Vignette Wednesday - Dark Shadows

No, not the gothic soap opera that aired on ABC from 1966 -1971.  These are shadows cast on a garden path.  The patterns on these large pavers created by the shadows of the nearby plants added another dimension to the path.

Schefflera

Trachycarpus fortunei

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Each Wednesday Anna at Flutter and Hum hosts Vignette Wednesday.  Click on over to her blog to see what she and other bloggers are posting!

An invitation to a North Seattle Garden

Was the subject line of an email from Chava Nessenbaum, better known to readers of this blog as chavliness, who leaves daily comments, bless her heart. We actually met in person  at the Tacoma Yard and Garden Show earlier this year.  Anyway, Chava invited me to see the garden she's made at the home  of her friend Erron Swanson, we settled  on a date and recently I had the pleasure of visiting.  Chava lives in a condo in West Seattle but loves to garden. When her friend, Erron, who she calls "the home owner,"  bought a house in North Seattle in 2006, Chava found a place to make a garden.

When Erron first moved into the home, the front yard looked a lot like this one.

Now, due to Chava's influence, it looks like this.

Because of the distance between their homes, Chava is only able to garden on weekends.  She was kind enough to take off some of her precious gardening time to give me a tour. 

Purple and Gold are a great combination and are also the colors of the nearby University of Washington. 

The dry creek bed is also functional and helps water flow away from the house during the rainy season.

Iris pallida grown to perfection.

Chava is a master of placing objects so that they must be discovered which adds to their enjoyment.  Could be that necessity is the mother of this as Erron doesn't really like all of the "stuff" around so Chava hides them a bit.

 Who wouldn't love walking through this ebullience of color and texture on his way to and from the front door on a daily basis?

The weeping Atlas Cedar will, in just a few years, provide a beautiful blue curtain of privacy from the neighbor's driveway and a nice backdrop for this entire side of the garden.

More purple and gold.  The reiteration of this color combination throughout the front garden creates a gentle rhythm of continuity.  Notice the thyme and red sempervivum  round the iris's feet.

Can you believe that Chava can do all of this in just two days a week?

Just wait, there's even more!  When Erron first moved into the home, this back area had rotting railroad ties going straight across the back and what is now a series of terraces and staircases was an English Laurel jungle.  Erron did all of the hardscape work and made the lovely wood arbor.

This gold spirea with magenta blooms is beautifully paired with Elijah Blue Fescue. 

Purple and gold!  Go Huskies!

Even the shady narrow path between the side of the house and the fence is planted with shade lovers.

With textures and colors like this, who needs flowers?

Another great plant combination idea for shade:  Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' and two Saxifrages.

Notice the two fierce guards flanking the top step!

Everyone should have a neighbor with a wisteria in their garden that is close enough to enjoy but distant enough not to take over one's own garden.

More fabulousness!

Who lives here?  Gnomes?  Fairies? Elves? Micro robots made by Monsanto to take over the world? 

This lady is keeping watch over that door and if something awry, that "lotus" that she's holding can be used as a grenade so  Monsanto robots wouldn't stand a chance.

Napping Gnome.

What a nice view from the house!  After the tour, Chava and Erron had prepared a special lunch which contained one of the best croissants (came from Central Market.)  I'd ever tasted.  Note to self, explore Central Market sometime!

Thank you so much Chava and Erron for inviting me to your gorgeous garden and for such a delightful afternoon!  You go gardeners!

Visiting the Garden of Fred and Sandi Gendreau

After touring Judi Hook's garden, she wanted to share one of her neighbor's gardens.  Fred and Sandi weren't at home but they knew we'd be coming.  The driveway is flanked on both sides with raised beds filled with vegetable plants.  How smart is that?  Instead of stopping by the grocery store on the way home from work, you can simply stop in the driveway and pick dinner.  Arriving at the front of the house, we were greeted by this totem.  The bridge that you see at the bottom of the picture goes across the stream that you'll see in the following two images.

It's a interesting that the water in both streams is flowing toward the bridge in the middle.  I had to look twice as it appears to be a single stream.

More beautiful water in the back garden.  Water is somehow dripping from the tiny evergreen atop the large piece of wood. So sweet!

Old sleigh is now a planter.  Sandi uses a lot of unusual objects as planters to delightful effect. 

A little yard art by Ms. Hook fits nicely here. 

Great rusty chain and hollowed wood sedum garden.

Aging wooden bowl o' succulents with a rusty railroad spike.  So many great surprises to discover.

Rooster stuck at home with the hens and chicks doesn't look too happy about it!

Another piece by Judi!

One would hope that a doctor making a house call wouldn't grab this physician's bag by mistake. It's fun used this way.  

Tired of your furniture?  Throw some potting soil in it and create a planter!

Good afternoon ladies and gentleman.

There are quite a few horse properties in this tight knit neighborhood (Judi has a stable and boards horses.) This friendly girl came to visit us while we were talking and seemed to appreciate being patted.  Where are those carrots and apples when I need them?

The goat wanted attention briefly but upon realizing that we didn't have food, decided that there are lots more interesting things to do.

Fred told Judi that he needed some bling for the top of his flagpole so she made him this.  (Judi Hook photo used with permission.)  Fireworks every day of the year!

Guinea fowl  kept us entertained with their song and movement around the garden.  Seems these were bought by another neighbor but they prefer living here.  They are seen all over the hood as well.  How fun is that?

I found this guinea feather on the ground and was delighted (I'm easily amused.)  Judi said that she has lots of them and as she spoke, I noticed that she had several placed in her hair. 

What a fun afternoon!  Thank you Fred and Sandi for allowing me to see and share your beautiful creation!