Fuchsia 'Whiteknights Amethyst'
This installment will feature borders, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the arbor behind 4.
By the way, my banner photo is border 9.
All of these photos were taken between August and October, 2009.
This shot and the one below are facing south towards the rest of the garden.
This shot and the one below are facing south towards the rest of the garden.
Keeping with my "do it on the cheap" mantra, I used broken concrete rather than those really cool and costly flagstones. Not perfect but good enough.
Of my Hebe trials, [most are tribulations] the highest tolerance to cold temperatures goes to the tiny, silver foliaged Hebe sutherlandii. Little pruning is needed. What? You thought it looked this good with my constant primping? [tee hee] Behind it is Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten,' a larger leafed variant on the common, culinary S. o. that seems to better tolerate PNW wet winters.
The dramatic foreground foliage is Catalpa bignonoiodes. Say THAT five times real fast. Or once even. The tree is Heptacodium miconoides or Seven-Son Flower. It's not in bloom yet so this photo must have been taken in July.
Check out my burgeoning Hesperaloe parviflora or Red Yucca in the clay pot. I had a three year, ongoing frustration with local nurseries that seemed to either refuse or ignore this must-have. Finally Big Dipper Farms in Washington State came to my rescue. No blooms last year but that's because it was still a baby. I can be patient, sometimes. The Seven-sons Flower is in bloom here.
Things are leaning towards that late summer look. You know, billowy and unkempt. I'll take that right about now.
There is a chair inside the arbor for relaxing, huh, huh. Originally after hubby built this the plan was to install a bench swing. I'm glad it didn't happen because it would have proven a hindrance to my [ahem, copious] tending of the surrounding plants. [Stop laughing.]
Looking south towards the rest of the jungle.. er, garden.
My apologies for the photographic imperfections. Heuchera 'Midnight Rose.' MIDNIGHT, Grace, not noonday sun. Duh.
One last thing, if I might. Should you decide to leave a comment [thank you, thank you] could you please tell me if you can view my sidebar? It seems there are discrepancies [code for "Internet Infighting," an esoteric twist on cyber-bullying] with certain browsers and mysterious incompatibles posted on my sidebar. [Isn't it time for them to grow up? Silicon Valley, are you listening?]
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40 COMMENTS, Click here to add yours:
Dear Grace, This has been an absolute delight and, whatever you may say, all the evidence points to the garden not only being well and carefully tended, but loved as well. Your colours, all those wonderful soft pinks, mauves, plums, greys and silvers work together so well. Not only are you concerned with flower colour but clearly form and texture matter too to make a satisfying whole.
A thought, and a strange one at that, but have you considered changing the colour of the house door from white to a colour which blends more with the excellent colour of the walls? I love white but I wonder if it is just a little too arresting seen through a wonderful haze which makes up your borders.
I shall very much look forward to Part 2, and 3, and 4 ....
Your sidebar looked to me to be normal.
Hi Grace,
Your garden is some serious endless inspiration. There is so much to see in each photo, I feel like I need some sort of horticulture/design expert to point out all the nuances. I like this series of posts and also look forward to the rest of it!!! I can see the sidebar. If I had to guess, it looks like part of the right side of the photos are cut off though in the main section. At least I'm pretty sure they are, but you probably see this too.
Your garden is simply beautiful ... love the natural cottage-garden look. There's a lot of interest in every border. It's hard to pick which part I like most ... all the colour combinations and the plantings work so well ... although I do particularly like borders 4 and 5. Sidebars look OK to me.
Grace:
Sidebar was visible, for the first time in a long time..... still not sure if it isn't a partial glitch on my behalf.
Wow! What an amazing, if I may be so bold as to suggest, romp around the garden, and to think this is only the beginning. Of couse my heart turned green with envy when I happened upon your Heptacodium miconoides, not to mention the fabulous foliage of Catalpa bignonoiodes - interestingly enough I was pondering a C.b 'Nana' for the side garden this year! I too am most anxious for the continuing saga. FabUlous!
I, like everyone else have my jaw hanging open and my eyes bulged out! What a gorgeous garden Grace, say that three times, fast..it is evident that you do love gardening.....the only thing I would change.....is to stroll through your garden in person...
I did see your side bar..
Grace, your garden is absolutely lovely! ...so inviting, and I do like your choice for the paths. Thank you for the wonderful tour, and I especially enjoyed sitting under the arbor.
Thank you for sharing these. Can I just have your garden? :) I was just out taking pictures of mine and how bare they look, I hope by the end of the summer they are at least half as lush as yours. I love how full you plant your beds. Love all the pinks and greens and different textures mixed!
PS I can see your sidebar.
I have been waiting for these photos. Grace, what a beautiful garden. And I saw your sidebar. Never a problem for me.
Jen
Grace, first things first: Yes, I can see your sidebar with no problem.
Now for the real comment: Wow!! I've been trying to work on a map of my property and garden, but my paltry efforts so far don't come anywhere near what you've done here. I'm in awe of this effort. -Jean
Hi Grace
If a garden reflects the personality of its gardener, you must be a bright and cheerful person.
Must be wonderful to live among your favourite plants.
I would certainly burn green in envy in seeing your garden, or what better word you would call it a jungle - it would certainly bring thousand fairies to dance upon that enchantment.
Again...
ohh those lovely fuschia.. still jealousy looking at them.
Thank you for the magnificent garden photos.
Hi Grace, want you to know that I think you rock! I love your map and the pictures to go along with it. How cool. I will look again on the big screen monitor...on a netbook now, which is not doing justice to your great photos.
btw- your sidebar is visible, always has been for me.
That Fuschia at the top of the post is a winner!!
Oh, Grace,
With each photo and every turn on those wonderful pathways a thrill of color, texture, foliage, flowers awaits. Your garden map is fabulous... I've been contemplating doing one but don't have the patience or know-how. Always a joy to visit. I know photos are beautiful and they do inspire me but to see it in person I'm sure is a thousand times even lovelier.
I can see your side bar, too.
Meems
All of that pink -- I lurve it! You've done a marvelous job layering all of the flowers and different textures.
Grace, you do pink to perfection!
I love the way the paths lead you around bends to new views. I'm partial to the billowy look, so July pictures are good with me! If your goal is a cottage-y perennial garden, I'd say you've got it. And what a great mid-winter break for all of us. Thanks!
Oh, and I can see your sidebar.
Hi Grace. Just what I needed to start my day. A riot of summer color. What a lovely garden you have. My favorites are the pinks and blues of course and you have lots of silvery and bluish foliage too.
I am using Firefox browser and can see about 2/3 of your sidebar. I have my browser set to the second or third magnification to make the wording larger for my poor eyes. On some sites I get even less of the page at this magnification.
Marnie
Marnie
I have been trying to get my husband to agree on doing paths like yours, but so far, I am not getting anywhere. He complains about MY jungle, and it is no where near as full as yours!
Thank you so much for showing us so much of your garden! Beautiful! I am going to check out the nursery your have on your side bar this year, as it is one that I haven't been to.
HI Grace, I agree with everyone else, no problems with the side bar. Your garden is looking gorgeous, as usual. I love the use of the broken concrete as a path.
Good Lord Woman you have so many flowers. LOL! How beautiful they all are. I love the cottage look and how they all blend in so well in waves. Do your paths get narrower and narrower each year. Of course I am taking in all of your reusable elements.You have quite a collection of watering cans too. I need to plant in one of mine. You see I am stealing all your ideas. LOL! The broken concrete pieces look like flagstones and I love this idea.
Hi Grace,
LOVELY! I set up my virtual hammock and took a cyber nap right in the middle of one of your pathways. It was delightful.
Cindee
I love how the pathways through your garden, meander leading us to another undiscovered area, separate from the next area. I like using broken concrete as well - so much less expensive then stone :^)
Grace, How long have you lived here? And How long has it taken you to get your garden to this stage?
I'm quite j-e-a-l-o-u-s. I doubt I'll ever have anything that looks like this... but then, YOU must spend a LOT of time working out there!
Absolutely beautiful and Someday I just want to hang out with you! ;-)
Dear Lady, you have pulled together an amazing garden!! I love the colours and textures.
What a treat! :)
I was so enamored of your garden I didn't notice whether you had a sidebar or not...But I did look once I saw others were commenting...Yep it's there! Back to the important garden...It's stunning....Just when I think I've embraced my shady, shallow soil, cedar glade garden I run smack into sunny garden envy! Sigh;-) Gail
Oh how I needed this UN-reality check dear Grace!!! It is perfect for our cold winter day! I would love to get lost among these (or any of your) borders. My goodness. I could spend days wandering around and never see everything. You sure have made the most of your lot. Your garden map looks good to me. I haven't attempted one so I have no suggestions but this one is certainly easy to read (I don't know how it was to put together?) I am thinking I'll have to come back and digest them again a bit more fully. What a great way to give us a better vision of your super fantastic garden.
ps I can see your sidebar too. :-) Yay ~ maybe things are good?
WOW GRACE, fabulous, fabulous garden. Puts me to shame. We've been at this house for 3 1/2 years and it is a slow go for me with us being in Maine for half of every year.
Thanks so much for your comment about my books. That is soul food for me.
I'll be giving a talk at the Columbia Center for the Arts on March 28th. Let's keep in touch!
All best garden adventures,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
The exuberance of your garden and its blushing personality have put me in a rosy mood...Thanks!
I love the use of broken concrete, and one of the YGP seminar givers (can't remember which, as I'm not too good at note-taking in the dark) said that the city of Portland will dump some on your site. I used it for all my paths in my last garden, but my successor promptly pulled it all out to make way for slate.
The paths I especially like are the pebbly ones. Are they a step up from gravel, and do you put a barrier underneath?
And the hepatacodium: do you prune it or let it have its way? I am in a quandary.
Yes, Grace your side bar looks great! - Your garden is pure eye candy. So beautiful. You created a flow of color that is amazing. I love your garden plan. I am trying to make one for my garden. I like the way you numbered the areas. I will have to see if I can figure out how to do that. Amazing garden. I take my garden hat off to you and bow! Gloria
The garden tour was an experience to soothe this winter-weary soul. Beautiful, Grace, and incredible. I loved how I could sense your gardening personality by getting a more general view of part of your magnificent design. Congratulations on what you've achieved there!
(Oh, and I can see the entire sidebar, doesn't seem to be missing anything.)
Grace what a truly delightful garden full to overflowing with a profusion of flowers all happily jostling together. I can just imagine the heady perfume on a summers eve.
Side by seems ok to me. from a google blogger.
I can see why you so miss summer. Your garden is definitely a celebration of the warm season. It's not far off now, I see signs of garden life all over the place these days.
I can see your sidebar, and I'm viewing your site from a Mac on Firefox.
Sidebar visible up here in Alaska. I have been wanting to try H. miconioides for a couple of years now. I'm pretty sure it would be most unhappy here, but yours looks splendid. The LFG hubby keeps wanting to teach me CAD so I can draw out my garden on the computer, but I have been stubborn and resisted thus far. Maybe it's time to relent....
Christine in Alaska
Grace you are the gardener extraordinaire! I love the layout. Love the hot tip about broken concrete. I have miles of paths to put in and simply cannot afford to pay $4 per stone! Yours is the same rambunctious style of gardening as mine. But you do it sooooo much better. Cheers!
Grace, Your garden is truly magical and inspiring! What a treat to have this tour and one can virtually pick several bouquets and you would hardly notice. Astonishing tapestry of blooms and plants!!
yes i do see your side bar!
I'm on a Mac and opened your website in both Safari and Firefox with no problem, Grace. My only problem is that the busy background bothers my troubled eyes. Need new glasses.
Ah, so there really is a tour, which i suggested seeing your newest post! But i still wish to see the garden "in person" as in wish to be there for the full emotion to be complete. It is difficult to be seeing without smelling the air they exude and the scent some of them give us! How wonderful indeed.
Well, Grace, I noticed other people had no trouble seeing your sidebar, but I saw nothing there at all.
I am so ready for spring! Enjoy yours in your lovely yard!
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