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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.

Friday, May 23, 2014

A Lawn Free Garden in the Hood

This lawn free garden is one that I pass a few times a month  looks good year round and would make Pam Penick proud  I've yet to see anyone working in it but clearly someone does so frequently as there's not a weed to be found.  I'm always passing this garden on the way to or from something and never have my camera with me.  On this particularly beautiful sunny day, I decided to throw caution to the wind and take some pictures with my phone instead.  The ground cover in the parking strip is drought tolerant Washington native Fragaria chiloensis (Beach Strawberry.)


The use of evergreens and well placed boulders (most not visible at this time of the year) keep the interest in this garden in high gear even in the coldest months.  Foliage texture adds another layer and the many flowers are a beautiful frosting on the cake.

The repetition of a favorite color ties the garden together beautifully. 

 This is the kind of garden I'd like to have when if I ever grow up. 

At once very controlled 

 and so exuberant that it spills out onto the sidewalk!

Perhaps I'll go back throughout the year and share what it looks like through the seasons.  Maybe one day I'll get to meet the cool gardener behind this marvelous garden.
Happy weekend and happy gardening everyone!  


30 comments:

  1. That garden is a beautiful tapestry, so well put together.

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    1. Yup! Now they need to come and work on my garden!

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  2. It looks so pristine and well coordinated that it could be planting at Chelsea!

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  3. Oh I like this a lot, good find! (and please don't ever grow up)

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    1. It's sure a well done garden! (chances are pretty good that if I haven't grown up by now, it'll never happen.)

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  4. I agree with danger garden about you growing up...and the only negative to me about this yard is that there's no space to squeeze a piece of rusty yard art into it!

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    1. Oh Rebecca, you are so right! With our love of rust, we'd find a way. Maybe suspended from tall rusty poles above it all...

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  5. This is a plant masterpiece, for sure!

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  6. Someone really knows what they are doing there! And Peter, I hope you never grow up. ;-)

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    1. Yes, it's masterful and gorgeous! I believe that the psychological community would agree that there's little chance of my growing up any time soon.

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  7. That is certainly a very well planted garden with no room for weeds, now if only I could fill my garden to that extent it would cut down on most of the work! Thanks for sharing it with us!

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    1. My garden looks just like this underneath all the weeds, poorly placed plants, mistakes blunders, and ineptitude on the part of the gardener.

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  8. Peter, you showed us a garden of limited color choices in an earlier post. Here as well there is repetition of color, but instead of using the same plant over and over, this homeowner chose a much wider selection in the same or similar scheme. The result is less regimented and more satisfying, in my mind. And maybe there is a rustic art piece that reveals itself in winter, once the perennial foliage dies back. Could you go back in winter and check it out for us?

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    1. I will be happy to go back and was thinking of doing several updates on this garden through the year. If I remember correctly, there are some boulders that become apparent in the winter that add structure and interest.

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  9. The best thing with that garden is that you don't have to cut the lawn! I just hate to do it... Beautiful! Happy Sunday, Peter!

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    1. You're right! Mowing the lawn is not my favorite thing to do either! Happy Monday to you , Satu!

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  10. I'd be very interested to see this garden at different points in the year - good idea! Love the use of grasses and shrubs with flowering points filling in.

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    1. It's a beautifully designed garden and it will be fun to go back!

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  11. I love this!! I'd knock on the door and meet the gardener. The HOA Nazi's in my neighborhood would have heart attacks if anyone dared to rip up their lawn. I'm surprised I didn't get a slap on the wrist letter for putting in a butterfly garden in my front. This garden looks so pulled together and wild at the same time. That's a garden after my own heart. :o)

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    1. A great garden indeed! I wish I could pull off something like that! I've got the wild part but pulled together would be nice, too!

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  12. First, growing up is for wimps. It takes courage to stay a child and I know you can do it. (I can so you can.) I recommend that coast strawberry groundcover. Works beautifully for me and makes me think of the ocean, always a plus. Good job scooping pictures of this brave front garden...

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    1. What a relief, we can remain children forever! It's a beauitiful garden!

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  13. I like their style! Thanks for the link love, Peter. It's funny -- in your top picture I'd have sworn that the groundcover in the front strip was lawn. But when I clicked on the photo to enlarge it I could see it was different. I hope you're able to lurk often. Surely the owner will spot you one day and give you a full tour.

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    1. I thought of you immediately when I saw this lawnless garden. There are quite a few of them springing up lately! I'm hoping that on one of my lurkings the gardener will catch me!

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  14. I wonder what the backyard looks like. Can you just imagine? Thanks for sharing.

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  15. That is one of my dreams, a lawnless yard, but it would only work in a small garden in my experience and what would my poultry eat? I have killed off grass only to have extreme stoloniferous grass return and make weeding a nightmare. I would love it if I could suceed, someday... I also don't believe in growing up, when I get the urge I sing the song, "I won't grow up..."

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  16. Lawn free is the way to be! I wish it were possible in my garden but I just don't have the resurces to pull it off. I love this garden.it features my favorite flower color and the plants are combined so well. When I try to combine plants like this one thing engulfs another and it just looks awful.

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