“Formal Garden”
Heronswood, Kingston, WA
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Category Archives: Landscape Photography
Heatherwood Has Some of These
“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.
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Handkerchiefs Scattered on the Ground
“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.
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Welcome to the Forest
“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!”
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A Hidden Gem
“Original Entryway”
Heronswood, Kingston, WA
Recently I had the opportunity to visit Heronswood on the Kitsap Peninsula of Washington. A visit to Heronswood has been on my bucket list since the late 1990’s. I finally made it and my parting thought was, “I can’t wait to come back again.”
Heronswood has somewhat of a turbulent history. Dan Hinkley and Robert Jones started their adventure with Heronswood in 1987. It started off as their private garden, but soon took on the dimension of a speciality nursery. Hinkley traveled around the world searching out rare and unusual plants that could be grown in the Pacific Northwest environment. Over time, they had a robust business shipping plants to all 50 states as well as Europe and Asia.
In 2000, Hinkley and Jones sold Heronswood to W. Atlee Burpee and Company. Six months after Burpee’s acquisition, they filed Chapter 11. By 2006, Burpee closed down the garden and nursery and released the staff of experienced and dedicated workers. The next six years, the garden was left to deteriorate through neglect. Talking to one of the loyal visitors during my visit, she referred to this period as the “Dark Years.”
In 2012, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe purchased Heronswood and initiated its rebirth. During the “Dark Years” several of the rare species were lost, but many collections were salvageable. Hinkley was brought back in as Director Emeritus. With him he brought back many new plants from recent world wide travels. The current dedicated staff is committed to take Heronswood into the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit at Heronswood. I came back with many ideas and concepts that I would like to incorporate into our own Heatherwood, once we get a little more shade.
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What is Beauty?
“Full Moon Japanese Maple and Fern”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden
What is beauty? Beauty is hard to explain. Everyone has their own perspective of what beauty is. Beauty applies to all five senses. I am a visual person, so seeing beauty is my dominant perspective. It lies in the vision of a grand vista of a natural landscape or in small vignettes of companion plants like in the above image. It can be a large architectural structure or a small piece of sculpture. It can be man-made or nature or a combination of both. It can be a person or an inanimate object. As I keep my mind and eyes open, I can find some kind of beauty everywhere I look.
Many times when I see beauty, I stop and contemplate. My other senses then kick in, and I notice the beautiful feeling of a breeze on my cheek or the sounds of a gurgling stream. I can smell the wonderful aroma from a street food cart as I look up at a skyscraper or from the scent of a flower as I walk through a garden. I can see the beauty of a young mother holding her young child and feel the love between them. Beauty is a gift that surrounds us at all times. Enjoy the moment!
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It is Hard to Believe …
“Looking Into the Woodland”
Heatherwood Spring
It is late spring and we are through with our planting projects for now. It is hard to believe that just a little over two years ago, this area was all grass. Spring of 2020 we started carving up the lawn and making planting areas in our lower property. We planted a few trees at that time. In 2021 we added several additional trees and started planting the beginning of an understory. This year we added several more plants to the understory. It is beginning to look like a small woodland.
We just added an Adirondack settee and now can just sit back and enjoy the evolving woodland garden.
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A Little Rest
“Southeast Corner Rest Station”
Heatherwood Spring
We call the southeast area of our garden the “Conifer Corner.” We planted a row of conifers around the southeast corner of our garden to create a little privacy from our neighbors. Within the corner, we also have planted additional specimen conifer trees and shrubs. We added bright ground covers and perennials to give it a little pizzaz. We finished it off with a little rest area tucked into the corner. Many times after walking down to the bottom of our property, I take a little break before walking back up the hill. More times than not, I get sidetracked and wander into a little day dream. Sitting in the Adirondack settee, I look up and gaze into the scene below.
“Wide Angle View Looking Up the Hill”
You can see how easily I could fall into a day dream!
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Shades of Green, Blue, and a Splash of Red
“Decision, Relax or Explore”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden
Today I have two thoughts to share regarding this image. First, is my initial reaction to this scene when I created this photograph. The contrasting splash of Japanese maple’s red color among the various shades of green and blue is what captured my eye and enticed me to create the image.
Second, is the landscape design intent for creating this view. This point is a transition point. To the left is a peaceful private sitting area that overlooks the japanese garden pond and waterfall. To the right is a path that leads to an open area and the exit of the Japanese garden. If I take the path to the left, I can sit, relax, and enjoy the water rushing over the rocks into the pond. If I take the path to the right, I can continue to explore and discover new things beyond.
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Grasses, Yarrow, and Color
“Transition Ridge”
Heatherwood Spring
Here comes the color! June is the month for Heatherwood’s display of color. The ornamental grasses are growing, the perennials are breaking out in their spring bloom, the shrubs are flowering, and the evergreens are showing off their new growth. The garden is becoming a full color palette.
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