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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.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

A Special Christmas Gift

Yesterday I saw pictues of Dan Hinkley back at Heronswood on Val Easton's blog, Plant Talk along with information about the project.  My heart lept. 

Many of us have revisited our former gardens after having moved away to be saddened by what we find. (Like an above ground pool sitting atop what had formerly been parterres in cruciform, the center bed with a lovely magnolia underplanted with tulips, the   surrounding beds making up a rose garden - but that's another story.)  How often does a gardener get to rebuild what was lost?  What a gift!

(This wreath was spotted at Willow Tree Gardens - more on that in another post.)
 

Heronswood was, and will be again, a fabulous garden created by Dan Hinkley and his Partner Robert Jones.  It was also a nursery beloved by many including myself.  This nursery and garden taught me so much about cherishing shade gardens and brodened my plant  knowledge immensely.   Hinlkey's Heronswood catalogs made up for their lack of plant images with entertaining, passionate, and sometimes flowery prose describing each plant.  The catalogs sitll occupy a place in my  reference library.  I was lucky to live not far from this amazing garden which allowed me to visit often and stroll the grounds. I'm delighted that some day soon, we all will once again have this opportunity!  (I'm also secretly hoping for some sort of plant sales happening here.)

Thanks Santa!

17 comments:

  1. Never having been to Heronswood I CAN'T WAIT!

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    1. And it's so close to Dragonfly and all those other cool places. Sigh!

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  2. I'm hoping for plant sales too! I saw that article by Valerie Easton as well. I think all the hort-heads in this area are excited. I never saw their catalogs.

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  3. Wow-exciting news indeed! I just "liked" the Facebook page and look forward to following the progress.

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    1. Should be exciting & a great place to visit on your next trip out west!

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  4. Merry Christmas, Peter!

    Satu and Mickey

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  5. I like to refer to it as proof that green miracles to exist. Its refreshing to see Dan back in the gardens he and Robert created. I trust that he will be an instrumental guide as new caretakers continue on their quest of returning this botanical bounty back to its former glory. His book 'The Explorer's Garden' is my most treasured in my collection, and his catalogues, absolutely to die for! Another one of those bucket list destinations, especially now that Ball is out of the picture!

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    1. Maybe a reason for another Garden Bloggers' Fling in the Pacific Northwest?

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  6. I've heard so much about Heronswood before. Would love to visit someday soon...

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    1. That would be wonderful! Perhaps some Garden bloggers could go en masse.

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    2. Indeed! Merry Christmas to you and your family, have a lovely time! :)

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