Sound Gardener's garden...

Today we're visiting my friend Michelle's garden near Carkeek Park in NW Seattle. Michelle's Instagram and (currently inactive) blog both go by the name of Sound Gardener, hence the title of the post. This is the view that greeted me as I came through the front gate...

Further in I turned back to admire the tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica (one of a pair), Michelle planted last fall (serious plant envy)...

The gate I used is in the shady area in the upper right of this photo, these plantings are in the SE corner of the garden.

It was so nice to see a loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) of this size in Seattle. I feel like it's an extremely under planted tree up there (except for in my friend Scott's garden).

Near the gate was this sad Trachycarpus (I forgot to ask, but I'm assuming winter damage) whose trunk was being used for staghorn mounting.

Looking to the west, a planted up area in the L made by the house and the garage.

Michelle is a first rate plant collector, which made this pared back planting of Aspidistra elatior and Muehlenbeckia complexa 'Big Leaf' even more special. I mean it's obviously a perfect combination with the dark charcoal of the house and built-in planter, but what restraint!

Blechnum gibbum 'Silver Lady' (I think).

Oh the Pyrrosia!

Working our way along the front of the house, dreamy Brassaiopsis dumicola.

Who needs flowers with a foliage mix like this? That's Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla in the upper left, and the powdery blue foliage belongs to a Vireya.

This feels very familiar, plants hanging from branches... there's nothing better!

I meant to ask about the mossy pots, they're super cool... especially planted up with my favorite pyrrosia.

More sexy aspidistra against that dark house color, and Fatsia polycarpa 'Needham's Lace' (or maybe 'Green Fingers'?).

Turning back towards the fence; canna, and banana, and palms...

I know Trachycarpus princeps is the holy grail for PNW palm lovers, but I never really got it until looking at this plant. Yep, it's special.

Another canna, and banana, and palm shot, but looking to the left and a different section of the garden.

Love that finely cut Schefflera delavayi (Heptapleurum delavayi) foliage.

I think Michelle identified that toothy eryngium, but I cannot remember. Maybe it's E. agavifolium?

I fully intended to tromp over closer to get a better look at the variegated Aralia elata but I forgot. At least I got a photo...

There's the second tall tree fern, over near the house.

So beautiful...

I gasped when I saw this Saxifrage, anyone know what it is?

Fun combo of volunteer fern and Sarracenia.

Nolina hibernica 'La Siberica' and Grevillea victoriae, in the foreground.

Another Eryngium on the left there, maybe E. eburneum? E. paniculatum?

These tree ferns along the north side of the house have been in place longer than the two tall ones we saw earlier, obviously Michelle knows a thing or two about overwintering them successfully.

I really need to get with it and put a couple in the ground.

We're in the back garden now and checking out the xeric plantings along the back of the house. I think this was called out as Cheilanthes lanosa.

Agave montana? It's a super spiky hottie whatever it is.

There was also a good looking Agave ovatifolia...

And a Yucca aloifolia, maybe 'Magenta Magic'.

It's not often you see a Banksia serrata (I believe) in a PNW garden. If I remember correctly Michelle picked it up for free at the Washington Park Arboretum greenhouse, fingers crossed it performs long term.

Butia capitata, I think? I am palm stupid so...

Damn! Echium pininana...

There's the Echium pininana again from the other side..

It seems everyone's got a Wollemia nobilis these days except me!

One last back garden pic, yes that's a variegated Daphniphyllum...

And a quick snap as we walk back through the front garden. I've known Michelle for 6-ish years now... it was wonderful to finally get to visit her garden! 

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