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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Visiting Elandan Gardens


If you regularly attend the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, you're probably familiar with the name Elandan gardens from their displays there.  Elandan Gardens, "a six acre waterfron bonsai garden"  is located on Sinclair Inlet between Bremerton and Port Orchard in Gorst on the site of a former landfill.

If one is taking highway 16 to Valley Nursery, Dragonfly Farms Nursery, Savage Plants, and Far Reaches Farms, Elandan is an interesting stop along the way.  A word to the wise: this place is on the right side of a dividided 4 lane highway so plan on stopping as you're going away from Tacoma/Port Orchard toward Bremerton, not the other way around as you can't get across the highway. 


On this particular day, we weren't going to any of those places and I'd left my camera at home.  Because we weren't on a tight schedule, I asked if we could stop by Elandan on the way. Fortunately, Tom had his phone and snapped some shots.
There is a kind of timeless ambience in  some of the outdoor areas, almost like coming across an abandoned beachfront civilization.

There are lots of beautiful pieces strewn about, some in crates growing lichen, some broken, others intact.
 There is a stone sculptor in residence whose gorgeous work also graces the grounds.
Stunning waterfront.



There were a few of these former water features which have been allowed to dry out, the water plants now just plastic pots of dust. 

 Closer to the shop is this nursery area.  The vibrant red leaves of Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) hang from a grayed wood pergola that looks as if it could fall in at any moment adding to the feel of abandoned glory.

Here is the main entrance to the store and museum which is an extremely cool retail space filled with antique, modern, and natural treasures from around the world.  One is not allowed to take photographs inside the store which is fine but causes one to wonder why. 

Beyond the store this pathway leads to the bonsai collection to which there is an admission fee.  We chose to save this part of the experience for another visit.

I liked this pot & baby bonsai combination, for sale in one of the nursery areas.


Becoming one with the fern, eight buddhas agree that Elandon is well worth a visit.  They also advise checking out Elandon's website here to learn more about this unusual and magical place!






17 comments:

  1. looks amazing. I love that stone sculpture. And bonsai is super cool... just kind of intimidating to me :S

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    1. Like you, I like looking at bonsai but am intimidated by their care. They also look best as sort of a solo item with some negative or calm space around, and my garden is way too visually busy to show them off very well.

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  2. What a totally random cool place! I have to admit a few of the photos had me thinking "what the heck" but the further in I got it all started to make sense. It's interesting too that you can't take pictures in part of it, and that another part has an admission fee. Wacky!

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    1. I'm totally in love with just about everything in the inside shop so it's kind of a bummer that pictures aren't allowed. It's one of those stores where everything has a story, kind of like Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe meets Trident Imports with a healthy dose of your favorite antique shop. It's totally worth a visit just for the randomness and odd vibe of the place. contemporary sculpture, beach ruins, bonsai, interior stuff from India, Japan, China, Bali, just about everywhere and there's a houseplant area as well. I'll go back with my camera soon as there are a lot of other cool areas that Tom didn't capture with his phone.

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  3. Replies
    1. I so seldom see other customers there when I go. Glad that you like that place too.

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    2. If you like Elandan, you'd probably also like Howard Welborn Antiques in Lakewood (former owner of Mandarin Antiques and Pianos in Tacoma) He has lots of Italian sculpture, urns, etc. for the garden and an ecclectic collection of Asian, Italian, and American antiques. Not a plant place and the location isn't beautiful but the stuff is great and much less expensive.

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  4. Fabulous sculptures, looks like a very interesting place to visit.

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  5. That place look interesting! I think I'm going to have to drop you a line next time I drive to the Kitsap Peninsula from Portland and ask for a reminder on what all those cool places were I should be visiting.

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    1. Please do! I'd love to remind you about lots of great places out on the Peninsula!

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  6. Huh, a very other-worldly garden.

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  7. Quite a different place to visit. Not so typical.

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    1. That's true. Elandan's setting and ecclectic offerings make it unique.

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  8. What an interesting garden. So many unique vistas and art pieces. I want that urn with the footed pedestal

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    1. I love that one too! They have so much great stuff. I'll go back soon and take more photographs.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.