“View From the Road”
Heatherwood
This is the view from the roadside looking over Heatherwood’s front planting bed shown in my previous post. From here the tree plantings channel the viewers eyes up and then down through the lower yard then up to the hills separating Selah from Yakima. The feeling we are trying to impart is “Welcome to enjoy the view of the garden!”
“Front Border”
Heatherwood
We like to share the colors and textures of our garden with our neighbors as they stroll along the neighborhood road. It is a good place to take a break to stop and chat and exchange the neighborhood news.
This area is designed to have four season interest with various colors, shapes and textures. Plant heights are kept low to encourage the walker to look up and have a nice view through the garden. (I will show the view in a future post.) The challenge in encouraging one to look up into the garden is also to shield the view to the house and garage. To address this challenge, we have planted an informal border of trees and shrubs to shield the view to the house.
“Zelkova Neck”
Heatherwood Lower Lawn
One way we separate parts of Heatherwood is to narrow a section of our lawn down to create a pathway between sections. We have placed various shrubs and trees to develop chute or tunnel-like divisions. For this “neck” we have planted a hedge of spirea which will mature at about 4 feet wide and high. In addition, we have added two Wireless Zelkova trees to anchor separation. When they mature, their top branches will flow over the lawn and meet, creating a tunnel like feeling. The two lawn areas will be shielded from each other. A garden stroller will move from one open lawn area through the tunnel to a new surprise as the the view again opens up to a different part of the garden.
It will take years for Heatherwood’s plantings to reach the mature state that is described above. I close my eyes and smile as I dream about my vision of what the garden will be. But most important, I open my eyes, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment of the wonderful surroundings and search for what is around the next bend.
“Blooming Ninebark”
Heatherwood Late Spring
These two Coppertina Ninebark with their flower-laden flowing branches remind me of a pair of Octopodes … or should I say Octopi, or is it Octopuses. All three terms are frequently used, but only one is correct. Octopuses is the correct term. Mary is an English teacher and does not appreciate when I misspell a word. She constantly advises me to “Look it up!” So I did and learned the correct usage.
On a breezy day, the branches flow magically back and forth in the wind. It makes me feel like the garden is alive with monsters hiding around the bends of the pathways.
“Lower Patio Garden”
Heatherwood Spring
The lower patio garden transitions a visitor from the rock garden shown in my previous post to the central meadow. Plants in the lower patio garden replicate those in both the rock garden and meadow. Ground covers and shrubs present in the rock garden are planted in the steeper parts of the patio garden. Perennials and grasses found in the meadow are planted in the flatter areas. In addition, a couple of trees help transition the view to the crabapple grove further below.
The different areas of Heatherwood are designed to flow into one another working together to provide a common theme. One of the challenges we face every day is where to sit and enjoy a morning cup of coffee, an afternoon beverage, or just a peaceful relaxing moment.
“Rock Garden Hillside”
Heatherwood Late Spring
After exploring another garden, it is always good to come back home and see what is happening here at Heatherwood. This is especially true in late spring when it feels like the garden is going to burst out in full bloom at any moment.
This rock garden area separates the lawn at the house level from the lawn and meadow below, which I used to refer to as the “Lower 40”. A path, edged with basalt boulders, winds down back and forth from the upper to the lower lawn. Various creeping thymes, cotoneasters, and sedums fill in between the rocks and onto the recessed gravel pathway. Other perennials and evergreen shrubs provide contrast and stability to the garden. We constructed and planted this area only two springs ago. It is hard to believe how fast it is filling in.
“Formal Garden”
Heronswood, Kingston, WA
Elegantly Beautiful!!!
Nothing more needs to be said.
“Variegated Red Twig Dogwood”
Heronswood, Kingston, WA
We have several of these variegated red twig dogwoods scattered through our Heatherwood garden. We even have some with grasses tucked in front (or back) surrounded by various evergreens. The big difference between the two gardens is that Hersonswood is a mature garden while Heatherwood is an infant. Heronswood’s plants flow into one another creating a solid mass of color and texture. At Heatherwood, most of our plants are separate from each other. We still have several years to go before the plants blend together. Patience is our challenge.
“Dove Tree Bracts”
Heronswood, Kingston, WA
Many people seeing these white handkerchief-looking things lying on the ground and shrubs do not have any idea what they are. Getting closer, they look like a large white leaf. They aren’t. They are actually flower bracts from a Dove tree (Davidia involucrata).
I first encountered a Dove tree, sometimes called a Handkerchief tree, on a garden tour in Pennsylvania. Karen and I became transfixed on a huge tree with all of these handkerchief-looking things hanging down. A breeze came up and the air was filled with handkerchiefs fluttering down. It was quite a sight. We made notes to put it on our “bucket list” to add to our Fountainville garden. We never found one.
When I started to establish my wish list for my Selah garden, I chose several of Karen and my favorite trees. A Dove tree was one of those on the top of my list. I still have not located one in our Central Washington local area. When I saw this tree at Heronswood, my interest perked up again. I think I have just the right spot for one in our woodland garden.
“Alder Grove”
Heronswood, Kingston, WA
This bright little alder grove welcomed me into Heronswood’s dark timber forest dominated by tall western cedars. Filtered light trickled through the whitish-grey tree trunks down to the lush green forest floor. A pink rhododendron provided an additional highlight. The forest called out “Welcome!”