Port Townsend Secret Revealed!

After spending a fun day visiting some nurseries on the Kitsap Peninsula (A talk by Dan Hinkley and shopping at Valley Nursery, Dragonfly Farms, and Far Reaches Farm - posts to follow) we had a delicious meal at The Public House Grill to which Alison had introduced me last summer. Following this we drove and walked around town a bit enjoying the old buildings and nice gardens.  I've often wondered how they all kept their lawns looking so good.  Wouldn't you know, they have a large staff that comes in every day at dusk to tidy things up. 

You can tell who the tourists are in this town.  They're the ones who stop the car, get out and take pictures of the garden staff at work.  this lawn mowing and edging team worked away, totally ignoring me.

Until I dropped my lens cap and it made a little noise on the road.  Funny, the car door slam didn't faze them at all.

Must be quite a few of these work crews as just up the street we there was a group of three working on this lawn.

Here's their response to an ambulance, fire truck and a couple of other emergency vehicles speeding buy sirens blaring so loud that I had to cover my ears.

So now you know how the gardens here always look so well groomed, they have a staff!    Now if I could get them to come to my garden and haul away the huge piles of bamboo and other plants that have been getting long-overdue haircuts, I'd have it made!

The Lassie and Outlaw Fling; All Good Things Must Come to an End

What, you may ask could be more fun than a scenic road trip through seaports and bucolic scenery to a fabulous plant sale and several tremendous nurseries with a delightful companion?  Enjoying a relaxing dinner at an excellent restaurant with a view of the bay,  car full of plants parked out of the sun!  The end of our adventure was  delightful.  Every time I go to Port Townsend  to visit Far Reaches Farm, I swear that I'll  explore the town more.  This place is known for it's wonderful Victorian homes, some of which are utilized as bed and breakfast inns.  Many of them have been featured in Victorian Homes Magazine, America's Painted Ladies, and other publications.    Somehow I'm usually so excited about the plants that I've never really ventured into town much.  Alison, having been here before, suggested that we eat at The Public House in town so we found our way and I'm so glad we did.   Not only was the repast excellent, the company was, as always, sublime!  In addition, I got to see some beautiful Victorian buildings in Port Townsend's downtown.  To learn more about Port Townsend, considered one of the finest examples of a Victorian seaport in the United States, go here.

 

 I know nothing about the history of these buildings but folks have done a great job in restoring or maintaining them!

Even the sign painted on the side of this building has a period design.  I'm imagining that there's some sort of city ordinance regarding historical buildings.

 

This building was once, maybe still is an Elks Lodge (a fraternal organization.)

After dinner, we decided to take a little walk to an antique store.  Time had flown and  many businesses were closed.  However, we'd seen a few interesting gardens on our drive into town that we wanted to visit so off we went but not before admiring this borage growing in a large pot on a sidewalk. 

 

 This house and garden were sweet!

It featured a lot of interesting, low growing plants in place of a large expanse of lawn. Pam Penick would approve!

Another area had these raised beds  but the same array of plants.  Interesting.

 

 

Round the side and a little glimpse of the gazebo in the back yard. 

Poppies in the front are about to pop!  I never tire of the way these flowers emerge looking like that rumpled tissue tucked in your elementary school teachers sweater sleeve and become such elegant flowers,  quite unlike the aforementioned tissue.  That just got wadded up and stuck back in it's knitted prison.

 

The way the buds start out  coyly looking at the ground like teenagers at their first dance.

 

 Before you know it they're gaining confidence, looking up,  and soon will bloom.

Also like teenagers, they're mostly  interested in sex and before the night is through, if there are no chaperones, there will be pollination.  Don't say I didn't warn you.  Like those trollops, the columbines,  poppies are quite promiscuous and often surprise you with their offspring.

 It was a perfect evening to be outside and this group was enjoying the evening in another garden.

 Up the road a few yards was this garden.

It looks as if this hawthorn has been expertly pruned for years to create the beautiful pillows of foliage and bloom which contrast so nicely with the bark of the tree.

 

Back into the car to visit a couple of houses  on our way out of town.  Love these gates and think that they are probably European.

The John Quincy Adams House is for sale!  For a picture of it with a different paint job, go here.

Also for sale is the sizable lot next to the house, part of the original garden.  This would be a great bed and breakfast!  With the additional lot, the garden could be as interesting as the house itself!

Yet another view of this house, along with a lot of other images of  Port Townsend buildings, lives here.

Across the street is this beauty. 

Much as we were enjoying ourselves, it was time to take our leave.  I'm so looking forward to visiting and exploring more of Port Townsend. 

So, here are the shots of a car full of green treasure gathered from the Kitsap Peninsula! 

 

 



 Notice that it was once again  dark outside by the time we got home.  

It was a long and exhausting day but I enjoyed every moment of it!  Now, where am I going to plant all of my new finds?

Have you planted yours yet Alison?    Does everyone have an out-of-the way area or areas of  his/her garden where there are stored far too many potted plants awaiting the gardener's  attention?