“Formal Garden”
Heronswood, Kingston, WA
Elegantly Beautiful!!!
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Elegantly Beautiful!
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Tag Archives: Heronswood
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.