Sunday, May 23, 2010

A Private Garden Tour

Our neighbor, Maureen, has a friend who has a beautiful garden. 
Her friend has been collecting plants from all over the world for many years.
Today, Gregg and I were invited to tour this magical place with a small group of people,
just a few miles from our home.
It was a privilege to walk through the garden, even in the rain (and it was pouring).
These pine cones are really blue.
Mama duck is named "Lucky." Aren't her babies beautiful?
The house is on a point in Liberty Bay, with windows facing three different directions.
Lots of light, and garden views in each direction.
Benches, paths, native plants and foreign ones, saltwater views, all happily co-existing.
There were vine maples, Japanese maples, bonsai, roses, peonies, fruit trees, a tree house, rhododendrons, azaleas and much more that I didn't get to photograph - it was raining too hard!
I love lupine - they are native to western Washington.
Wisteria vines are so romantic and lovely.

This tour was a real treat.
Thank you, Maureen and Jocelyn!

Afterward, we went to buy evergreen clematis
(thank you for the recommendation, Allegra!),
lavender, and some groundcover for our own yard.

9 comments:

Elizabeth said...

That is a spectacular garden! All your rain makes such a difference in the variety of plants and deep, deep colors that appear to grow so naturally.

And I'm intrigued by our common paths and would love to talk. When and how?

Lakeland Jo said...

fabulous- I really enjoyed looking at the pics X

Busy Bee Suz said...

What a haven this garden is.
Blue pinecones? Love that.
I don't think I have ever seen wisteria in person before...sad, huh?
Didn't you just want to hug all the baby ducks???

Truth Ferret said...

Your pictures are truly magnificent and what an honor to have been able to experience this little slice of paradise. I think that I caught a glimpse of a little fairy flittering in the leaves of one of the lupines.

A.Smith said...

Oh what a wonder of taste, creativity and beauty! Heaven on Earth created by someone who indeed understand the gracious ways of our Mother Earth. I am so happy for you, I suspect that were I invited I will hide behind a tree and never leave ;)

I am so glad you got your clematis, they are truly wonderful here in our NW and when you come down to Portland hopefully at least one or two of the tiny baby ones - those are the Viticellas I collect - will be in bloom and you will have a chance to see how incredibly beautiful they are in that tiny, perfectly beautiful form as well. Speaking of which, when are you coming down for a visit?

Gberger said...

Elizabeth, I sent you an email.

Allegra, I'd love to visit! Gregg and I are overdue for a drive to PDX...it's been more than a year. Maybe this summer? Oh, Powells City of Books, I hear you calling, too...

Hugs to you, Jo, Suz, and T.Ferret.

Gabriele said...

How beautiful! Thank you for sharing with your wonderful photos. Blue pinecones, who knew!

Daisy said...

Wow! Gorgeous. I'm a fan of lupines, too.

Mich

AnnDeO said...

Absolutely Brilliant! It looks as if it was just naturally made there taking no effort at all.