Is there anything better than the first flush of roses ? They will never look better, bloom more, have cleaner foliage, or more petals. All rose foibles are forgiven.
I admit I love a well done cramscape and the Berk-Kessler garden in Seattle is a great addition to my Cramscape Hall of Fame. In case you are wondering about previous entries to the CHOF , well there aren't any because I have only recently (i.e. yesterday) invented it. I fancy myself to be a cramscaper but have come to the realization in the last year that I am a Cramscape Imposter particularly when it comes to the edges of my garden. The Berk Kessler garden exposed my tepid attempts at packing the plants in. It wasn't long after returning from Puget Sound Fling that I started acquiring, dividing, and moving plants to correct my cramscape failures. Lets take a look at what inspired me in this abundant PNW garden. I've visited a fair number of gardens public and private in the US. It took me many years to realize that some plants -though perfectly cold hardy-just don't care for my summers here in Northern California wine country. We can grow Cabernet all day but many...
Those who know me well are aware that I am somewhat child-phobic. My own offspring are now grown up-humans, and thrusting myself into situations where I am likely to encounter large herds of small fry is something I avoid. I make exceptions for Disneyland, because well, I love Disneyland. As a Disneyland aficionado I have a strong appreciation for well done 'pretend' environments.Last weekend after my visit to Deannes , I turned the rental car northward and headed for Boothbay Maine for a return visit to Coastal Maine Botanical Garden. My first visit was in July of 2009 , with my Idyll friends on the occasion of our annual summer get-together. At that point the garden had only been open 2 years, but had been in development since 1996. I was ready to return about ten minutes after we drove away in 2009. Since our visit there have been expansions and improvements to the gardens , among them was the Bibby and Harold Alfond Childrens Garden which opened in summer of 2010. Thou...
Garden Fling 2024 Puget Sound has wrapped up and after spending a few days on post trip garden clean up and watering I have started to work though the hundreds of photos I took visiting the lineup of splendid gardens into which we were welcomed. My posts here on the blog will appear in no particular order and reflect no hierarchy of preference. Day two of the Fling began with a visit to Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way Washington. This garden was founded in 1974 on 27 acres of property donated to the RSF by Weyerhauser Company. Currently the garden comprises 22 acres in a classic PNW forested woodland and boasts the largest collection of Rhododendron species worldwide. The Rhodies flowering is long past-in my area of Northern California it's an April/May event depending on the location and proximity to the coast and the Redwood forests. But if you are in the right climate, up in the PNW the foliage gifts us another season. I can't ...
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