The Carhart Garden, during the '24 Garden Fling

For some this was the first garden of the 2024 Garden Fling, but for me (and those on the same bus) it was the second garden we visited. There was confusion as we entered, compounded by the fact the first bus full of Flingers were making their way out of the garden as we were trying to get in. I wasn't able to catch the introduction Whit Carhart gave at the entrance.

Here's what was in the Fling booklet we were all given: "Our three-acre garden property was carved by the receding Vashon Glacier making our upper garden on a woodland slope with unusual shade loving plants. Garden paths lead downward to a hillside waterfall and pond as well as a sunny lower garden around our home, overlooking Quartermaster Harbor. The garden is surrounded by fifteen acres of Stewardship Forest." 

Because this garden on Maury Island (a small island connected by an isthmus to Vashon Island) was extraordinarily steep, and I had managed to aggravate a prior knee injury the day before, I wasn't able to explore as much as I normally would. I didn't make it to the waterfall and pond, but I did slowly wander down the woodland slope taking photos of the plants as I went. Pachysandra axillaris...

An excellent patch of Austroblechnum penna-marina / Blechnum penna-marina.

And a swoon-worthy clump of Pyrrosia sheareri.

Along the way the tall trees made for interesting patches of sun and shadows.

Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Indianola Silver’

A peek ahead at the home and the harbor, as well as one of my limited sightings of the pond (at the bottom).

A nice shady spot from which to observe the pond and plants.

As I was admiring this spot Mary Carhart walked up and we had a nice chat. I learned that Whit spent many years volunteering at the Miller Garden north of Seattle, learning from several of the area's best gardeners.

She also mentioned that Richie Stephen of the Miller Garden, Great Plant Picks, and the Hardy Fern Foundation had been instrumental in the early development of the Carhart Garden.

I wish I new what this little treasure was, I spotted it in a planter down by the house.

Bletilla striata, I believe.

A path I did not dare take, but I did admire.

The home sits at the bottom of the steep site, with views from the back out towards the harbor.

I believe the small variegated succulent is a sedum of some sort.

It's doing a great aeonium impersonation.

Looking out across the garden with my back to the front of the home.

There was a large swath of lawn.

And interesting planters.

The home as seen from the other side of the garden.

And a curious fern table...

Here I've lightened the photo to a ridiculous extreme, in an attempt to see more detail.

Close-ups of the plants...

And a couple more images of the interesting base.

I wish I would have crossed paths with Whit or Mary Carhart again, so I could have asked them how this table came to be.

Ah yes, the view...

And what I remember as an outdoor shower with that view, although looking at the photo I don't see all the shower implements.

Large planters at the back of the home.

And another fern table.

Detail shot.

Hi Jane!

I do love being in the right place to catch a plant getting it's spotlight moment, here Syneilesis aconitifolia.

Indumentum on a rhododendron that's coordinating nicely with the side of the Carhart's home.

And a final spotlight on Farfugium japonicum 'Argenteum'. I'll have another Fling Garden up on the blog on Friday...

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