Gardens, Sea and Art Tour: Fruit, Berries and Roses

Saturday, 20 July 2019

Gardens, Sea and Art tour

presented by the WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties

Ocean Shores

Garden 8: Fruit, Berries and Roses

Allan’s photo

A path winds through front garden trees…

…to a fenced side yard full of fruits and veg.  I am always impressed with a successful kitchen garden, especially in a maritime climate.  Kitchen gardening is something at which I do not excel.

a serious deer fence (Allan’s photo)

strawberries

Allan’s photo

lemons and oranges

berries

Allan’s photo

roses and grapes

at the back of the grapes

 

Allan’s photo

 

Allan’s photo

inside the green mesh house

Allan’s photo

potted paulownia tree

into the back garden…

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

..where a path led off into the woods.

We returned to the front garden and made our plans with Peter and Kilyn for an early dinner.

Peter contemplates the front garden

Allan and I waited till Teresa caught up and then we all met at…

Galway Bay Irish Pub

Allan’s photo

We enjoyed our meal and could see why an Ocean Shores friend had recommended this place.

bangers and mash

potato soup

Just before we left, we found that if we went through the Guinness door…

…we would come upon an dining patio that looked most appealing.

It lacked the large table that we had needed for our excellent feast.

We parted ways, till meeting again tomorrow morning at Markham Farm.

pink petunias on the way to Markham

The last page of the tour booklet:

Still to come before returning to the workaday world: Markham Farm, of course, and a return visit to Cindy’s garden, one of our favourites from last year’s tour.

 

 

 

 

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Gardens, Sea and Art Tour: Beauty and the Bay

Saturday, 20 July 2019

Gardens, Sea and Art tour

presented by the WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties

Ocean Shores

Garden 7: Beauty and the Bay

I had reasons to look forward to this garden.  Diane is the aunt of Terri of Markham Farm, and Terri would be co-hosting.  I am not playing favourites when I say I liked this garden best.

photo by Evan Bean

along the street

along the street

Allan’s photo

the other side of the front driveway

Kilyn’s photo on instagram…followed by her caption

(Each garden had a sign reminding us of the plant sale at the community garden.)

Note those cool rocks with holes in them.  I found some like that in 1991 on Kalaloch Beach.

into the back garden

just inside the gate

Allan’s photo

To our left was the memory garden with mementos including the hard hat and boots worn by Uncle Neil when he helped build the road to Paradise on Mount Rainer.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

On to the back garden.  I was already smitten.

To our right, a sunroom/greenhouse.

fire circle

sunroom

Allan’s photo

To our left, vegetables in barrels….

Roses and driftwood…

photo by Evan Bean

roses and agapanthus…

In the corner, a garden boat.

Then a mossy burbling rock…

.

..and a driftwood gate.

 

photo by Evan Bean

Outside the gate, a view of North Bay:

Looking back at the house:

fire circle

Allan’s photo

On the deck:

Allan’s photo

Leaving the deck…

…we explored the rest of the bayside garden, a separate-feeling area to the right of the driftwood gate.

path to a gate

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

the bay side of the house

Twin frogs instead of lions flank the doorway.

another burbling rock

Allan’s photo

wheelbarrows and probably pots of spring bulbs beside the house

We still had not seen it all; we next found the enclosed garden at the front of the house.

a little pond

You might recognize this from the garden tour poster.

photo by Evan Bean

a beautiful front porch

a woman after my own heart in many ways

We had found Terri in the front garden courtyard and had a good chat.  Because her aunt was out touring other gardens, we did not get to meet her, but I know Terri will tell her how much we loved her garden.

Kilyn and Peter had arranged a tailgate teatime for four with homemade scones (Peter’s) and cookies and small sandwiches.  What a delight. We were joined by Evan and Ann.

Allan’s photo

We loaded up plants that Ann had brought for me to purchase from two nurseries she works for (propagating plants): Secret Garden Growers and Cistus Nursery.

While Kilyn and Peter went on ahead to the next (and last) garden, I just had to have one more walk through the Lemke garden because I loved it so much.  When we finally were about to tear ourselves away, Teresa from the Planter Box arrived, much to our surprise and pleasure.

She had manage to wrangle two days off from her garden center, so of course we all extended an invitation to her to come tour Markham Farm garden with us on Sunday.  We left her chatting with Terri and departed for the final tour garden.

 

 

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Gardens, Sea and Art Tour: Deep in the Woods

Saturday, 20 July 2019

Gardens, Sea and Art tour

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.

 

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Gardens, Sea and Art Tour: Flower Power

Saturday, 20 July 2019

Gardens, Sea and Art tour

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.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

a house by the sea (Allan’s photo)

When we arrived at the next garden, Evan of Castle Rock and Ann of Portland had caught up to us. Evan’s shirt had been a big hit all day.

Tomorrow, I am returning to once a day posting because there is much to show you in the next two gardens.

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Gardens, Sea and Art Tour: A Garden for All Seasons

Saturday, 20 July 2019

Gardens, Sea and Art tour

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.

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Gardens, Sea and Art Tour: At the Fore Front

Saturday, 20 July 2019

Gardens, Sea and Art tour

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.

next door, but not for sale

Next: gardening neighbours on the canal

 

 

 

 

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Gardens, Sea and Art Tour: Living Rooms

Saturday, 20 July 2019

Gardens, Sea and Art tour

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.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

This may be a memory garden for a tuxedo cat:

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

On the shady side of the house…

And we emerge into the front garden again.

Allan’s photo

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Gardens, Sea and Art Tour: On the Beach

Saturday, 20 July 2019

Gardens, Sea and Art tour

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.

Returning to the front garden…

Looking at our photos, I am now strongly reminded of Derek Jarman’s garden.

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.

 

 

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Gardens, Sea and Art Tour: community garden

Saturday, 20 July 2019

Ocean Shores

From Markham to Ocean Shores was an hour’s drive.  Upon arrival, we were surrounded by water on three sides.

This tourism map hints at the complexity of roads and canals in the small city of Ocean Shores.

Gardens, Sea and Art tour

presented by the WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties

We began at Garden by the Sea.

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.

 

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