Thursday, August 29, 2019

The Scripter Garden, a 2019 GB Fling stop

The owners of this garden, Mary and Larry Scripter, welcomed us with a hand-painted sign at the garden entrance.

Not this one—which reads NATIVE GRASS UNDER CONSTRUCTION—but one kind of like it. Such a nice touch.

The Lauren Springer Ogden designed prairie meadow was definitely a big draw here...

From our Fling brochure: "...we planted the prairie meadow Lauren (Springer Ogden) designed. In 2012, Larry prepped the ground using 800 pounds of alfalfa pellets and 10 cubic yards of compost, working it into the clay soil with his trusty tractor. Mary spray-painted the ground and laid out Lauren's designed matrix of plants, section by section. Over a period of 3 weeks, we planted 1,800 plants, with 70 different types of perennials, shrubs, native wildflowers, and 13 types of grasses. In the fall of the same year, we planted 1,500 bulbs—daffodils, camassias, tiger lilies, eremurus, gladiolus, and various alliums; many flowers for cutting."

"Larry spread 25 tons of pea gravel around every precious plant, using a shovel and wheel barrow, to help deter weeds from the hay field and to retain moisture. The entire meadow is a pollinator habitat and we feed the neighbors' bees as well as hundreds of birds year-round. It is so full of life and always changing."

Oh! Look ma, an agave...

And another...

Back out front...

This spiky plant caught the eye of a fellow PNW blogger, Michelle. At the time I said I thought it was a kniphofia, do you agree?

This section of the garden was what most captivated me, from that strange conifer...(Taylor's Golden Sunburst', Pinus contorta...thanks Bob Nold!)

To the beautiful Yucca glauca.

I took a few photos...

This might be my favorite.

Or maybe this one.

The background plant is Apache plume, Fallugia paradoxa—also captivating.

I was quite smitten with it...

Weather Diary, Aug 28: Hi 98, Low 62/ Precip 0

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

15 comments:

  1. A prairie meadow sounds like a massive undertaking that covers a huge area. I wonder, if its self sufficient and maintenance free at this point. Does one gets on hands and knees to weed a prairie?
    My favorite picture, the one that put a smile on my face, is the baby agave at the foot of the large tree. That's a fun picture.

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    1. I remember a garden we visited in Austin that had a wildflower meadow and the owner quickly dispelled the idea it was maintenance free.

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  2. You got some great photos! I love the one of the Yucca flower spike with the Apache plume behind it. The color echoes in it are totally cool. I agree that's probably a Kniphofia. I wonder if it might be a small Kniphofia northiae? When they aren't flowering, they kind of look to me like Agave bracteosa on steroids.

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    1. Yes! Kniphofia northiae, glad to know you agree.

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  3. I want to see more of the prairie meadow please! I wonder why the wonderful Apache plumes were not out in the prairie? Maybe a few were...

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    1. I didn't see any, but of course that doesn't mean they weren't there. Check out the Fling blog (http://gardenbloggersfling.blogspot.com/2019/06/blog-post.html) and page down for other posts from the garden. You're sure to see more prairie meadow photos there.

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  4. Seven years out and that meadow still looks fantastic. That conifer made me think of a Chilhuly glass piece - very sculptural.

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  5. I love wildflower meadows. The Apache plume is gorgeous!

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  6. Apache Plume is a favorite for me, too. And the prairie meadow...yes! Your photos are wonderful. I enjoyed this garden, too.

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    1. Thanks for ID'ing the Apache plume for me Beth!

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  7. The description of what it took to ready and plant the meadow was mind-blowing. What dedication!

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    1. For sure, these people aren't afraid of a little work.

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  8. The Apache Plume is so beautiful! I'd like to just sit there and feel their fuzziness for a while.

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