The 2009 Gardens
The Jewel Case
How to explain so many unique spaces to enjoy in a relatively small garden? Strong design elements and choice plant selections, judiciously placed, create a multifaceted garden that feels much larger than it is. Colorful woodwork provides a structural framework.
Eight years after a failed septic system ushered in a garden rebirth, this jewel case of year-round bloom and sculptural interest reflects the owner's love of saturated colors and strong forms. This less-than-glamorous beginning cannot detract from the artful sophistication of the present garden. Planning included vigorous subtraction and editing. Even the orchard was reworked to incorporate espalier forms, including the unusual cordon stepover and an apple fence.
The owner credits the advice and help of friends (who are well-known landscape designers) for guiding her in this “big learning process,” though she says she still buys plants she likes, and then figures out where to put them. Thriving on a diet of organic fertilizer and an annual six-inch application of mulch, this garden glows with special “pass along” plants, including additions from the Dunn Garden (a residential garden designed by the Olmsted Bros.) and the Miller Garden, both of Seattle. Among her favorites are mahonias (which host overwintering hummingbirds), epimediums, unusual hellebores, witch hazels, and the gunnera and ferns happily ensconced in the hot tub. They are perfect examples of how this wonderful garden colors outside the lines.