Winter light barberry

Barberry fruit

I moved this chartreuse-leaved barberry last spring and it sulked for most of the spring and summer. I hope it recovers enough to be covered in fruit next year at this time.

Morning light on Miscanthus

Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus'

Back-lit by the morning sun, Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus' shows off her amazing self. Staying sturdy and upright even in the 40+ mph wind storms we've had, this great grass really is a top notch plant. Easily the most elegant and top performing grass in my Front Yard.

Through a leaf lightly

A fallen Carpinus japonica leaf

I love the frosty mornings when the entire garden is silvery and even the most mundane of objects--fallen leaves--become scrims for the low-slung, nearly-winter sun.

Window into winter

Frosty windows in the Secret Garden

Although framed to look like windows, this Trompe l'Oeil is actually a mirror. It's used to extend the view from the meander looking into the Secret Garden. I came upon this scene as I wandered through the garden as the sun was just starting to faintly fall in the Secret Garden.

First light on the Melianthus

Morning light on Melianthus

Probably one of my favorite plants, Melianthus major is a stalwart in the Piet section of the Front Yard. Indigenous to South Africa, aka, "Peanut Butter plant" because the bruised leaves smell like peanut butter. To care for this plant, I let it stand until the first hard frost. Then I cut it to the ground and cover the crown with the cuttings and add other twigs and leaves to form a 1 foot mound of mulch.

Flaming red flowering maple

Abutilon blooming well into December

I first came upon an Abutilon at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show about 8 years ago. It was in a display garden and I spent 10 minutes trying to match up the blooms with the maple-like leaves. Abutilons were not as popular then as they seem to be now. But talk about a great plant. Happy in bright dappled light, Abutilons in my Front Yard bloom from late June until the first real hard frost.

A frosty mornin' for the urn

Frost on urn in the Secret Garden

Sun and cold and frost. What a great combo! With temperatures falling into the upper teens, and ample moisture left over from weeks of rain, the garden has turned into a silvery paradise. Centered in the Secret Garden, the metal urn usually plays host to a delightful Agave Americana marginata. But in the rainy winter months, the urn is empty while the Agave takes up residence in the greenhouse.

Piet Falls Apart

'Piet' view from the Dock

This photo is about 5 weeks old and it shows the 'Piet" section of the front yard just starting to fall apart. The Molinia caerulea 'Transparent' (front) is starting its late fall collapse. The stunningly sturdy Miscanthus sinensis malepartus stands upright--even through the string of wind storms that have pummeled the northwest.

Syneilesis-aconitifolia

Although I grow Syneilesis aconitifolia for the leaves, I have to say that the seed heads are quite nice too.

Senecio cristobalensis

I just love this plant. Love, love, love! It was a weak-knee moment when I first came across it at Heronswood where I was wandering around in a pleasant plant stupor when it just presented itself to me. The gorgeous leaves (I've never seen it bloom) hold morning dew like liquid jewels. I also love the way it catches--in this instance--the late afternoon fall light. After several attempts at propagation, I finally found success. I'm hoping I don't lose my mojo because I'm leaving several plants in the ground to see if they winter over. (I'm still keeping a few in the greenhouse over the winter!)

Architectural Plants

Books and plants. Plants and books. Books about plants, and gardens and all things horticultural. I love books--real books that I hold in my hand. While I'd love to have a Kindle, it wouldn't replace the feeling of paging through a really good garden book. Now I'd love a Kindle for everything else I read.

This is my first post on Garden Books of Note. What I mean by that is I intend to list my garden books that I go back to time and again. Books that I typically learn something, or see something of value each time I open it.

These are not book reviews but rather postings about books I like and a few sentences of what makes me go back to them.

Christine Shaw's, Architectural Plants, is a book that has lots of solid info, good photography and a great layout that is conducive to reading a section (Palms, Ferns, Grasses, Bamboos, Climbers, Trees, Other leafy exotics, Spiky & Succulent plants), or opening to a random page.

I loved this bit from the chapter, Making the right decisions.

Unless you are especially stubborn, there is little point buying plants that have only a slim chance of surviving in your particular plot."

I surely place myself under the column of "especially stubborn." Or just a bit slow to learn.

Seattle Weather Forecast. Yikes!

Rain, rain and more rain. With weather like this, it's easy to cast back to sunnier and warmer days. So we'll fire up the time machine to last July when we visited Chanticleer, a Pleasure Garden.


Papaver somniferum

It was a pleasant sunny day when we visited Chanticleer. Uncharacteristically mild, temps in the low 80s, and very little humidity. So much to take in and alas so little time. The vignette of a last poppy blossom and the poppy seed heads caught my eye. And the light was hitting the poppy petals just so.

Whither Wilma?

Cupressus macrocarpa 'Wilma'

Sometimes it pays to see your mistakes front and center. I left this shrub, Cupressus macrocarpa 'Wilma,' in the pink pail holding the screen door open all summer. It didn't get the light it needed and did what it rightfully should have done: die. The shrub I paired with this, another 'Wilma,' also in a pink pail, sat about 3 feet away and flourished. Well not flourished, but she survived with just a wee bit more sun. Hoping against hope, I placed the sickly shrub on the Dock hoping for a miracle. And of course it was too late. And so it goes.

Darkness Comes to the Dock

The Dock

Here is the Dock, looking a bit grim in its Fall clothes. However, this space is my zen zone for my morning coffee, our special gathering place to follow the sun, our place for sipping Mint Juleps. The early 20th century French outdoor furniture set that spends late Spring, Summer and a stretch of Fall here, is now inside. It's from the Dock that I can look across to Piet and down the Meander. I love this space.

Light in the Sculpture Garden

Hydrangea paniculata

The Secret Garden is at its darkest and most subdued in the late Fall and Winter. But on November 11th, we had some marvelous bright sun. So much the better to view the fading blossoms of Hydrangea, which paniculata carry well into winter and hold my attention when I'm actually outside, or viewing them from the Pavilion.

Fall in the Meander

Philadelphus leaves and faded seed heads

I love these vignettes of dark and light, faded leaves and seed heads; Fall before it turns mournful and Winter squeezes the color out of the garden. Even in this state, I think about how amazingly fragrant this Philadelphus is when in bloom; it fills the garden with a citrus scent--even when I'm on the other side of the house.

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden from the Piazzetta

One of my favorite views in my garden is looking at the Secret Garden from the Piazzetta. (This is looking the opposite way from the view in this post.) Here in the pale Fall light, the leaves scattered on the path and the boxwood make for a quiet scene of transition. My habit is to pause here and and take in not only the plants, but to take a measure of the season. Where have we just come from? Where are we headed? What am I missing?

Plume Poppy's Last Stand

Macleaya cordata

I love the rare moments of sunshine we get in November here in the Northwest. And when the brilliant sun makes its cameo, you have to make the best of it. So when I walked out to see what I could see in the garden, I came upon this Macleaya cordata catching the late afternoon light. I love the beauty of the leaves, stems and stalks as they break down into their inevitable and final resting place: compost.

Southward Across the Secret Garden

The Secret Garden

Looking south from the bench in the Secret Garden, the pale fall light scatters through bare branches and highlights the yellowing leaves. The lavender, which should have been cut back at the end of August remains unshorn. The Italian Alpine strawberries (Fragaria vesca, 'Fragola di Bosco') in the parterre are still producing fruit.

Helen's Flower

Helenium 'Morheim Beauty'

For years I've read about the the virtues of Helenium 'Morheim Beauty' as a stalwart in the late summer-early fall garden. And for whatever reason, I just couldn't see them fitting into my garden. Until now. The yellow-orange-red zing amidst the fading grasses is a pleasant piece of summer. When much of the garden has given up the ghost, Helenium 'Morheim Beauty' soldiers on and on. It will be interesting to see how the plant takes to life in "Piet" next summer.

Echinacea 'Fatal Attraction'

Echinacea 'Fatal Attraction'

With all the wacky things that plant breeders are doing to Echinacea, I still prefer the plain old Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus.' But then I came across Echinacea 'Fatal Attraction' and I knew I needed to loosen my conservative kravate. This plant was introduced by my guy, Piet Oudolf. The blooms are purple just as they open and then become an intense purplish pink. Although still in full bloom in my front yard now on November 1, I'm not sure if that's because I planted these in late September, or if they would normally be blooming now. We'll find out in a year.

Chanticleer, a Pleasure Garden

Chanticleer House Garden Covered Porch

Blustery weather and the ever shortening days make me think back to last June and July when we traveled to Washington DC for Tracy's sister's wedding. After a week and a half of festivities, we headed to Chanticleer, a wonderful garden located in Wayne, PA.

While plants are the main feature, I loved the covered porch. A wonderful refuge from the Pennsylvania heat and humidity, I could see spending many hours sipping Mint Juleps while gazing out to the stunning surrounding views.

Dew on the Impatiens

Morning dew on the Impatiens

On a complete lark, I entered this photo into a contest at Annie's Annuals. And no one was more surprised when I found out I'd won honorable mention. Giggles all around, no? I took the photo because I was fascinated with the way the dew had gathered so symmetrically around the leaf's edge.

Early Morning Light on Piet

View of Piet from the Dock

This is my view from the "Dock" where I sit and have my morning coffee--at least when there's still light. Although this photo was taken last September, I posted it because I probably am trying to hang onto the warmer weather and the longer days.

A Ray of Sun

Abutilon Nabob

Having been in bloom since mid-summer, Abutilon Nabob is still a wonderful presence in the Front Yard. I was certain I had lost Nabob in the long snow of last winter. But early in the spring, new shoots formed and not only recovered but has grown to be twice the size of last year.

Late Summer Sun

The sun catches the grasses in the Piet section of the Front Yard

Way back when I saw the first picture of a Piet Oudolf-designed garden, I knew that somehow I had to try to create my own take on what this Dutch designer was creating. Though the area I call Piet is a far cry from his design, I still smile when I see the early morning sun catching the grass inflorescence.

Roy and Dan--Plantsmen Extraordinaire

Windcliff Garden looking south from Dan Hinkley's house.

Roy Lancaster, Dan Hinkley and Windcliff garden: an amazing horticultural event that happened last September 5th. I'd seen many pictures of Windcliff, but this was my opportunity to see it first hand. And to make the day even better, world renowned plantsman Roy Lancaster was on hand to give a talk and show slides from his many plant hunting trips to China. Extra bonus, his updated book, Plantsman's Paradise: Travels in China was available for purchase. And I of course had Roy sign mine.

The water feature.

Early 20th Century French Outdoor Set

With sunrise here in the great northwest slipping past 7:30 and the Falls rains settling in, I have have resigned myself to viewing the Front Yard from our French Outdoor Set--newly installed indoors. This furniture spends portions of Spring, Summer and a nice stretch of the Fall outside on the Dock. These chairs and tables are special because they were purchased at ABC Carpet in Manhattan and shipped to Seattle. Tracy's sharp eye found them in a sea of goods. And to make the chairs really comfy, Tracy had custom cushions made. The seasonal touch on the window is Blythe's Halloween art work.

The Fall Rains

After a very dry fall, the rains have come to Seattle. Here is a shot of the front yard from the warm and dry confines of my house. The Paulownia tomentosa is in the top right. The Banana, Musa 'Darjeeling Giant' is still looking lush despite the cool evening temps. And the white Brugmansia is putting on a last glorious show. In the foreground is Abutilon 'Nabob,' still going strong.