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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, July 20, 2015

The Garden of Matt and Maria Freed

We'll start with the before pictures. 


After. Quite a change, yes? 

"As new city dwellers in Everett, w are learning how to garden in small spaces.  Our garden would be described as a small city lot, very much in progress. We are utilizing design elements that use vertical spaces, smaller plants, and multipurpose areas.  For example, a stairway that incorporates a water feature, plants and a seating area."
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"Hardscaping defines the boundaries, and allows access to the house from the street level.  Retaining walls were built around the Perimeter, and the lawn removed to make room for a raised p;erennial bed.


"We love color, fragrance, and year-round interest, so perennials and grasses ar a natural fit for us and our outdoor space. "

"we love being in our garden, and are learning more from our plants every day."  

Agave in waiting. 



I love this combination!


"Eventually, we hope that our garden bcomes an extension of our indoor living space; an evolving place of color, texture and life."




"one central design element is the rain garden, which will take water from our rooftop, and allow it to filter through the soil, eventually reaching the water table without stressing the already overburdened sewer system.



Walking a bit further back one finds a fenced area with this sign posted on the gate. You'd sneak a peek wouldn't you?  

I'm looking forward to seeing what the Freeds do with this space next summer!

Have you started a list of projects for next summer?  

32 comments:

  1. Very creative entry path! I love the colors already, but really want to see this garden in a couple of years. It's going to be a jewel!

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    1. I agree, the entry path is way cool and I want to see the garden again when it's a bit more mature!

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  2. It's a good solution for a difficult site. I don't envy them the slope!

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    1. Good stuff happening here and it'll be fun to see it when it's grown in a bit more.

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  3. A series of landings and switchbacks are always better than 'straight up the hill' on a steep slope. I see what will be a 'front stoop sitting area' with some privacy, very clever. Adding in a rain garden and planning for future growth, they are going in the right direction.

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  4. It's fun to see a garden-in-progress open for touring and I hope they will open again as the garden grows. Very well thought out and quite beautifully done. The bright colors are quite a sight for a PNW garden.

    I'm just glad that the garden has reached the point where I can make a list at all!

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    1. One of the fun parts about the Northwest Perennial Alliance tours is that they're such a mixed bag from acres large estate gardens to brand new gardens like this one. Those colors can be found in wildflower seed mixes but they seem to have fallen out of fashion for some reason. Don't know why as the colors are fab!

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  5. That is quite a front garden, with all that bright color and the new hardscape. Well done! I love the California poppies with the rose campion too.

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    1. Looks like it's all been done in the last year. Looking forward to seeing the work progress.

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  6. The entry is very clever, structured but not stiff. Rain Gardens are amazing. I enjoy seeing more and more of them even at businesses' parking lots. Your last photo was next year's Before...

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    1. That entry is way cool! I was thinking exactly the same thing about the last picture! Great minds think alike.

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  7. I LIKE it! Creative, functional, attractive AND ecologically sound...

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  8. What a transformation especially at the front! And those are so vivid reminding me of a bowl of yummy sweets :)

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    1. Sure is! Vivid - bowl of yummy sweets... I'm feeling a bit peckish.

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  9. Lovely transformation and yes, the rose campion and poppies are stunning together. Looking forward to posts in the future about their back space. Love the rain garden too, they do a lot to help filter pollutants from the water which will eventually make its way back to the sea, so good for them.

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    1. That's always been a favorite combination of mine even when people said that it was tacky and shouldn't be done in a tasteful garden!

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  10. Especially nice when seen in contrast to the golden lawns of the neighbors.

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    1. Sure is! There was no question driving up the street which garden was on the tour!

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  11. They've made good progress already. That front entrance area is very welcoming.

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  12. Just shows how you can take an ordinary house and rescue it from mediocrity with a full-on garden project.

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  13. I really like this - great imagination and such a charming transformation. I really like how many of the plants are just so small, rather than using the established plants for the 'instant garden' look.

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    1. It is nice that they haven't gone for the instant garden look. Can't wait to see how the garden matures!

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  14. Hardscaping can do such wonders for a landscape. I love all the bright flower colors and the rain garden, too. The grass browned out early this year, I would love to get rid of all my grass, the new garden is such an improvement, and useful for the seating area too.

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    1. It is quite a transformation! My grass browned out early this hot summer as well. Like you, I'd love to get rid of it!

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  15. This garden would be fun to follow up on for the next ten years, as anchor plants mature. For now, the color is wonderful.

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    1. I agree, a follow up in a decade would be really interesting!

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  16. No, Peter, I have not. Lovely garden and retaining walls, great idea. I also liked combination of dianthus and eschscholzia.

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    1. I've not made a list for next year either as I'm still in the midst of doing this year's projects. This is an interesting new garden.

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