Framing nature’s beauty, from master designer & landscaper Dan B:
I worked on a garden project in Bellevue, Washington over at least ten years. They’re a wonderful couple from India. One year they purchased a number of things from India.
Their front yard was small and the back yard steep with a breathtaking view the length of Lake Sammamish to glacier clad Mount Baker. The hillside was covered with weeds.
These photos are from Fall, when leaf color is at its peak. We made paths that switchback down the hillside. It descends to a teak pavilion mid slope that they purchased from India. It came in pieces with no plans so we had to figure out how to assemble it and then carry it by hand down the side of the house and reassemble it in place.
There are masses of Beautyberry, yellow leaved Lonicera nitida, and clumps of Kousa Dogwoods in color.
We cut a level area for paving for the pavilion. It was to have had black granite columns but I emailed the clients that it would be dangerous to hand carry the columns down the narrow side of the house so we got teak columns. They’re also heavy but manageable.
Top photo: The pavilion nicely frames the view to the lake. On the ground is a hand carved Gaia Tre Mantra stone. It was also very heavy but beautiful.
At the top of the slope at the back of the house we installed a pond that is seen from the deck. The “Milky Way” Kousa Dogwood hides the neighbor’s house. The June bloom is amazing as is the Fall color.
Here’s a closeup of the Dogwood overhanging the pond.
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Anyone got holiday tree portraits to share for our next Sunday chat?
What’s going on in your garden (memories / planning / indoor), this week?
rikyrah
Good Morning, Everyone😊😊😊
Gvg
To submit photos for garden posts, we use the on the road link right? I am not sure I can manage it but I will try soon. I have an orchid show from a few months ago I can submit. In January my camellia club is hosting the national show so I should have nice pictures from that soon.
Baud
@rikyrah:
Good morning.
satby
@Gvg: no, not on the road link. Mail them to Anne Laurie.
Edit: [email protected]
satby
@rikyrah: @Baud: Good morning!
@DanB: Spectacular, as usual!
Baud
You make nature look pretty, DB.
BretH
Lovely garden, lovely photos. We’re moving to a house in North Carolina with an established perennial garden all around it and happily, a deer fence all around. It was hacked by landscapers for the house showing so we’re going to wait a year and make sure we know what’s what then see what we can do to guide and caretake it. Hopefully will have my own garden post before too long.
satby
@BretH: Good luck!
J.
Wow! Absolutely stunning.
Betty
Dogwoods are one of my favorite trees. What a lovely spot.
Steve LaBonne
Gorgeous pictures that really got my morning off to a good start. Thanks!
Spanish Moss
Breathtaking! Thanks for sharing
pieceofpeace
Inspiring! Thanks…
Mark
I live on Lake Sammamish. Pleasantly surprised to see it show up here.
Madeleine
The garden you made is beautiful—the colors, textures—as always, DanB. And I appreciate the accompanying, very informative, texts, as well.
schrodingers_cat
Not a holiday tree, but I am working on this wreath
And here is a dragonfly from Rita Berman’s book on Summer.
Cowgirl in the Sandi
Lovely pictures. Lucky family to have you design their garden!
Dan B
@Mark: I did a project on Lake Sammamish. It was complete with only two lakeside Cottonwood trees remaining. It was a new rerouted driveway, massive grading, entry gate, new stone terraces, metal trellis work, firepit, etc.
StringOnAStick
DanB, you’ve done so.e absolutely huge and gorgeous projects, re-imagining spaces sensitively and beautifully. A true professional!
Dan B
@StringOnAStick: Thank you!
I was in an honors program in Architecture school but was booted out because of the gay thing. After cooking school and seven years if insane chefs I went to work on a landscape crew and then went out on my own and taught myself. The first landscaper had a simple cookie cutter formula and I decided I wanted every project to be unique and reflect the clients’ taste so they’d be in love with it and maintain it well. It worked.
Mark
@Dan B: Yea, lots of rich people on the lake. It’s not too far from Microsoft’s main campus. I live in a townhouse at the north end of the lake. Right next door to Idylwood park. That place really packs em in on warm summer days.
Dan B
@Mark: There clients are near the south end of the lake where the wind from the north pushes the warm surface water on clear summer days. She was a VP for Chase Bank in charge of Europe and he sells jets, big jets. And he has a dirt racing facility on 600 acres, former Weyerhaeuser lumber mill. They have money you could say.