Gifted gardener / photographer Dan B:
Top photo: By early August the Daylilies were finishing up. The ‘Sunday Gloves’ was one of the last. Behind the big pot is a mix of variegated Sambuccus (Elderberry) that is on the property line. After fourteen years it’s grown from a two foot tall twig to an effective privacy screen. I like screening that’s not flat. It fools the eye into feeling you’re not as hemmed in.
From the spare bedroom there’s a good view of the rectangular pond and the rip rap wall that holds the soil that was dug out to make the pond. On the left is the tool shed that replaced the one that was almost completely rotted away. My partner has fitted it with a TV, woodstove, chaise lounges, parabolic heaters, and having tossed out the tools it’s now his Clubhouse!
To the north are the sawn Columnar Basalt steps that go to the raised terrace where we sit on warm summer evenings. It’s got a view to Mount Baker, a ten thousand foot tall, glacier clad volcano, 90 air miles north. Jay can probably see it from his city.
Looking back towards the house over the last of the Alstroemeria ‘Aztec Gold’ to the red Wall O Waters that keep our tomatoes warm at night. They’re loaded with big green tomatoes. We’re hopeful for ripening.
We had a dry spell for flowers but great foliage contrast tides us over. The purple foliage plants were a present for my partner. He is responsible for lots of big leaved plants like the giant Gunnera, which we saw growing wild at 9,000 feet in Costa Rica, and there are ten Calocasias, plus Cannas, and others with leaves up to five feet across.
In front, the Vitex (Chaste Tree) is finally in full bloom. They’re ordinarily blue so I was disappointed that this one is white. I’ve gotten over that.
On the front deck are pots full of plants that distract from the rotting decking (Cushion Decking tm?). We’re saving up for new decking and stepping with care in the interim.
This Coleus ‘Redhead’ was new and a big hit with me. It won best Coleus in a contest at Cornell. The color varies throughout the day and it is velvety!
The Orienpet Liliy is new and I can’t find the name but it’s coloration is intriguing – pale pink outside, pale yellow interior so it looks different in the sun and on cloudy days. And it’s fragrant!
My partner inherited a Grape from a co-worker who died of uterine cancer. It’s very sentimental but is eating the steps, trying to get in the front door, and is eating the front of the house, and the Meet-up Jackals may find many pounds of grapes in “Care Packages”.
I only have one rose but a young guy gave this to me in the middle of a downtown street in front a several hundred thousand people. It was at this year’s 50th Anniversary of Seattle Pride. I was one of the (secondary) Grand Marshalls, about five of us who’d been at the first Seattle Pride. I could tell he felt that we’d made it possible for him to be himself. 50 years ago we just came because our friend David asked us radical activists to do so. 50 years later it felt amazing for the five of us who’d persisted. We didn’t feel “So brave!” like we heard from the crowd. “Must have been so brave!” Wow!
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What’s going on in your garden(s), this week?
War for Ukraine Day 927: A 67 Drone Swarm
Jay
Lovely, jealous, such a beautiful garden and landscaping.
mrmoshpotato
Awesome pictures. And that Coleus ‘Redhead’… woah, settle down, foliage!
Jeffg166
Beautifully done. I you are anything like me you see everything that is wrong.
BretH
Wonderful garden and commentary. We’re preparing for a move to a house in Chapel Hill, NC that is a small house on a big lot with established perennial gardens all around. Had a gardener show us around for an hour just showing what is growing there. Hopefully I can do a garden post here in a year or two.
HinTN
If ever I’m in Seattle again, Dan B, I would be honored to see this magnificent garden of yours. You were so generous to drive me to and from the meet-up five years ago but, as I recall, you never spoke of the garden. These tours you have given us certainly are a welcome Sunday morning treat. Thanks!
JPL
Lovely!
Lapassionara
What a lovely garden. And the story about the rose is very touching. We are NOT going back, indeed.
Suburban Mom
Exquisite! I am in awe.
Maxim
So beautiful.
The top image doesn’t display for me. No one else has mentioned it, which makes me think it must be my device, but then I can see everything else, so I dunno.
Dorothy A. Winsor
Holy cow. That’s your yard? It looks like a garden I’d take a tour to visit. Beautiful.
TS
That is one amazing garden. what a delight it must be to live among what looks like an artist’s painting. I am so envious of those who can design and tend such a collection. Even my balcony flowers do not stay too long, so I am learning to live with other folks green fingers.
Pink Tie
I immediately heard “this must be just like living in paradise” in my head as I looked at these gorgeous pictures…. so thank you I guess? for somehow putting David Lee Roth in my brain before I go sing in church! Thank you so much for sharing them, and thank you for creating a community where at least one person (and probably many more) felt safe to be themselves.
caphilldcne
@Maxim: I also can’t see the top image.
Congratulations on your amazing garden. Special congratulations on the 50th anniversary of Seattle Pride. I appreciate the many people who made it easier for me to eventually come out including you! Thank you!
satby
@HinTN: highly recommend Dan’s garden tours! The pictures don’t really do it justice.
Good morning all, I was up at 1:30, 2:45, and finally got out of bed at 4:30 only to go back to bed at 6:30 for two hours. Going to be dopey all day.
Argiope
Dan B, on behalf of my sibling who came out in 1984 in high school, you helped lead the way. Our family thanks you. It *was* brave, and so was my sister. Still is. The garden is breathtaking—thanks for the photos.
satby
Everyone, the top image in the diary is up at top too, it opened when I clicked the white space but it’s the same view of the pond in the narrative.
satby
@Pink Tie: did you see my reply to you in the cat bleg post? Can you write to me at skinluvvers (at) Gmail dot com? The daughter is in Houston, but will be in the Dallas area driving home.
Trivia Man
We also have a grape eating a porch. Well, had. I removed it and an aggressive staff vine so we could have the deck and pergola over the doorway repaired and stained. The staff vine had tings like a tree – i count about 10.
Any suggestions for a fast but less aggressive climber for a pergola?
Manyakitty
@Maxim: I can’t see it, either. Otherwise, what a splendid way to start the day!
My garden is weirdly small this year. My tomatoes are struggling, not a single pea made it to the top of the trellis, and I finally got a few green beans. Volunteer pumpkin finally produced a female blossom, into which I stuck as stamen from a male blossom. It turned into a pumpkin, but the vine died before it got very big. Maybe half a dozen eggplants and several chillies. Oh yeah, and potato marbles. Guess I need to test the soil and see how to fix it for next year.
Also, I have a container blueberry that has different growing seasons for each branch. How does this happen?
And I have a gigantic perennial mum that is trying to take over its entire bed. I’ll send a picture when it pops.
Otherwise, good morning! It’s going to be a glorious day and I’m trapped in the house, sobbing in front of my computer, working, while I try to write my way out of this escape room of misery. 😃
Manyakitty
@satby: thanks!
JAM
Thanks, Dan B, your garden looks awesome.
MazeDancer
Gorgeous as always, Dan!
Chris T.
Mt Baker is easy to see from parts of Bellingham (though not my particular part, I have a lake and then steep hills on the other side blocking the view). I get a good look at it whenever I go to Costco though, provided the day is clear (that’s a fairly big proviso here in the Pacific Northwet).
Kristine
Garden envy, Dan B. It’s beautiful.
Last blooms opening here in NE Illinois. Goldenrod. Boneset. Autumn Joy sedum. Mums. A few buds left on the Rose of Sharon shrubs. A couple of volunteer groundcherry have popped up around the place, and I’m wondering if I can harvest enough berries to make a mini-pie or something. The squirrels will probably get them before I do.
Nippy last couple of days, with highs in the 60s/40s overnight. Back to the 80s tomorrow.
StringOnAStick
@Jeffg166: I feel seen. Gardening is a never ending process, my nongardener husband finally says he gets that after hearing Monty Don say it so many times, but I know he still shakes his head at my endless “adjustments” . At least now I make a plan at the end of the season (like right now), write it down and order accordingly.
Gorgeous DanB, as always! I too have only one rose and it’s thanks to my “garden husband”, our backyard neighbours who are a long time married gay couple and one half of which is my garden confederate. Absolutely the BEST neighbours we’ve ever had the privilege to have!
Dan B
@StringOnAStick: My neice and her family live in Bend. My nephew, her brother, and his partner, Adam, live in Redmond as does my former Sister in Law.
Dan B
@Trivia Man: I like Akebia, especially the white form. Not sure what zone you’re in. Akebia are semi evergreen so not hardy everywhere. There are many good Clematis. They vary from 3 feet to 25 feet so choose an appropriate size.
Dan B
@Dan B: Clemayus montana selections are fast and not too difficult to control. In addition there are lots of annual vines that grow fast and bloom non stop. They can provide some interest while permanent vines are growing and can be grown with the permanent vines if you provide a little assistance in keeping the permanent vines trimmed a bit to avoid their being shaded.
Trivia Man
@Dan B: Zone 5 I think. I will look up the Akebia. I have clematis volunteers in the lawn, that is my first attempt. Some of them are 3 meters+ along the ground, hoping they will go vertical. Also bought another variety in a small pot, seller says it will be a good climber. Good idea on the annual if it is FAST!. Thanks.