Thursday, May 28, 2020

Visiting McMenamins Anderson School (Part One)


This was my second visit to McMenamins Anderson School up in Bothell, Washington. The first was in November of 2017 and featured an unexpected (and unwelcome) snow storm. This visit took place in July and thankfully the weather was perfect.

I was there to take photos for my book, Fearless Gardening, and talk with Riz Reyes, the gardens manager there.

Agave parryi...

Can you believe this planting magic? (Aeonium some something...)

The plantings are botanical garden worthy, and yet it's at a pub/hotel venue...

Another Agave parryi...

McMenamins gardeners rock it! I mean really, look at the beauty!....

The blue-green trunking yucca is a Yucca rostrata.

Agave ovatifolia

A magical patch of sarracenia...

There's the man behind the plants, or flowers in this instance, Riz Reyes. I wish I would have gotten a better shot, but he'd just handed me a bouquet of flowers, that's it in the foreground.

Come back tomorrow to see the rest of the property. Today I got a little side-tracked in the desert garden, but there is more!

Weather Diary, May 27: Hi 84, Low 51/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

14 comments:

  1. Does that Aeonium survives our winters in the ground??
    I visit Molbak's once or twice a year and drive back home though Bothell. I must remember to make a stop at McMenamins Anderson School for a cold brew and check out their beautiful garden.

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    1. No, unless it's a mild winter and it's in a protected place. And yes, stop! You won't regret it.

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  2. I would go just to see the gardens let alone stop in the pub. That Aeonium/grass combo is a winner.

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    1. What the heck, book a night at the hotel and have a swim in the pool too!

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  3. The garden is spectacular. I wish my local botanic garden would bring in someone with the same kind of skill to design its desert garden. It's great to see a photo of your coming book too!

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  4. Love the gardens at Anderson School! Riz does an amazing job!

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    1. Yes he does, he's got talent every which way.

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  5. What a fantastic garden! Why aren't there more companies like McMenamin's that see value in beautiful landscaping?

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  6. McMenamin's Anderson School is my favorite place to stay when visiting the Seattle area because of their funky style and good food, and especially because of their gardens.

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  7. Nice design with some really terrific plants - those Agaves look nice and healthy!

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    Replies
    1. They really are. They love the reflected heat of the parking lot around them.

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