with tour guests)

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Outside the back door, a concrete patio had a table and chairs where I imagined how nice it would be to dine al fresco.

bouquet and gardening books

one of the tour volunteers

A small garden bed set into the gravel patio had turned out to be half in shade and half in sun and was planted accordingly.

shade-sun bed

the shady side

At the end of the garden, a deck seems to float over the woodland below.

below the deck (Allan’s photo)

underneath (Allan’s photo).  Note how even under the deck, the sword ferns are perfectly clipped (i.e. tatty old foliage removed)

view from the deck to the house

view from the deck shows a glimpse of the terraces on the steep hill below the garden next door

We exited on the other side of the house where we are both 99% sure the hedge shows that deer browse here.

Allan’s photo

the other side of the planted berm between the two front gardens

in the front garden

I suddenly realized I was looking at heather!  Since every single garden on this tour had a group of knowledgeable volunteers to help out, I said to one of them that I had not realized one could prune heather like this.  Not being a heather fan, except for plantings on moor-like slopes, I recently got involved helping to care for a garden that is almost all heather.  I had even turned the job down because of the heather overload; Allan had taken it on and, since it is a public garden in our town, I eventually joined in.  NOW I see what I can do with some of them to vary the monotony.  (They are mostly big flat winter blooming ones.)  Little did I know that another heather revelation awaited me in the very next garden.

I had been marveling throughout the entire tour at its high quality, and here I asked one of the volunteers, “Is your tour always this good?”  She said yes, and I asked, “How do you find such good gardens year after year?”  Her answer spoke volumes to me about what makes a superb garden tour, the sort that appeals both to brand new gardeners and to CPNs (Certified Plant Nuts).  She said that when they first started the tour years ago, they “dabbled in having a garden party atmosphere”. Eventually they decided that they are a serious gardening group and wanted to have a serious garden tour with only high quality gardens.  As soon as this tour is done, they will be finding the gardens for next years tour.  (I hope they take a week off to recuperate and reward themselves.)

I asked how in the world the gardeners achieve such good plant diversity in their gardens and was there a collectors’ nursery in the area?  I was told about a few good local nurseries, and that some of them drive to Olympia to shop at Bark and Garden, and that the gardeners often mail order the most cool collectible plants.

I wish I could go back in time and attend all their tours.  I had absolutely no idea that such a completely satisfying gardening event had been going on year after year so close to home.

We had one more garden left, and if it maintained standard of excellence, we would have had eight out of eight wonderful gardens.

Next: The final garden actually changes my mind about heathers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

Aberdeen-Cosmopolis Garden Tour: “Taming a Hillside”

Saturday, 16 July 2016

The WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties present:

garden five:  “The Art of Taming a Hillside”

We got a taste of how much the hillside needed to be tamed as we approached this garden up a very steep narrow road, met at the top by other vehicles that had not been able to find parking and wanted to come down.  There was just one panicky scream from the passenger seat as we backed down the long narrow slope and found a parking spot two blocks away (and a slightly less steep incline to walk up).

the view as we walked along the one lane street to the garden.  The water is the Chehalis River.

narrow street, narrow sidewalk (Allan’s photo)

The slope we had to back down is steeper than it looks in this photo of Allan’s.

Because I have recently decided not to use surnames in describing most gardens (for privacy reasons), this particular program description looks a bit funny after retouching:

It was not until I began writing this post that I saw the mobility issues warning in the garden description.  I find it so difficult to focus on garden descriptions the day of a tour that I completely missed it.  My reading comprehension suffers because of eagerness to get into the garden.  (That’s why I think it is helpful to have a Facebook page or a newspaper article with descriptions and warnings…even maybe locations of nearest restrooms!…to peruse in advance of a tour, to help with planning one’s day.)

To anyone just joining this blog: I have a collapsed knee (which will be dealt with this winter) and some dizziness and balance issues AND acrophobia.  I will work through all of these to see a worthwhile garden and a warning, even if seen, would not have stopped me from trying.

Here I blithely go, not having noticed the big “mobility issues” warning.

arriving at last!

my journey through the amazing hillside garden

Entering the garden, past the check in table: I look to my right. That doesn’t really look like a path, more like I’d be walking in a garden bed.  It was a little more vertical than it looks in the photo.

to my left:  shade bed with good plants

straight ahead

a bit further, to my right: The ivy is on a vertical hill.

to my right, below: the spring run-off

I dither for awhile about whether or not to go straight ahead. Allan goes onward; I decide to try another way.

feeling doubtful, about to turn back

I needed to find a way UP that I was pretty sure I could also use to get back DOWN.

Okay…I am going this way after all. Hope it is a real path!

All righty, I got this far! Looking down on the greenhouse and the entry to the garden.

good plantings to keep me going

Now I am on a path that I know is legit.

looking back after making it somewhat further.

This is midlevel in the garden.

The terrace or plateau has room for several sit spots.

large level terrace with paths and a patio

well planted, intricate plant diversity

along the fence. I heard chickens that are in the neighbouring yard.

at the end of the fence walkway

looking back

skilled and intricate construction at the base of the next hillside. Note the door to the right into the compost bin enclosure.  Behind the grate: water run-off from the spring.

water, same stream that appeared way below at the entrance to the garden.

I was astounded to see the brilliant way that the gardeners had solved the problem of an almost vertical hillside.  If only I had thought of this for the vertical clay hill that sat next to the front patio of my old garden—a planting problem that daunted me for 14 years.

My jaw dropped. What a brilliant solution!

a collection of cool ferns and more

Steve, the garden owner, stood nearby as I paced back and forth, marveling.  “HOW?”  I asked him.  He told me he had driven rebar 8 feet (I think) into the hardpan to support this structure.

I just can’t get enough of this.

He must lay a ladder against it to climb up and maintain it so well??

I decides I had better figure out how in the world I was going to get back down to the street.  Maybe I could find a better way than the bark slope.  It was worrying me.

Looking through an arbour to a bridge that goes to the house.

by the bridge to the house

I scuttle across quickly.

view from the side porch of the house

Here are the stairs Allan came up. Hmmm. No……..

I decided I would go back down the bark-y slope…eventually.  Meanwhile, I went back to the amazing hillside planters.

On the way back: The lattice is decorated with teacup and saucer creations that I like so much.

Admiring the hill planting some more. Look: I saw people WAAAAY up top and was not sure how they got there.  WAY up over the stone wall is another path.

I see Impatiens omeiana and other cool plants to delight a collector.

boxes spilling over with planty goodness

I admired every detail, also postponing the inevitable trip back down the lower barky slope.  But then…Allan appeared and told me there was an alley up above!  Similar to the previous garden, I had a way out other than going back down.

looking up from the base of the planted boxes. Allan is up there, checking it out.  There is a gate to the alley.

I found out that the upper deck ALSO had a gate to the alley.  The owner had told Allan that’s how they bring in their groceries.  Thinking about it, it would be a long grocery carry from the bottom, over the lower bridges and up the stairs.

last look at the central plateau

I think I would have explored the many beds of the central plateau better if I had known I had an easy way out.  Now I would like to go back and peruse the plants more thoroughly.

looking at the garden stairs that might take me to the alley gate

probably not (Allan’s photo)

I crossed the bridge to the house again, climbed some enclosed stairs with a nice railing, and emerged onto the back deck.

I found my way to the top level to exit into the alleyway.

one of those clacking crow fountains that I love.

not sure what, fire or water?

alongside the deck

from the back gate, an easy way out

From the alley, I found the exterior gate that led to that mysterious path WAY above the wooden planters.

steps down to the center terrace

The path along the uppermost level. I would have been clutching that railing. Or maybe fainting.

The stream from the spring went underneath the alley. (I’ve since learned this is a one way city street, not an alley.)

across the alley: water from the spring

Thus begins the water course that is diverted down through the levels of the garden.  I wonder if it flows dramatically in the winter or on rainy days?

Usually, I blend Allan’s and my photos together to describe a garden, even though we often walk through at a different pace and direction.  This particular garden was so complex and interesting and challenging to describe that I am going to let Allan’s photos tell their own story about his experience of the hillside.

Allan’s exploration of the astonishing hillside garden

entering from the street

next to the greenhouse

We have a birdhouse just like that from Ilwaco Saturday Market!

I am walking away to try a different climb; Allan goes on up the path and stairs.

the way up

looking back

another explorer

Many ladders and scaffolding might be necessary for this garden (and, owner Steve said, painting the house).

looking down

Top of photo: You can see the very tiptop walkway with the railing along the fence.

beds next to the deck

the upper deck

window low down by the deck

in a workshop window next to the deck: meticulous

looking down into the garden. I’m at the base of the wooden planters on the steep slope.

from the deck

a way up to the topmost level

non acrophobic people on the uppermost path

(Allan is like a mountain goat with a good head for heights.)

intricate levels.  This is the topmost, and you can see one of the wooden planter boxes.

the topmost path

looking down from the highest point

at the end of the upper path

the hillside boxes

the back deck again, just before we exited

This was one of the most fascinating gardens I have ever seen, with good plant diversity, artistry, and impressive engineering skills.  I have been thinking about it a lot since tour day and am so glad I managed to see it (and also that Allan filled in with photos of the areas I did not attain).  Every stone, paver, plant, and cubic foot of mulch had to be brought in up or down stairs.

Having now visited five out of eight, I continued to marvel at how perfectly groomed they all were for tour day: No weedy bits around the edges, every plant deadheaded and dead-leafed (any unsightly leaf removed).  This is what I hope for from a garden tour.

Next: One of my favourite finds on a garden tour: gardening neighbours.

 

Read Full Post »

Aberdeen-Cosmopolis Garden Tour: “Innovative and Organic”

Saturday, 16 July 2016

The WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties present:

garden four: “Innovative and Organic”

Allan’s photo

We are now in the north hills of Aberdeen.  I found a way to walk around and avoid the lower steps.

I was able to approach over the low lawn to get to the stairs with a railing.

after going a roundabout way to avoid the lower steps. I wasn’t looking forward to having to come down backward because of my knee problem!  But I am determined to see any good garden.

I actually had a bit of acrophobia on the walkway next to the front of the house, so I scooted along as fast as I could, and so the first photo I took was at the front corner, with my back to the view.

a planted bathtub

rosemary with a hint of the view (Allan’s photo)

lawn and sitting area at the side of the house

Allan’s photo

ferns backed with bamboo

Allan’s photo

determined bamboo (Allan’s photo)

and through the garden “gate”

Allan’s photo

path beside the back deck (Allan’s photo)

by the back deck

tools handy for use

Resplendent in my favourite colour: The gardener, Eileen (center)

garden creator Eileen (Allan’s photo)

sub-irrigated raised beds (Allan’s photo)

irrigation diagram

garlic scapes

Looking back on the kitchen garden

raised bed (Allan’s photo)

the kitchen garden

The back deck. The raised kitchen garden beds are on my right at the side of the garden.

Up to the deck. I want me some BLACK plastic chairs!  (Not fancy—but they fit my budget.)

from the deck looking to the shady side

kitchen garden from the deck

back patio beds and pond

center garden

garden pond

the pond (Allan’s photo)

recycled edging for back deck (Allan’s photo)

center of back garden, just past the pond

shady opposite side from kitchen garden raised beds

worm composting tube and slow waterer (Allan’s photo)

Despite my passion for gardens with cool collectible plants, this worm composting tube is one of the most exciting ideas that I got out of this tour.  We will try this!  It could eliminate the need to put kitchen scraps in a compost bin.

worm composting tube demonstration (Allan’s photo)

garden innovator Frank (Allan’s photo)

What have we here?

Frank explains how they work. I think Allan understood it.

self leveling rain water barrels (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo.  The water runs in a pipe along the bottom and up into the barrels.

A barrel for water dipping

This was Frank’s previous method of getting water from one barrel to another.

potting bench at the back of the garden

Next to the potting bench and the garden greeters, I was thrilled to see an easy exit.  In fact, it was the proper entrance to the garden with the garden greeters seated at a table to stamp one’s passport.  I was thrilled to not have to go back down the long stairway.

the easy way out (Allan’s photo)

interlude

I had noticed on the drive up the hill that Aberdeen has alleys in the older residential neighbourhoods.  Long alleys are non existent on the Long Beach Peninsula and I miss them.  I loved alleys back in Seattle because of glimpses of folks’ back gardens and I used to take long walks of alley exploration.

Ah, an actual alley.

across the alley and down a bit, a gardening neighbour

Allan noticed the same cute arbor.

same house, alleyside container garden

Downhill, I glimpsed a beautiful old house.

telephoto

 

Allan’s photo

This bindweed festooned house across the street had been declared unsafe to enter.

on the street where we parked

Allan’s photo

Big Pink

another interesting Aberdeen house

Next: we go further uphill to an amazing aerie of a garden.  So far, four out of four gardens had been excellent, and we had four more to visit.

 

 

Read Full Post »

Aberdeen-Cosmopolis Garden Tour: “An Eclectic Eden”

Saturday, 16 July 2016

The WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties present:

garden three: An Eclectic Eden

Jo’s was the third of three gardens fairly near to each other in Cosmopolis, a town just south of Aberdeen.

a volunteer adjusts the garden tour sign that had blown over

front garden

front patio

front walkway

beside the driveway

around the side of the house

If that is indeed an old garage, I don’t think it is used for a car anymore.

 

love the painted doors

a closer look

Sambucus ‘Black Lace’

We have turned the corner and….OH! This is the third excellent garden in a row.

Jo’s vibrant back garden.

a picket fence next to the old garage separating two garden areas

‘Climbing Cecile Brunner’ rose foliage (Allan’s photo)

to my right along the fence: another painted panel

Allan’s photo

beginning our walk through the back garden

Allan’s photo

to my left: another reminder that I want threadleaf coreopsis back in my life again

Coreopsis verticillata, possibly ‘Zagreb’ (Allan’s photo)

jam packed with planty goodness

Allan’s photo

a handsome eryngium smack dab in the middle

looking back from about halfway in

forward again: a covered back patio

just past the covered patio

across from the patio

so many well grown plants!

Allan’s photo

Cosmos (Allan’s photo)

arch to a little courtyard

to my left: roses

coleus tucked in

to my right: The Shinto gate is a familiar sight

The photo of it on the poster for the tour had piqued my interest enough to get us all the way to Cosmopolis.

the far corner of the garden

around to the other side of the house

Surely this dahlia is in a big pot?

Dahlia is not in a pot! Progamme held out at shoulder level.

dahlias towering overhead

I turned back to find Allan to get a photo to prove the height of the dahlias.  Another tour guest walked up saying “Those must be in a pot…Wow, they are in the ground!”

looking back

Allan’s photo

looking back through the arbour

Allan’s photo

more garden admiration

by the covered patio

I found Allan and he took a photo proving the height of the dahlias:

on the way out (Allan’s photo)

We expressed our thanks to the gardener for opening her garden, and our pleasure in the high quality of gardens so far on the tour.  Now we would leave Cosmopolis and cross the Chehalis River to Aberdeen.  So far, “Behind the Garden Gate” was the perfect name for this tour so far; each garden had delivered such delightful surprises when one got into the back gardens, and each was not a garden entirely visible from the street.

interlude: entering Aberdeen

Cosmopolis and Aberdeen are divided by the Chehalis River, not far from the Pacific Ocean.

Fortunately, Allan knew of a handy Aberdeen rest stop: The Safeway store downtown.

on the wall at Safeway, some Aberdeen history

Aberdeen’s working class nature deeply appeals to me.  The small city was hard hit by the downtown in the fishing and timber industries.  I fantasize about what it would be like to live there.

downtown Aberdeen. All of our garden destinations are to the north of downtown.

I notice the street planters, similar in size to the ones we care for in Ilwaco.

good job, Aberdeen! I like the planters clustered together…great idea!

so much better with two together (and again, good job!)

 

old Aberdeen houses on the flatland

Next, a garden full of useful ideas.

 

 

Read Full Post »

Aberdeen-Cosmopolis tour: “For the Birds”

Saturday, 16 July 2016

To new readers: As we take you with us on a tour through a garden, some of our photos are almost repetitive for two reasons.  One: We want to share with you the progress of the garden stroll and how a bit more is revealed with each step.  Two: Allan and I tour at a different pace and usually in a different direction, and it interests me to see his views, and amuses me when we take almost the same photo.  I try to present the story of each garden in a way that explains how the paths flow and how the garden areas segue from one to the other.  If there are lots of details that I like, I’ll obsess over every one.  When I fall in love with a garden, as I did with this one, it can make for a long post.

The WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties present:

garden two: For the Birds

from the street

Tervetuloa means “Welcome” in Finnish.

inside the fence

borrowed view of neighbours’ green roof

Garden there’s magic in the dirt!

against the wall of the house

well grown sweet peas

entry to back garden

Allan’s photo

I was starting to feel excited as I glimpsed what was in store.

Gorgeous, with rich shade planting.

to my right as we enter the back garden

L Shaped arbor with benches, what a great idea.

Allan’s photo

Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary sign

I love an intricate shade planting. Ferns, Brunnera, Baby’s Tears, and more

koi water bowl

Allan’s photo.

As we began oohing and aahing, the owners greeted us with recognition.  They had been to our garden at the original Tangly Cottage when it was open for touring in 2008!  I told them I had hoped for two or three really good gardens on the tour to make the drive worthwhile and I could tell I already had two.

This was such a happy moment. (Allan’s photo).

against back wall of house

I felt deeply happy to be in this little paradise of well chosen plants.  Shade gardening is no challenge, but instead a pleasure,  to a knowledgable gardener.

looking from shade to sun

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

path down one side of the lawn, impeccably weeded. Corner of the deck is at lower right.

looking back at the deck

preformed pond, I think, with edges well covered in rocks.

Allan’s photo

further along the path

blue hydrangea, blue framed window mirror, blue pottery in birdbath

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

where side fence and back fence converge

Allan’s photo

along the back fence

looking back

I spy Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’!

Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’. After passing up several opportunities to buy this hard to find plant, now I have fallen in love with it.

Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’ (Allan’s photo)

(When I say a plant is hard to find, I probably just mean it is hard to find in small town nurseries.)

detail with oxalis and lamium (Allan’s photo)

We have now walked up that path to the lawn.

Look how well groomed the garden is! Perfect to every corner.  I also appreciate that the bark is a subtle color that blends with the shady woodsy beds.

I do love a planted birdbath.

Allan’s photo

silene under the birdbath

looking back to the greenhouse; a kitchen garden is on my right.

kitchen garden

Allan’s photo

dahlias and verbascum (Allan’s photo)

cranesbill geranium and rose (Allan’s photo)

strawberry tower; I have to read up on this because it is such a space saver.

Allan’s photo

In the background of the above photo is the answer to the soothing colour of the mulch.  I enlarged it:

brown mulch!

pea tower

on the kitchen garden fence

looking out from the kitchen garden

such an exceptionally nicely arranged little kitchen garden

You can see diagonally across the lawn to the back deck.

Next to the kitchen garden, Allan admired the bird netting, arranged like an umbrella that you could go underneath to pick berries.

netted berries

netted berries with access underneath (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

poppies and eryngium (Allan’s photo)

looking back at the kitchen garden

kitchen garden in background (Allan’s photo)

 

On the other side of the greenhouse is the little shaded patio with a metal fire circle.

Rosa rubrifolia foliage and Echinops

Echinops (blue globe thistle)

inside the greenhouse

Allan’s photo

in the greenhouse (Allan’s photo)

tidy and organized (Allan’s photo)

under the blue globe thistle

looking into the shade again

choice plant selection with Impatiens omeiana in the center.

I do love gold foliage.

Allan’s photo

I had made my way to the back deck, in the corner of the garden diagonal from the kitchen garden.

on the back deck

on the fence by the deck

a lower level of the deck on the side of the house

under the upper level bench

a garden well groomed even in the areas that don’t show. We notice.

looking across to the kitchen garden….I wonder why the plant on the bench is caged.

Look at the nice crisp edge on that lawn.

That maple gives me plant lust.

view from the deck to the shade garden and to where we entered (left)

view down the side of the garden to the back corner where Spotty Dotty lives.

I found Wendy and told her how very much I loved every aspect of her garden.  I could happily have walked round the whole estate again, but we had started the tour an hour late and had five more gardens to see.

A squirrel entertained us on our way out. (Allan’s photo)

While, as it turned out, this garden was my favourite on the tour, there are delightful ones yet to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

Aberdeen-Cosmopolis garden tour: “Linda’s Haven”

Saturday, 16 July 2016

Our route takes us fifteen minutes longer because the Willapa Curves terrify me now, so we go along the river and up through Naselle (about where the number 4 is) and then over to 101.

We decided to explore new territory and drive 1.5 hours north to Aberdeen and Cosmopolis to attend the Washington State University Master Gardeners’ Tour.  When we had driven to Aberdeen for a visit to a neurologist in early March, I had noticed the hillside homes seemed to abound in interesting looking gardens. I could not resist the opportunity of a summer view.  My expectations were low; I have often attended tours (other than the Hardy Plant tours) with some mediocre gardens.  I said to Allan, if we get to see two really good gardens out of the eight on offer, the trip will have been worthwhile.  He pointed out that we could also go to the Star Wars store in Aberdeen.

The other choice would have been the Tillamook tour two hours south.  That tempted me because Tillamook has three good nurseries.  The deciding factor was that I was able to find enticing advance descriptions of the Aberdeen tour in a newspaper article.

 So north we went.  Halfway there, on a restroom break in South Bend (just south of Raymond), I said to Allan:

“If I lived here, I would DO something about these public planters!” And you know I would.

In about half an hour, we arrived in Cosmopolis, eager for the garden tour.

The WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties present:

I had been given the address of the first garden by a Facebook friend who is a member of the Master Gardeners group, saving us having to find a sponsoring store to buy tickets. Arriving at the garden, we were greeted by volunteers and paid our $12 each.  We received a beautiful booklet, our passport to the gardens.  Kudos to the copy editor(s) for such a well written and typo-free booklet.

The cover was the poster in full colour, the back had a space for a stamp for each of the gardens.

Inside, opposite a list of the gardens, was a wise list of suggestions for garden tour courtesy:

The next page had a detailed map showing the locations of all the gardens.  We found it to be accurate, although we used our GPS to navigate.  Each garden got a full page description with two black and white photos, and the booklet closed with valuable gardening information.  It’s a keeper.

And now, with no further ado, let’s tour the first garden, located in Cosmopolis. On most garden descriptions, I am removing the person’s last name for privacy reasons.  In this one case, it meant changing the name of the garden, which was referred to in the program by the owner’s surname.

Garden One: Linda’s Haven

Linda’s Haven

I do love the last sentence, regarding gardening as we age: Gardening at a slower pace is still gardening.

from across the street

front garden

Eryngium and sculpture in front garden

front garden lily

Beside the driveway. Seeing hellebores looks promising for plant diversity.

Each garden had this notice by the gate.

The term “Legal Beagles” is a friendly sounding one that softens the legalese.

art by the gate

Allan with the volunteer greeters and passport-checkers.

I asked how many people usually attend the annual tour and was told 200-300 people. I was glad to hear it.  It takes a lot of work and expense to make one’s garden tour-worthy, and the reward is the many compliments of tour guests. (This year, the tour came close to the 300 mark.)

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

sweet!

beside the deck

Walking along the right side of the shed, we passed a fairy garden.  We later learned that Linda’s grandchildren had helped her get ready for the tour.

the grandchildren’s fairy garden. Pine needle mulch keeps the weeds down.

a back corner of the garden

the sound of water, and the sight of trillium leaves

well grown hostas

along the back fence

Hosta ‘Cherry Berry’ (Allan’s photo)

Each garden had volunteer docents to answer questions.  I learned that all of the paving in the garden had been recycled, including this path:

path by a large shed, made of broken concrete, placed well and non-trippingly flat.

between the house and the large shed

I was well pleased with how meticulously the garden was maintained.

good labeling

Later, when I complimented Linda on her labeling, she said that the tour tries to be educational and informative.

‘Ruby Slippers’ oakleaf hydrangea

oakleaf hydrangea (Allan’s photo)

happy clematis on back wall of house

detail

The women in white have just come down the pathway of broken concrete.

clematis fronted with astilbes

by the garden shed

fragrant rose (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

looking back

On the deck was a photo album showing the progress of the garden.

Linda herself

When I thanked Linda for opening her garden, and told her it had been worth a longish drive, she told me that she had originally begun the garden to have a haven from her work of counseling displaced workers who had lost their jobs in the timber and fishing industry.  That is a problem that my little town, Ilwaco, shared with the Aberdeen-Cosmopolis.  She also told me that the tour group makes a strong effort to find good gardens each year, and that one of their criteria is to find gardens that are hidden behind fences and gates and not visible from the street.

She loves Japanese maples and plans to add more.

One of her maples by the deck

Each maple has a marker like this.

As we left, Allan noticed this page that was being passed out to children who attended the tour: a hunt for treasures in the garden.

inside the front gate, a hummingbird fountain

This garden had been a treat and talking with Linda had increased my anticipation for the rest of the tour.

Read Full Post »

15 June: more garden admiration

Before we continue with our social day of garden touring, here is a “real time alert“.  Jo and Bob’s home sale did not go through, so their wonderful house and tiny guest cottage and dreamy garden and extra lot (for potential garden expansion) are for sale.  Here is the link to the real estate listing.  And here is the blog post about the garden on tour day in 2013.  We do so hope a gardener buys the place…maybe you?  Now back to our narrative:

Friday, 15 June 2016

The Bayside Garden

After touring THE Oysterville garden, we took our friends Kathleen and Ann to see Steve and John’s collectors’ garden on the bay.  Ann was impressed by their Erik Fagerland designed house.   The trees are not falling; it’s that annoying thing that pocketcams do.

John and Steve awaiting our arrival as if they had not been out grooming the garden. (Allan’s photo)

Rhododendron pachysanthum trio by the front door

north side of driveway

telephoto: intense colors echoed

We walked around the north side of the house past the exuberant dahlia bed to the green roof of the pump house.

eye level with a forest of succulents

Allan’s photo

Ann and Steve (Allan’s photo)

North east corner of property: The shrub bed has been expanded, and a bed will be created around that lone trillium that lives in the lawn.

On the bay side of the house, Ann had been impressed last winter at the clipped everygreen huckleberries.  They made her happy all over again.

 

Hydrangea ‘Pistachio’ (Allan’s photo)

glade of clipped huckleberries

The one to the very right is shaped but not mounded.

perfect in every detail

One of two Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Iceberg’ on the west side if the garage

We walked and admired the many young trees and shrubs.  Both Kathleen and Ann can hold up their end of a plant nut conversation and are happy to give each individual plant the attention it deserves.

Look at the three colours with old and new growth. R. auriculatum…I think.

Acer rubrum ‘Vanity’

We began to work our way through the shade down the north side of the garden.

Left: My favourite Pittosporum ‘Tasman Ruffles’ pruned into a cone. I did not know one could do that.

Ulmus x hollandica ‘Jacqueline Hillier’

Ulmus x hollandica ‘Jacqueline Hillier’ : Foliage is softer than it looks.

a creamy, limey hydrangea

enviably perfect hostas due to diligent applications of sluggo

Plant examination. I try to sound knowledgable.

a backlit hydrangea just at the edge of neighbour Ron’s property

Allan’s photo

Ann pointed out that Allan’s shirt matched. His photo proves it.

We emerged into the sun and toured the sunny island beds, one almost brand new.

Allan’s photo

John and Steve (Allan’s photo)

dahlia backed with barberry

Fagus sylvatica ‘Red Obelisk’ aroused my plant lust.

near the irrigation pond

That leptospermum that I also have, with name I have forgotten, from Xera via Pam Fleming

Three bright little Thuja ‘Forever Goldie’; Google tells me it is also knows as ‘4Ever Goldy’!

Ann, Steve, Kathleen, Allan

John and I had reached the shade border on the south side.  Eventually we all grouped together again and worked our way through looking at all the specimens.    Each shrublet is given room (because in this property there IS room) so all the attributes of each are clearly visible.  I imagine us walking through these mature shrubs, some as tall or taller than me, should we all live long and prosper.

two young rhododendrons, each so different

Rhododendron edgeworthii

Rhododendron edgeworthii (Allan’s photo)

I love the bronzy edge on this Rhododendron quinquefolium. Steve informs me it is known as the “cork azalea” because of its bark and is a native of Japan.

Ann photographing the baby rhodie nursery bed. (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

The rhodo I love most…its white leaves fading to green…Rhododendron degronianum ssp. yakushimanum x pachysanthum

Allan’s photo

north side of driveway as we walked back to the house

We departed at 5:30 because we had one more gardener expecting us.

Patti’s Garden in Seaview

On the way home, we visited Patti at her home and garden which Ann had seen in the dead of winter.

Patti’s paradise

a friend whom Patti was dogsitting for a week

Allan’s photo

Patti’s own Stella (Allan’s photo)

I do love gold foliage

the entry to the former kitchen garden

Patti says she stopped growing veg because she can buy the produce more inexpensively at the local farmers market than growing it.

the back deck

driftwood waterfall (Allan’s photo)

In the garage, Patti showed us a preview of a friend’s garage sale that is coming up.  Ann commented on an “Artquake” poster framed on the wall, a Portland event she had attended as a girl.  Because Patti is Patti, she gave Ann the picture.

Allan’s photo

Patti and Ann

Before we left, Patti showed Ann and Kathleen the inside of her late 1800s home.

view from inside

at home

Our visit continued for awhile in our own garden.

Tetrapanax ‘Steroidal Giant’ (Allan’s photo)

Smokey joined the group.

Tomorrow: Official garden tour day!  Despite having recently toured the 25 gardens in and near Salem, I was eagerly looking forward to more touring.

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

15 July: Ilwaco to Oysterville

Friday, 15 July 2016

Ann from Portland and Our Kathleen from Olympia converged upon our garden at noon for a day of garden touring, just the four of us.

me, Ann, Kathleen

 

We repaired to the Salt Pub for lunch…

…where we enjoyed the view…

…and tuna medallions fresh off the day boats.