Garden Conservancy "Open Days" Bainbridge Island

A memorial to the indigenous peoples of this island, the Suquamish led by Cheif Kitsap.

Bainbridge Island is a short ferry ride away from Seattle or Edmonds but is a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life. A rural community, Bainbridge offers farm fresh products and is a growing wine area within the Puget Sound AVA. The island's jewel is the Bloedel Reserve which provides excellent examples for locals to hone their garden design skills. I toured the island and The Garden Conservancy hosted Open Days gardens and came away with a new appreciation for this nearby island.

The Bloedel Reserve

The Bloedel Reserve Residence

The Mid Pond was created by Prentice Bloedel with advice from his friend and acclaimed landscape architect, Thomas Church.

My favorite part of the Garden is the Japanese Garden, the Guest House and Stone Garden. The Guest House blends features of a Japanese tea house and a Northwest Native American longhouse. It was designed by Hayden Kirk.

The Garden Conservancy Open Gardens

Each garden on the tour had features that were unexpected or unique and expressed the gardener's style. This is why I tour private gardens. I always find something to add to my own repertoire. 

The Victorian architecture of the Huntley house determined the surrounding perennial and rose beds and orchard complete with white picket fence. Although maintenance ---, I thought the use of ivy to soften the concrete fence was brilliant.

I found this hopscotch at Frogwit placed along a path in place of the flagstone and completely fell in love. Whimsy is my weakness.

Carved out of forested land, the Osmun garden is a shade gardeners delight. The abundant use of chartreuse made me feel as if the sun was shining even though it was a typical PNW rainy day.

What garden tour would complete without including a vegetable garden and small farm, especially in a rural area? On the lower slopes of this terraced garden Madison Hill's owner used the southwest facing hillside for her prolific vegetable garden taking full advantage of the summer sun.

Heronswood

Heronswood is located just north of Bainbridge Island on the Kitsap Peninsula across the Agate Pass bridge in Kingston. The garden was established by Dan Hinkley and Robert Jones in 1987 and the two created a display garden of plants they collected from around the world. Today, Heronswood has only been open to the public twice a year and recently has been sold to the Port Gamble S'Klallam tribe as preservationist for the garden.

Access to Heronswood will continue as special days throughout the growing season.

Chief Sealth

Cheif Sealth (Seattle) Grave site.

Seattle was named for Chief Sealth who's gravesite is located in Suquamish on the Kitsap Peninsula.

The Last Photo

The natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest is stunning. It's not uncommon to see Bald Eagles soaring, Great Blue Herons nesting, or Orcas cresting. Visit soon!

Simple Beauty in Containers

I'm a believer in simplicity. 

In these photos the plants enhance the surrounding architecture. Choose wisely what you want to highlight in your landscape. For instance, if you are looking to disguise a telephone pole, fire hydrant, or electrical box don't plant lovely bright flowers around it. That will only draw attention to it. Instead, make a bright display away from that area. Eyes will naturally be diverted to it. If you want to diminish the eyesore create shadows onto it by planting dark leafed, non-blooming evergreens shrubs.

Identify a prominent feature either on your home's facade or in your landscape and add a little color. You can enhance the feature by adding wonderful architectural accents such as colored shutters to a window, intricate iron work, oversized containers, awnings and the like. Just don't go overboard.

Simplicity in the key.

Italy

Allein, Germany

Italy

San Jaun, Puerto Rico

Hallstat, Austria

Bellevue, Washington, USA

 Here is my simplistic interpretation for my deck. Lovely ironwork hangers and easy care annual baskets. Just add water!

MacArthur Place Gardens, Sonoma

The West Lawn

MacArthur Place Inn & Spa located two blocks from Sonoma's downtown Plaza is an escape to a gentler era. The original property was a 300 acre ranch with vineyards, fruit orchards, a hay crop, and trotters. What I loved about this ranch turned Inn and Spa was the gardens, some original to the property.

The Historic Garden

Mature boxwood line the stone paths between suites and cottages which are placed around the property among the gardens. The air is perfumed by lavender, rose, daphne, and a plethora of other floral and woody scents. Open your windows and let it waft throughout your room. Dotted around the property are local sculptures and works of art provided by the I. Wolk gallery of St. Helena.

Intimate seating areas are placed strategically to take advantage of fountains, sculptures, the lawn, or lovely views. I sat in a bench swing set under a large oak in the cool shade of the evening trying to identify scents circulating in the light breeze and bird songs. Simply lovely!  

Little surprises lay around every corner of the Inn.












At first glance I thought this pup was real!

One of two House fountains.

A mixture of Japanese Maples, Abelia, loropetalum, boxwood, and rosemary create lush boarders that soften the property's walkways.

I was unable to identify these trees and no one on the property could tell me. If you know what they are please tell me! (Is it a Tea Tree?)

Chess anyone? I built one of these in my lawn for my husband.

The rusted metal flower sculptures added dimension and whimsy.

If you love gardens, this is the place to stay in downtown Sonoma. Not only are the gardens lovely but the staff is attentive and generous. The rooms are spacious and well appointed. Complimentary continental breakfast and wine and cheese reception make MacArthur Place Inn and Spa a sought after destination.

CHEERS!