Friday, October 30, 2020

Seattle's Kubota Garden, in early October

I did it. I hit the road in early October, bound for Seattle. After months of being at home it was invigorating, and a little unnerving. I needed to visit a friend and decided to make a two-day affair out of the trip, leaving early on a Friday morning, spending the night, and heading back on Saturday. Since my hotel was just minutes from Kubota Garden I got up early-ish on Saturday morning and walked the garden.

This was only my second visit to the garden, the previous was in 2013 and a few weeks later in the season (see that post here, learn more about the garden's history here), so the fall colors were a little more vibrant then. Not that this visit wasn't lovely too...
Not being much of a conifer fan I was surprised how much I wanted to bring both of these home with me and replant them together in my garden. I think the green on the right is a Cryptomeria japonica 'Spiralis', but I have no idea what the blue is.
This is going to be a pretty photo-heavy post, so I'm going to try to keep the commentary to a minimum so you can just enjoy the photos...(note I said try, I'm not promising anything)
 
 
Anyone able to ID this cryptomeria?
 
 
I love this view of the pond, kind of behind the scenes and unexpected.
 
Freshly pruned
 
But still quite attractive.
 
The red bridge demands to have it's photo taken.
 
 
 
 
That's a second (larger) red bridge. A photographer was holding portrait sessions on the bridge which made it virtually impossible for anyone else to get near.
 
 
Quick! Snap that photo before the next person walks out and poses for their photo...
 
The hedge of several greens....
 
 
With a very flat top!
 
 
Signs of the times.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I hope the two Blechnum chilense I planted this summer bulk up and look this amazing someday.
 
This is the end, of my visit. If you're up in the Seattle area I definitely recommend you stop by the garden. I have a few other stops to share from this trip. Gardens and nurseries made for a few COVID-safe stops.

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

17 comments:

  1. jacrobin@mac.comOctober 30, 2020

    This post made my day! I can't believe I've never been to this garden. It's now on top of my list. The Cryptomeria... possibly 'Little Diamond' or 'Globosa Nana'?

    ReplyDelete
  2. When I was at an editorial writers conference in Seattle in 2000, Mark went to Kubota by himself while I was busy. It is probably the only garden in the area that I never got to see. As a conifer lover, this is a fabulous post. I was drooling left and right.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe you'll come out for the Seattle-area Fling and visit?

      Delete
  3. I think I once visited this park in 1988 while visiting my BIL who lived on Bainbridge. The red bridge I remember, but of course, everything else has grown and changed. They have a beautiful collection!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has changed a lot since I was there in 2013, I can't imagine how much it would have changed since 1988!

      Delete
  4. Nice looking garden.

    It looks very green up there, how much more rainfall do they get compared to you?

    Quite a bit of moss on the trees and rocks. The last shot is cool :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our summer rainfall totals are pretty similar. Of course the evergreens are, well, evergreen... and the lawn is irrigated. If I were to compare to our Japanese garden I'd say they are similar in "greeness".

      Delete
  5. What a fabulous garden! I am a sucker for conifers, so this is right up my alley. Thanks for the grand tour.
    rickii

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Be sure to visit if you find yourself up that way!

      Delete
  6. I love Kubota Garden (and conifers. A lot). I've visited it many times and find it very inspiring and peaceful. It puts on a very different show one season to the next. Once I saw the garden when it was cover in a foot of snow! Those red bridges looked stunning: the only splash of color in a field of whiteness.
    The last photo in this post is very unusual. Is it also from Kubota?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, yes, that snow shot would be cool! Yes, I was headed back to the entrance on a secondary pathway when I took that last photo.

      Delete
  7. Absolutely beautiful. The pond was spectacular and I even loved the red bridge, which isn't something I generally care for. I'm glad you were able to escape the tedium that came with the pandemic too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The trip was so needed. Of course I was super paranoid most of the time, washing my hands every second.

      Delete
  8. Kubota is one of my favorite places, and we're lucky enough to live not far away. This fall, the colors just aren't as bright, perhaps from drought stress. Kubota Garden is lovely, regardless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At least here in Portland I know some of our lack of color this year was due to overnight temperatures staying warm.

      Delete
  9. the PNW is so lucky with the number and variety of conifers that can be grown there. Always a serene landscape especially on overcast Fall days. The photo of the yellow shrub with the Ajuga 'Black Scallop' is a gorgeous pairing.

    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!