Monday, 25 June 2018
Hardy Plant Society Study Weekend
presented by the Northwest Perennial Alliance
Monday’s four tour gardens were in the Puyallup area, starting at 9 A.M. We did not leave the Anderson School till noon because of the wonderful long walk and talk with Riz Reyes, which I would not have missed for any other garden, and for some reason we went north instead of south for a little while and our GPS failed us for about half an hour. By the time we got to Puyallup on a highway rather than a freeway, it was 2:30 and we decided we to go straight to Old Goat Farm, which closed at 4:00 (as did the four tour gardens).
It was the right choice. We did not get out of the Old Goat gate until 4 PM, and we did not get into our own driveway until 8:30 PM.
Fortunately, our friend The Outlaw Gardener is a prolific tour-goer and he will take us to vicariously enjoy the gardens that we missed today:
Julie and Ernie’s garden in autumn
Camille and Dirk’s garden and their garden the previous year with photos by the Camille herself.
The third garden, Mick’s, was described as having “many steps on a steep slope.” I was glad to find that Outlaw had toured it, here.
Our Outlaw friend visited the fourth garden, Scott and Patricia’s, and describes it here.
I am inspired by the way that Peter (Outlaw) incorporated the tour descriptions to go with photos of each garden feature. I will go to the effort of doing that on future garden tours (if I remember). Thank you, Peter, for giving us such a good look at the gardens we missed.
And now we will achieve a longtime desire of actually visiting…
Old Goat Farm
I remember now that my parents’ property in Yelm, fairly near to this farm, was full of round rocks.
I went home inspired to re-do my tired old fern table.
I turned my attention to plant shopping and stopped taking photos till we were on our way out.
Allan explored further and saw areas that I had missed.
One of the kind owners wheeled a wagon full of plants across the lawn for us.
I was lagging behind and got to give a belly rub.
As we left, it was closing time and another vehicle was arriving. I think it was June and Jimi Blake, the Irish speakers from the study weekend (but I might be wrong).
If you want to see some Puyallup gardens for yourself, a tour is coming up:
Tomorrow we will return to once a day posts with a final Hardy Plant post of lecture notes and some thoughts about garden tour etiquette and some photos of my favourite garden of all (ours, upon arriving home).
Such a cool funky place. you must have been exhausted when you got home.
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State of collapse but back to work next day.
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I think this may be my favorite of all the gardens you visited.
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It’s wonderful.
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I love the Old Goat Farm! My sisters, friends and I are “regulars.” I was there yesterday to buy plants, fresh eggs, and pet the big, black dog on the porch. Greg and Gary are so generous with their time, answering all my garden questions. I’m so glad you were able to visit.
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I so wish it wasn’t four? hours away (on non freeway route) b
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A boxwood frolic!
The garden flags were a nice touch. And some wonderful fern tables, love the extra bit of height.
Bet you picked up some great plants here.
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Yes, we did get a red wagon full. I think I was too tired to shop effectively.
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This is my favorite garden. It has everything! Allen must have missed the entrance to the stumpery. It’s behind the pen with all the birds. A nice shady trail through more native plants. Maybe next time if you ever make it there again. At Christmas Gary decorates the entire house and they have Tea Parties. Greg does all the baking too. It’s a great way to celebrate the holidays and see the garden in winter. Thanks for all the tour photos, I’ve really enjoyed all the gardens and looked forward each day to seeing them. You really must have been exhausted!
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Argh how did we both miss the stumpery!!
We were indeed very tired.
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So what plants did you buy!?
I need make it here someday, that Clematis slorida Sieboldii is a jaw-dropper! And I really need to get on making another fern table…
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Do they have that clematis Florida sieboldii for sale at the farm? Incredible.
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I OT sure. I think they were telling someone it was tricky. KBC Mary bought it somewhere and it plotzed. If you go there and they have it buy two 😉
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