After viewing a presentation on public gardens scattered across this country, I was reminded to revisit my photos of gardens in the Pacific Northwest in June 2018 and 2019 that most inspire me. Photos of Bloedel Reserve, Heronswood (both in Washington), the Portland Japanese Garden, and the conifer display at Iseli Nursery (in Oregon) are followed by photos of natural wonders I viewed on several hikes through the Olympic Mountains on Washington’s coast. I include photos of the natural landscape that I use to help guide locations when I plant in my garden.
I can take a photo or two from my garden that might fool you to think mine is as lush as these, but no part of my garden in Virginia will ever match these. But, I’ll continue to try, no matter that my compacted clay soil and hot and humid weather are less than ideal.
While species of mayapple (Podophyllum) and false Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum) are native to Virginia, I am also attracted to ones native to the US west coast and to Asia. The lushness of foliage in the Northwest is my inspiration, and visiting this again is a perfect getaway on a blustery January afternoon.
Click below to view the 5:30 minute slide show. Plants on individual photos are not labelled since so much variety is crammed into each space.
Ramblin' through Dave's Garden 
Thanks! I like that combination of (I think) green oxalis and Euonymus fortunei ‘Wolong Ghost’. I already have the latter, and it shouldn’t be hard for me to add the oxalis.
A red leafed oxalis failed for me years ago, but I’m considering a green leafed variety. This one flourished at Bloedel Reserve.
Thanks for a wonderful tour of places I will never see, but so great!
I skipped a year visiting the northwest for business travel this year, but hope to get back there this summer. I go a day early and cram in as many gardens as possible.
I needed a beautiful garden this morning! Thank you!
This has been a gray, chilly, and dreary week. I’ve gone through the slide show several times, remembering exactly where I was when the photo was taken.
Very nice!!!
How delightful to watch this on this grey dreary day here in Northern Virginia. The foliage combinations are stunning. What’s the enchanting musical piece that accompanies the slide show?
Yes, this is a perfect day to visit a June garden. The music is an unnamed tune on the video editing software, but nice, I agree.
I never met a garden in Portland that I was not somewhat impressed with. However, I find them to be rather dense and overly lush. Farther north, the gardens start to lack variety. I mean, so many look so similar to each other. Also, they look like the sort of vegetation that I would cut down with a weed whacker (if I were to use a weed whacker). It looks great for urban forestry, but not so much for smaller scale gardens. When I was able to go to my Pa’s home in Silverdale almost annually years ago, I did significant vegetation management, but no work that was actually interesting. It was just cutting things back into submission. I have never been to Virginia, but pictures of Eastern gardens are more interesting because so much of the material is so unfamiliar.
While I enjoy flowers my eye is attracted more but foliage textures. Certainly, I can’t imagine my maintaining these gardens, but within my limitations I look to duplicate the look in small spaces.
Have read your blog for years but that virtual tour was the best yet!! Hope to make it out there some day!
bev rogers
On Tue, Jan 26, 2021 at 7:02 AM Ramblin’ through Dave’s Garden wrote:
> Dave posted: ” After viewing a presentation on public gardens scattered > across this country, I was reminded to revisit my photos of gardens in the > Pacific Northwest in June 2018 and 2019 that most inspire me. Photos of > Bloedel Reserve, Heronswood (both in Washington), ” >
I hope that business travels allows me to go back this summer. Each trip I add a new garden, but I always include Bloedel Reserve. There are also exceptional views on the Kitsap Peninsula with mountains nestled close to the coastline.
Great photos Dave!
Now pictures always look great.
I enjoyed the video…Happy to follow your blog