presented by the WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties
Ocean Shores
garden six: Deep in the Woods
Allan’s photo
The base of the front porch has rocks made by the owner, from molds and a cement dye.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
A dry creek bed flows from the side garden to the street.
Allan’s photo
the side garden under the trees
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
That’s Ann taking a detail photo
A windowed gate says something about friendly neighbours.
looking back at the side gardens
A greenhouse draws the eye and the garden tourist into the back garden.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Debra Winslow’s photo
(Debra, Alan and Dawn had come from Lake Tapps for the tour, but they were touring in a different order from us, and, unfortunately, our paths did not cross.)
Ann Amato got a good photo of the stained glass above the greenhouse door.
photo by Ann Amato
I get involved with photographing the narrative flow of a garden and sometimes I miss the details. While Allan is good at the details, neither of us noticed the stained glass. I am sure the base of the greenhouse also had the convincing artificial rocks made by the owner.
behind the greenhouse
Allan’s photo
We recall overhearing that the overhead plants were on a drip system, got watered daily and fertilized twice a week. I love the way the plants look up there.
patio next to the woods (Allan’s photo)
I spy a compost bin.
at one end of the back deck
stairs to the back deck
Allan’s photo
back porch (Allan’s photo)
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
At the back of the garden is the cool green wild woods.
Evan got the best photo of the woodsy feeling.
photo by Evan Bean
Interlude
I liked this house nearby. It looked older than most Ocean Shores homes.
The cat likes it, too.
We saw a vibrant stand of dahlias on the way to the next garden.
I love how simply humble Ocean Shores is. Even near the water, the homes we saw were mostly not large and ostentatious. It made me want to move there.
presented by the WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties
Ocean Shores
garden five: Flower Power
Through an archway from the garden next door, we were greeted by a gardening neighbour sitting on her porch. What an ideal situation to have a friend and gardener sharing a side gate between gardens.
Allan’s photo
Kilyn’s photo as the canal side beds merge between gardens
shady border between the two houses
on the porch (Allan’s photo)
rugosa roses and Phormium in bloom
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
The dock has a bench for viewing wildlife and boaters.
view of the canal and little simple white house that is my dream house at the moment.
Neither Allan nor I went around the corner at the end of the porch, above, which I believe is how we missed finding the little greenhouse. I asked Kilyn if she had found it, and she said she was too busy chatting with the owner on the porch and eating tasty cookies that were on offer.
I love the big wraparound covered porch on two sides of the house.
The bay window room must be delightful.
A deer fence would be an essential part of an Ocean Shores garden (unless you want a deer park garden). We saw deer wandering everywhere.
deer fence (Allan’s photo)
interlude
We drove from the canal gardens to gardens on the ocean side and took a comfort break at facilities by one of the beaches.
Allan’s photo; this boy immediately flopped into the sand in delight.
presented by the WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties
Ocean Shores
Gardens four and five were next door to each other on one of the canals, joined by a friendly archway. Having a companionable gardening neighbour is my ultimate dream. I am in my mid 60s and feel that every passing year lessens the chances for this one dream to come true. (I like my neighbours on both sides, but none of them are passionate gardeners.)
garden four: A Garden for All Seasons
Allan’s photo
The front garden:
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
I bet the bay window room has a beautiful green light inside, just as I like it.
Deer fence with bamboo extensions (Allan’s photo)
Turning the corner to the side garden:
Under the pergola at canal side is a pond and waterfall.
The sunroom in the back garden, overlooking the sloping garden and the canal, is what dreams are made of. An upper path goes by the sunroom, and the lower path goes by the pergola and canal.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Let’s go to the pergola and the path along the canal.
canal-side fencing to keep deer out
under the pergola
Allan’s photo
I think living on the canal would be glorious, especially for Allan and his kayak.
I appreciate that the edge of the water in this garden has long grass and foliage for happy insect life. Someone told Allan that because the canals are stocked with carp to keep the water clean by eating aquatic plants, there are few frogs (carp eat pollywogs, he was told). I am trying to join an Ocean Shores gardening group online to find out if that is true. For more about the carp, read here. For more about plant life in the canals, read here.
The canal path ends at the gunnera.
Looking up at the sunroom:
Sedum-planted steps connect the upper and lower garden paths.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Kilyn enjoying the garden
I was surprised to see Nicotiana langsdorfii (center, below) in the hillside bed. The owners must have to go far afield for cool plants; we could not find a garden center in Ocean Shores. The one that we had found online was no longer there.
Nicotiana langsdorfii, one of my favourites
Another chartreuse nicotiana
Allan’s photo
We’ll take the upper path around the sunroom toward the next garden.
Perhaps I could be a neighbour across the canal in the white house. I would surround it with flowers. We could visit Kim’s garden by boat.
Next: Through an archway into the neighbour’s garden.
presented by the WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties
Ocean Shores
garden three: At the Fore Front
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Every garden has this notice.
tight, well laid cobblestone style paving (Allan’s photo)
This garden was the first of three on the Ocean Shores canals.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
a clear deck railing for unimpeded views
the view across the neighboring yard
The dog sculpture by the canal moved in the breeze; we all thought it might be an effective raccoon deterrent. (Allan heard it is a geese deterrent.)
Allan’s photo
Looking back from the waterside:
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
manicured to the water’s edge (Allan’s photo)
Allan’s photo
The waterfall cascaded into the canal.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
This was the first of three gardens on the Ocean Shores canals. I think it would be grand to live on one of them, 23 miles of interconnected waterways that were dug out over half a decade in the 1960s. Read more here and here. The second article has a map with the charming names of the inland passages. You can read about Allan’s 2018 canal adventure here.
I was so enticed by the idea of living on one of the canals that I looked up real estate prices and found them to be surprisingly affordable. This lot is pretty amazing, and only lacks one thing—a house. And this is my little dream house.
I was enamored with the house right next door to the tour garden.
presented by the WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties
Ocean Shores
garden two: Living Rooms
In the front garden, ivy and honeysuckle had been trimmed around some sort of pre-existing structure, but neither Allan nor I found out for sure what it was.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Oh but wait! Here is a before photo!
Before photos are always appreciated.
On the other side of the honeysuckle sculpture, a small pond was screened against raccoons.
Down the side of the house to the back garden…
back deck
decorated shed
Allan’s photo
Sit spots abound in this garden.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Kilyn followed these footprints…
…but did not find a bear.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
In the way back corner, we found a playhouse and a campfire circle with a useful grill…
…and a space for games. Kilyn looked through the back gate and said it was a place to put debris, something gardeners wonder about.
Allan’s photo
Just like Kilyn, I always look for the hidden areas that show how the garden works, where the compost is and where the debris goes and the empty flower pots are stored.
We found a greenhouse.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo – Just take this bucket to where you’re working to always have the right tool nearby.
presented by the WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties
Ocean Shores
garden one: On the Beach
Allan’s photo, front garden
I felt immediately that this garden was unique and distinctly the creation of its owners.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
path leading along the side of the house
We overheard that the home used to be waterfront, but with beach accretion (probably caused by the north jetty in Ilwaco, which has also caused accretion along the Long Beach Peninsula and erosion at Washaway Beach), it is now a half mile from the water. (Do have a look at the Washaway Beach This Week blog.) It is rare to see a garden planted this close to the dunes.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Never have I seen so many blue bottles in the garden. The reflections and sparkle are supposed to deter the deer. Allan overheard that many were collected from the recycling center.
Allan’s photo
row of once waterfront homes
On the back porch:
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
beautiful and fragile old stepping stones in the side garden
I would like to know if the multi-hued round rocks are natural to the garden or were they imported? They were comfortable to walk on.
Instead of the rusty bits and pieces in Jarman’s famous garden, we have blue bottles and watermelons, and who is to say which is better? If I lived closer, I would gift them with a flat of santolina starts, silver and green, which would do well in their tough garden conditions, and a recommendation to have a look at this book. I think they would be as pleased with the comparison as I am.
Peter and Kilyn awaited us there so that we could do the tour together.
I found it an excellent idea to have the plant sale at the first tour stop instead of somewhere in the middle.
Allan’s photo
Kilyn told us that in Richmond, British Columbia, community gardens are not allowed to have fences or even signs warning against plant theft! Nor can they have sheds. I thought about how in the UK, each allotment plot gets a little shed of its own.
plant sale
Speaking of sheds…
We toured the garden beds of both flowers and food.
Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a place with a view of a community garden?
At the center of the garden stood a beautiful carved pillar. I could not make out what it said, lacking the patience to go round and round.
And there was compost….
…with a list of compostables.
Now the four of us were off to the first of eight private gardens. To my delight, these were not designed gardens of the rich but gardens from the heart. One of the missions of this tour each year is to show gardens that are created by the owners, often without big money. Please remember that while reading and commenting, and especially remember that the garden owners might be reading the posts. There are blogs that criticize and review gardens. This is not one of them. I appreciate anyone who dares to open their garden for a tour.
Jazmin, who has made herself scarce in the closet since she moved in, decided that three AM was the perfect time to jump on the bed, wake me up, get petted, and finally purr. I haven’t had much good sleep this week.
Our canine neighbors got their biscuits in the late morning.
Cotah
Bentley
We packed, having taken no time to prepare for our little trip till now. Allan made one short work trip just to apply Liquid Fence deer spray to a few of the Ilwaco planters. I feared that the rain might have washed it all off. He did indeed find some deer damage.
The city hall planters are two that we spray. Deer love nasturtiums.
City Hall
The pots below are provided by the office staff.
And City Hall has a luscious new dahlia planting.
Meanwhile, I soaked all my own potted plants. They would have to fend for themselves till Sunday, except for the four greenhouse tomatoes who were expecting (and got) a watering visit from Jenna.
I did find it hard to leave my garden just as peak Lily Time began.
And we were off at the not so bright and early hour of 3 PM.
As we approached South Bend, a long caravan of VW buses went by in the other direction, lots of delightfully old ones. I wished I had gotten my camera out sooner.
At Dennis Company in Raymond, we purchased our tickets for the tour, truly the most attractive tour booklet offered by any tour.
We took the road through Grayland to Markham because I find it less scary than the busier road to Aberdeen. I now realize it was actually a quicker route to Markham, where we had kindly been offered a guest cottage for the weekend, than going through Aberdeen. You can see in the upper left our destination for Saturday: Ocean Shores. Kilyn and Peter had already arrived at their RV campground in Ocean City. (I wonder what Aberdeen Gardens is? A suburb, apparently.)
Westport Winery
We arrived at Westport Winery with enough time for dinner before our expected arrival at Markham Farm. Although I had high hopes for a big plant shopping spree at the Westport Winery plant nursery, it seemed to have scaled down from the excellent selection of two years ago.
I did find a few plants to buy, of course.
Allan’s photo
We found a dinner table with a garden view.
salmon and strawberry salad
Allan’s chicken and clam chowder
The restaurant is called the Sea Glass Grill and our bill came with two pieces of “sea glass”, a charming touch to add to one of my plant tables.
I had time for a quick look at the gardens.
entrance to the undersea theme garden
Markham Farm
Soon after, we were driving down the road to my favourite garden.
Terri showed us the cottage where we would stay for the weekend and we then unloaded some plants from my garden that I had brought for her (from my plant sale selection). It had seemed like coals to Newcastle, and yet they were a successful choice.
Ilsa helps unload
We had a sit down with Terri and Bill on the farmhouse deck…
Allan’s photo
my good friend Ilsa
view down to the beach
At dusk, we looked at just part of the garden.
the pollinator garden bed (Allan’s photo)
Teucrium ‘Purple Tails’ (Allan’s photo)
We said goodnight to Terri and Bill, Ilsa and Barry….
Barry the cat
And then returned to the cottage for an early bedtime. It has a little garden of its own.
Tomorrow: Up at 8 AM for garden tour day! I am going to give most of the gardens their own post and will publish twice a day for four or five days.
Our company arrived from Canada: Kilyn and Peter. They came bearing gifts of books, a box of Builders Tea, some British throat lozenges for winter ills, some pastries from the local bakery and some British biscuits.
You may know Kilyn as the reader who comments as Steveston Gardener. Her spouse, Peter, is a delightfully droll Australian.
We had our own garden as ready for touring as time and energy allowed—pretty good, if I dare say so, and the unweeded parts can be called “rewilded”.
Our Garden
We’d had this much rain in the past two days, giving us the gift of this day off.
In the back garden, I immediately realized the Cripps Pink apple tree was half its former height. Rain, wind, and the weight of too many apples had snapped off the top. Peter demonstrates how heavy with apples the snapped trunks are. What a shame.
When Kilyn took a photo of the little pond, I saw that raccoons, or perhaps Skooter, had knocked several blue pottery pieces into the depths. Allan fixed it. We were all excited to see the one fish. I had assumed it had been eaten weeks ago.
Those are the sort of things that would be a disaster on a garden tour day but are just fine with good friends.
By going garden touring in Ocean Shores this weekend, I will miss three days of lily-opening time.
That timing proves the wisdom of anyone setting a garden tour date for this weekend as peak lily time reliably begins now.
After touring into every corner and path of the garden…
followed by some sitting in the shade…
Peter (Allan’s photo)
…we needed to pass another hour or so before the main feature of the day and so we repaired to
The Boreas Inn.
After touring the entry garden and the west lawn beds…
…we had a tour of the inn…
(My favourite is the garden suite.)
…and a visit with Susie in the west-facing sunroom.
We then were off…
…for an afternoon at
The Bayside Garden.
Upon arrival, Peter said he almost cried on the way up the driveway “because it is so beautiful, and,” he added, “I’m not a gardener.”
Kilyn is the impassioned gardener and garden blog reader. She faithfully reads (among others) my two favourites, The Tootlepedal blog and The Miserable Gardener.
We both best like blogs that show imperfections rather than, as she puts it, carefully curated photos.
Kilyn, Peter, and John with his garden notebook
A trio of Rhododendron pachysanthum was first to be thoroughly admired.
We viewed every part of the garden.
Kilyn’s photo
Kilyn’s photo
Kilyn’s photo
red stems of drimys picking up the color of Orange Rocket Barberry.
We all expected Orange Rocket to be columnar. It is not.
Thuja ‘Forever Goldie’
Kilyn’s photo
“mosquito grass” (Allan’s photo)
Rhododendron ‘Sinogrande’
Allan’s photo
Steve, Kilyn, ‘Cryptomeria ‘Black Dragon’
in the Cryptomeria grove
blue-silver Rhododendron lepidostylum
Rhododendron edgeworthii
deer ferns on the move
Kilyn’s photo
Rhododendron quinquefolium
Rhododendron sinofalconeri
Rhododendron ‘Cherries and Merlot’
We visited my most special favourite pet of a rhododendron:
Rhododendron degronianum subsp. yakushimanum x R. pachysanthum
Hydrangea ‘Lemon Daddy’
Rhododendron makinoi
Rhododendron ‘Ever Red’
How to hide an ugly electric box:
Steve says he’d now choose something other than laurel, and the vine to the right is fatshedera.
Kilyn and the evergreen huckleberry glade
Kilyn’s photo
kayaks passing by on a high tide
We closed our tour in the kitchen with coffee and homemade muffins and some garden talk.
from inside the house (Allan’s photo)
John’s garden book (Allan’s photo)
Later in the evening, we met again with Kilyn and Peter for dinner at
The Depot Restaurant.
steak Killian
Prawns Bangkok
After feasting, we walked west one block to tour
The Sou’wester Lodge and trailer court.
I do believe that the next time they visit, Kilyn and Peter will be parking their caravan here.
We suggested the Peter “place a call” at the phone booth and could hear his laughter.
Kilyn tried it next.
vintage trailers for rent by the night (known as “Trailer Classics Hodgepodge”)
Jessica Schlief is doing a spectacular job on the Sou’wester gardens.
Tomorrow, the four of us leave to take two different routes to meet again at Saturday’s garden tour in Ocean Shores.
The promised rain and 25 mph wind materialized, giving us a day almost off.
Skooter did not want to give up my chair.
Allan managed to stuff the landscape fabric strangled stump from Mike’s garden into the wheelie bin.
Only Allan did any work today, applying some mulch to make the shrubless areas at Mike’s look good till we get some plants to fill in.
before
I have a small start of Lonicera ‘Baggeson’s Gold’ which I hope will grow to match the other one (one photo later).
after; you can barely see the Lonicera at the back of the mulch
The mature L. Baggeson’s Gold clipped into a ball
Meanwhile, I caught up with the Tootlepedal blog and the Miserable Gardener blog. This post on the Miserable Gardener was especially good. If you aren’t reading his blog, might I suggest that you should be. It is unfailingly wonderful. He is my inspiration for sometimes writing about personal matters. I have never had a loss as deep as his, and I never could because I have never had a bond of over twenty years like the one he shared with his late wife. So any revelations I make in my own gardening blog are not as deep.
I finally finished the book that I have been reading just a bit of, for weeks, every night at bedtime.
I had given The Happy Isles of Oceania to Allan for his birthday. While not as much about boating as I had thought it would be, it was fascinating. Theroux is a curmudgeon of sorts and can come across as judgmental of the people of some of the islands (and some entire nations, especially France). Sometimes I wondered if he saw himself as superior to assorted islanders. I’d still recommend it because of passages like the following.
He likes to camp on beaches.
(Unfortunately and so often tragically, that is not the way of the world for women traveling alone.)
He loves the stars.
In Hawaii, he chose the rare luxury of staying in a $2500 a night (in 1991) bungalow resort, complete with personal butlers.
I’m happy to report that he then camped on a beach and achieved a goal of living on less than $2.50 a day instead of $2.500.
I also recommend his book Deep South.
New cat Jazmin is still in hiding. Last night she slept at my feet for awhile before managing to open the closet door and find a secret spot inside.
Tomorrow our friends from Steveston, Canada, will visit, and we will tour the Bayside Garden, rain or shine. Then we will all head to Ocean Shores for the north county garden tour. Allan and I have the good fortune of being invited to stay in a guest house near Markham Farm, my very favourite garden, saving us a stressfully long one day trip and giving us time there to socialize with friends. I am hoping it works out to have Kilyn and Peter tour Markham Farm, as well. So there should be quite a garden tour sequence for the next week of blogging.
I am anxious about traveling, especially possible traffic accidents, being absolutely nothing like world traveler Paul Theroux. Only garden tours get me willingly off the peninsula.
Tangly Cottage Gardening 