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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.

Monday, October 31, 2016

In A Vase On Monday: Happy Halloween!


These guys have been waiting to hold a Monday arrangement and today seemed like the perfect day to grant their wish.

I've been saving the dried traps from my carnivorous plants 

A few beads taken from the tips of agaves in the greenhouse joined in.


While I could have made this, I found it on a recent visit to Watson's 

It rounded out the group on this side of the table nicely.  

In A Vase on Monday is hosted by the creative and fabulous Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Click here to join in the floral fun!

Friday, October 28, 2016

Julia and Ernie Graham's Garden

Julia and Ernie Graham's Puyallup garden has been widely shared with members of the Garden Conservancy,  Northwest Perennial Alliance, and many other groups.  Featured in print is  Sunset Magazine and the Seattle Times among others, Alison and I visited this garden a couple of years ago when it was in it's summer glory with cannas, brugmansias and others lending a tropical feeling. The garden in autumn boasts stunning beauty from a riot of colorful foliage making it another great destination on the upcoming Fall Color Tour.




Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' is a signature plant of this garden forming great swaths in some areas.


This combination of Sciadopitys verticillata and Acer griseum is fabulous in all seasons.






Fallen foliage adds  more color to the garden. 


The vegetable garden, complete with greenhouse is impressive. 

Begonia luxurians





Colocasia is still looking very happy despite the cooler weather. 

Crimson and black.

Delightful arbor covered path.

Scrambling up and over the arbor is an ornamental grape.






 Ranunculus ferreustica


Believe it or not there's even more to see on the Fall Color tour so you'll want to take it all in on Saturday and help support the Chase Garden.

Thank you Julia and Ernie for being so generous with your garden and supporting such a worthy cause!

Happy weekend all!

Thursday, October 27, 2016

A Fall Color Bonus

The Fall Color Tour to benefit the Chase Garden takes place this weekend and is open to all.  Spoiler alert - There are a few unadvertised gardens that will also be open this Saturday.  First is an inherited garden full of mature specimens.  The current owners, Bob and Kristi, are not gardeners but respect the vision of those from whom they bought the place and are preserving the garden beautifully.








The views from these gardens are breathtaking but come with  garden woes of  hostas  (roses, evergreens, etc.) vanishing into deer tummies in an instant, most likely just before a scheduled garden open, and hill stabilization (mudslides, you know.)

Scott's garden, which is right next to Lavonne's  is meticulously tended.  


Not a single leaf on the ground.  So clean was this garden that when we walked down from the back deck I felt compelled to pick up the couple of leaves that my shoes left behind.



The neighborhood deer have not found this hosta yet.  I understand that gardeners spray hot pepper sauce, bitter apple, and a variety of things, unpleasant to deer, on susceptible plants but don't know if that's what Scott did to keep this beauty from being someone's salad. Notice the fresh zinnia and dahlia.  



Reminiscent in form of an African Thorn Acacia (Vachellia tortilis) this Acer shows great pruning technique.

The juxtaposition of controlled and coiffed gardens with the wild abandon of nature makes these spaces especially interesting.
Thanks again Camille for being my tour guide and thanks Bob, Kristi, and Scott for allowing us to tromp through your beautiful gardens!