The secret of a great open garden is an exuberant host. We were greeted by this adorable guy who wanted to make sure we saw the sign!
Udell's words will guide us: "Seventeen years ago, our hillside lot was covered with English ivy, vinca, and rhodies. Not being a gardener, I didn't mind, this was easy maintenance."
"Then I went to the Bellevue Botanical Garden and Garden d'Lights! I loved the lights and became involved, not only with lights but with people, wonderful people. Next I joined the NPA, fisited fabulous gardens, discovered English ivy was bad, and needed to do something about my yard."
"Turning a yard into a garden requires a plan; simple, keep the rhodies and replace the ivy and vinca with heather. Until I attended my first NPA plant sale! I became addicted. Like Ciscoe, I had to have one of everything."
"My creationist plan gave way to evolution and survival of the fittest. Instead of ivy and vinca there are epimediums, gunnera, tetrapanax, fatsia, fuchsias, hardy cyclamen, hostas, podophyllum, jasmine, and others whose tags got away and names are forgotten."
A formal area near the entry lends elegance and structure near the entry of the house.
"Come on guys, there's lots more to see!" beckons our tour guide.
This beautifully grown specimen has me thinking that I've got to find space for a gunnera in my garden. I've missed not having one for the last few years. (Mine got shaded out, declined and was done in by the phormium killing winters.)
"Please stop by,tour my garden, tell me what you like and don't. I'm still a beginner and welcome your advice." Udell was as charming as her furry friend and was a gracious host although she didn't lick our hands. On the other hand she did make us refreshments.
Red begonias stand out like jewels among the hostas and draw us to explore the path.
In the other direction is a sloping garden with beautiful punctuation like this Trachycarpus forrtunei.
Restful seating area at the base of the first staircase. Notice the trunk on the left.
Quercus dentata pinnatifida is a favorite tree. I'm now in love with this garden and it's gardener!
I love Paris (polyphylla) in the springtime, I love Paris in the Fall. (Apologies to Cole Porter) Also apologies to Paris as this is Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla. (Got no song for that one.) Thanks for catching that, Loree.
The garden is in progress and the path to the street below is blocked.
Remember the trunk from the patio picture? It belongs to this tetrapanax which actually bloomed last year. It's in a very sheltered location between two houses. It's the only one in the PWN that I've heard of actually beating the frost. Udell said that she enjoyed a nice view from her bedroom window of the blooms from above. How cool is that?
Thanks for stopping by! Come visit again o.k?
Thank you so much, Udell, for opening your beautiful garden for us to enjoy and for providing us such a sweet tour guide!
Lovely garden, if almost a bit too neat for my taste. I had a Gunnera tinctoria for a few years as a kid in Germany, although it never got this big. Unfortunately in Michigan and Massachusetts the winters are too cold and the summers decidedly too hot for these giants.
ReplyDeleteIt is very neat and tidy. I admire neat gardens and would love to have one but my plant collecting coupled with my sloth won't allow it. Perhaps someday in the future you'll again live in a climate that works for Gunnera.
DeleteWhat a fun day that was! Touring gardens with you is always a treat! That cute little guy was so exuberant, and this was quite a nice garden for a beginner.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun day as always! You're right, it's some garden for a beginner. Heck, it's a nice garden even for a non beginner!
DeleteSuch a nice garden. The Trachycarpus forrtunei is wonderful and unexpected. From the little bicycle (at the bottom of that picture) to the doves on table, there is great attention to details and small surprises around every corner.
ReplyDeleteI agree! She's done an awesome transformation of this space!
DeleteGreat garden and great placement of the Trachy next to the steps!
ReplyDelete(I think the photo labeled Paris (polyphylla) might actually be Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla, not yet in bloom)
Yes indeed, that Trachycarpus was well placed for maximum enjoyment. Thanks for catching my plant confusion.
DeleteSee you had a guide, too! Fascinating - and I always feel a bit relieved when someone else loses track of plant names! (I'm assuming there will be more gardens showing up soon?!? Can't wait!)
ReplyDeleteWe all loose track of plant names from time to time. Okay, maybe not botanists and geniuses but most of us loose track, forget, misplace plant names. Yes, more gardens showing up soon!
DeleteSeeing that quercus has inspired me to put a small one we have in a larger pot and display it! Great garden!
ReplyDeleteAn excellent idea!
DeleteWhat a great garden - that palm tree is just amazingly lush and healthy! It's inspiring to see what can be carved out of such sloping ground :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what can be done with such terrain. Where there's a will, there's a way.
DeleteI don't think she should call herself a beginner anymore. She's made a lovely garden! My own tastes have shifted in the last few years to more drought-tolerant plants, but there's still a lot to love in this garden. That purple-flowered primrose with the grey leaves is the highlight for me!
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty impressive for a beginner. You're right, it's a lovely garden.
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ReplyDeleteWe got to this garden last and the path to the street below was unblocked, so we explored all over. It is quite a task to tackle that ivy on the steep hillside. I admire Udell's tenacity in taking on this big project. She has a great start.
It is a huge project to get rid of ivy and vinca and you're right, she has a great start!
DeleteEvery garden should have a furry guide. It looks as though there are a number of levels to it, which is always a challenge but I'm impressed by the headway she's making with her transformation - removing ivy ain't easy.
ReplyDeleteI still fight it in my own garden. Awful stuff but when I first came from zone 3 where we grew ivy as a houseplant, I thought it was the coolest thing ever!
Deletefab garden, cute dog. It was interesting reading the actual words of the owner telling her garden story. She's very determined and passionate.
ReplyDeleteShe is determined and passionate. It was interesting that she'd come to the property as a non-gardener and was converted.
DeleteReally interesting post. There are some great plants in this garden. Nice dog too.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who grows an enormous Gunnera in a large pot. It needs watering ever day but it is spectacular. I have decided to copy the idea. The trouble is, I do seem to have rather a lot of pots.
I'd not thought of growing Gunnera in a large pot. Thank you for that, I just may copy the idea myself! We share the glut of pots issue. Hand watering them all takes a lot of time but it does force one to slow down and look at the garden.
DeleteSeeing this garden I wanted to sit there and tell Udeli that I liked her garden, paths, plants and a formal area. Your photos are pretty Peter.
ReplyDeleteThe garden has many things to love! Thank you Nadezda!
DeleteThe birth of a garden AND the birth of a gardener: It's always inspiring to be present for a birth.
ReplyDeleteEspecially if it's someone else having the labor pains!
DeleteWhat a great garden tour, thanks for sharing. Also a heartwarming story of an inspired convert to gardening!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see that folks are still coming over to the green side!
DeleteGardeners are the coolest people! I wish I'd been there to tour it. :o)
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