Friday, January 25, 2019

The Garden of Jason Jorgensen

Last August I had the opportunity to tour a few private gardens belonging to folks on the board of the Northwest Horticultural Society in Seattle. This one of might seem familiar to those of you who attended, or read about, the Study Weekend in Seattle last June (details here), it's the private garden of Jason Jorgensen, owner of Third Spring Landscape Design...

I was unable to attend the Study Weekend festivities, since we were in Arizona and New Mexico that weekend, and was thrilled to have another chance to visit this garden. Here's a description of the front planting beds I found on the NHS website: "Jason Jorgensen...has transformed a tired old front lawn into a densely planted summer dry garden featuring a selection of drought-tolerant yet winter-hardy trees, shrubs, perennials, and billowing grasses. The garden features a massive Magnolia grandiflora whose canopy allows a woodland-inspired understory to flourish and a richly planted mixed border featuring a tapestry of perennials, roses, and evergreens."

I asked Jason if the rope barriers were just for tours or if he kept them up year-round, his response...

"They started as a “suggestion” while the new plants were installed. They’ve grown on me and now planning on leaving them up full time."

They're certainly well crafted.

I love his cramscaping style...

And that Magnolia!

I'm so glad it was allowed to stay.

What a nice front porch hang-out space.

The generous pathway steps through the front garden and around to the side and back garden...

Entering the back garden...

Where there are many more densely layered plantings.

And a shade pavilion!

Complete with multiple hover-dish planters.

And raised beds to the side...

The entrance to the back garden...

Lots of containers...

I'm surprised nobody was relaxing here...

I love it when materials are repeated throughout a space, these are the same small charcoal cobbles from the front steps....

If I remember right Jason had just returned from a lengthy trip right before this open garden event. This poor Schefflera taiwaniana suffered a bit in his absence, but I appreciate that he left it in place. I'm sure part of him wanted to make the garden picture perfect, but this poor plant was definitely going grow out of its injuries if just allowed to do so.

Back out front it's obvious I timed my visit well, the masses arrived!

Sweet garage door vignette...

And a final look at the garden...

Weather Diary, Jan 24: Hi 51, Low 40/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

26 comments:

  1. What's the palnt on 13th pic, the gray/blue overhanging one??

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know this garden--it is located two or three blocks from me! It's nice to see what goes on inside the back yard fence.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh man, I was so close to your garden and didn't even know it!?

      Delete
  3. I remember this garden from Study Weekend, thanks for showing your great photos of it. Mine didn't turn out so well, I was very hot that day, and I don't do hot. I remember that poor Schefflera looking magnificent when we were there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Poor Schefflera, sounds like you felt like the Schefflera looks.

      Delete
  4. Impressive that Jason's garden looks this tidy and healthy after his long absence. I especially like the pot with the black mondo grass and chartreuse glass objects. Everything here is so well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That black mondo pot really has a sense of place to it, so very Seattle.

      Delete
  5. The cobble stones are even on the parking strip! The shade planting under the magnolia are especially appealing, but I love every picture of this garden. There are so many cool vignettes (and it's not simply because an August garden in January looks particularly delicious).
    If only my Hebe quick silver looked that good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you noticed that! (the stones) And ya, that Hebe is pretty fab.

      Delete
  6. What a great garden. Any idea how long he's worked on it? I'm thinking many years...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks to you I asked, his reply was: "The age of the garden is varied. Hell-strip was less than a year. Perennial and Front gardens are going on 3 years. Yew hedge with containers area is 2 years Back green patio was less than year. Of course I’m always adding and subtracting!"

      Delete
  7. I like how the house and fences are painted to recede in the background, allowing the garden to shine, as well as the plant mix. While I don't really care for the rope barriers, I can appreciate their value in providing some protection from people who might otherwise feel free to step into the beds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wonder if they keep the dogs out too? That would be a huge bonus!

      Delete
  8. What a sweet, relaxing and well-designed garden. Despite the small lot, it felt quite spacious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It even felt spacious while I was in it, with all those other people!

      Delete
  9. Great color schemes/pairings throughout. That path! Fantastic, as are all the seating areas. The plants, too - I love the different areas of interest - sun, shade, containers - all feel at home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Speaking of home, I really wanted to see what the inside looked like!

      Delete
  10. What a wonderful garden. I love all those wispy wildflowers and all the plants creeping out of the rock crevices. I look forward to seeing much more of that in Denver.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Fabulous Garden & Home Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Those photos are so evocative, it must have been wonderful in person. I used your word "cramscaping" in my workshops last weekend and everyone loved it and said they are going to start using it, too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. It's a beautiful garden, very embracing. Must be a bird magnet, too.

    All it needs is some Agaves!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Excellent tour, and I'm more minimalist than cramscaping. That pavillion is very effective. Such a structure is where I'm going in my back garden, to redirect towards good things!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!