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Whidbey Island Garden Tour
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Saturday, June 24, 2023

The Hive

This sloped site has a fabulous view from Bush Point across Admiralty Inlet to Marrowstone Island and the Olympic Mountains. You’ll likely spot large boats and US Navy submarines, and if you’re lucky orcas and other whales. From the road, the yard steps up through tall-grass in the re-wilded meadow which creates habitat for native birds, mammals, bees, and pollinating insects. A row of occupied bird house, made from driftwood and recycled products (license plates), marks the septic field lines. Closer to the house is a patio of stone and colored glass tile left from projects inside this new home. A riot of colorful drought-tolerant perennials were chosen to be deer-tolerant and pollinator-friendly, which helps create an abundant edible garden harvest. If you continue up the driveway, an unexpected entry garden greets you and the house is ringed by an orchard and a cattery with a fence designed to keep out coyotes. Continuing up the hill into the orchard don’t forget to turn around, so you will see the extensive array of succulents and wildflowers growing on the home’s green living roof. The homeowner is a wildlife biologist who delights in gardening in tandem with local ecosystems and native ecology, thus creating habitat for our pollinators.
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Plant list:

  • Lobelia tupa didn't think there was a common name so I looked it up: Devil's Tobacco! It seems the dried leaves are smoked by the Mapuchu tribe of Chile for "medicinal" reasons.
  • Melianthus major Honey Bush
  • Gunnera manicata no real common name except maybe Dinosaur Food or Giant Rhubarb
  • Malus 'Bramley' apple
  • Acer circinatum 'Burgundy Jewel' Vine Maple
  • Delosperma cooperi Cooper's Hardy Ice Plant
  • Romneya coulteri Coulter's Matilija Poppy or California Tree Poppy
  • Ficus 'Desert King' Hardy Fig
  • Magnolia wilsonii, Wilson’s magnolia
  • Itoh Peony, a cross between a tree peony and an herbaceous one. It’s a “Bartzella.”
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The Whidbey Island Garden Tour is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 91-1754861
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