Soggy Bottom, The Garden of Gretchen and Duncan Blanchard

The Federal Way Symphony garden tour garden number three is called Soggy Bottom

"Making the most of a long narrow lot, the Blanchards embraced the shade and privacy offered by mature trees and rhododendrons.  As you enter the driveway, off to the right are 'The Woods,' a shady place to relax."

Notice the old black and white pictures on the bench.  These were free for the taking and offered at a couple of the gardens on the tour.  It always makes me a little sad to see unwanted pictures of people and places that meant something so someone once, perhaps because it reminds me that "like faded photographs in some old attic, all of us will be ultimately forgotten."  (Thank you niece Alison for that, don't know if I remembered the quote correctly and certainly forgot the source.)

"Exiting 'The Woods,'stroll down past the Hydrangeas and the birdhouse condo."

Pretty fancy digs, eh?

Mr. B. Bunny's house and garden.

Colorful planters.

Entrance to the Zen Garden. 

Continuing down the driveway, we come to the main parking area.  

Georgia's Secret Garden, which was begun two years ago when she was five years old.

Exiting that area, we enter the courtyard to the main house.  We're looking back here. 

On the left hand side of the house is this path.

 On the right, this stone path.  Can you see the mirror on the fence on the left?

 There is a whole collection of them in really cool frames.

The stone path leads down to the Mirror Lake.

Who wouldn't want a water feature like that in his/her garden?

The playhouse is used to stow water toys and life jackets.

Looking back up at the house.

"Coming back from the Lake, is a pathway to the fern garden."

From the fern garden, the path leads back to the courtyard in front of the house.  

What a fun garden full of surprises!  Thank you Gretchen and Duncan for opening your garden for us to enjoy!