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? Michelle thinks perhaps Eryngium pandanifolium var lesseauxii
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... Michelle reports that it's actually Butia eriospatha.
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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My favorite type of garden, totally unique! I don't have restraint or a Wollemi pine, although I have tried rooting a cutting ;) #fail. Tree ferns, agave, palms, what a fantastic collection. I'll be checking back to see if anyone knows what Saxifrage that is, it's stupendous!
ReplyDeleteNancy provided the name Saxifraga is cuneifolia, which was what I also found in my (limited) research. I'm not 100% on that being it.
DeleteShe has a special Saxifraga -cuneifolia or not.
DeleteSuch a widely diverse collection of plants! I wish I could garden in that climate. I imagine you were in fern heaven.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I can't see you gardening in Seattle Kris, the grey, wet winters would seem to run counter to your Southern California heritage. But hey, maybe I'm wrong?
DeleteIt was lovely having you and Emily visit! The backstory of the sad palm: a freebie whose previous owners cut off all the fronds rather than remove it. I attempted a rescue, but sadly, it just doesn't seem to have enough energy to recover.
ReplyDeleteThe variegated aralia was found growing wild on the east coast and given the name "Encroaching Myst" by the discoverer. It goes through phases, from deep purple, to true green, and then the variegation burns in. It's not mature enough to confirm yet but suckers should also be variegated.
The toothy eryngium was an unlabeled passalong from lovely gardeners over on the Kitsap Peninsula, but my best guess is Eryngium pandanifolium var lesseauxii.
The palm in the back is Butia eriospatha from Raintree Tropical. It survived the recent brutal winters, albeit with the help of some Christmas lights.
There were so many fantastic plants in your garden Michelle, as I was working on this post I was thinking how great it would be to record the stories behind the plants; saving the palm (or at least trying to), watching the aralia go through it's transformations.
DeleteWow, it looks like she owns a large property for gardening! Her plantings are so interesting. Does Yucca aloifolia make it through the winter there? I have Yucca rupicola (full sun) here in the desert, but failed with aloifolia (didn't like the hot nights all summer). I do love that yucca! Oh, and that is quite an amazing home with all those windows!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, a lot of gardening space, and still with room for two little ones to run around. Yes, Yucca aloifolia is winter hardy here, with good drainage.
DeleteOh, I believe that the Saxifraga is cuneifolia.
ReplyDeleteI found that name doing an image search... it didn't seem quite right, but maybe it's a sun/shade issue?
DeleteYes, sun influence can make it tricky! I wonder if she gets the lovely little white flowers.
Deletegreat garden great pic's
ReplyDeleteThank you Doug!
DeleteMany many fabulous plants, all looking--you know, fabulous. No better way to spend some hours admiring them.
ReplyDeleteNo better way! Especially when in the company of friends.
DeleteI was just going to say that I don't see much difference between E. paniculatum and E. eburneum when I just read they might be synonyms. I know I was super bummed when I bought an E. eburneum this summer based on the tag only to look it up online and see it looked a lot like my E. paniculatum. What was I thinking! Must not have had my phone with me to look up the photos! Variegated daphniphyllum - must have.
ReplyDelete