“Emerging Daffodils”
Heatherwood Crabapple Grove
Here come the daffodils, finally! They are emerging two to three weeks later than last year. The cold snap we had in late February has held back our spring outburst of new growth and color.
We are still searching for the right plants to carpet the floor of Heatherwood’s crabapple grove after the daffodils bloom and their foliage dies back.
“Crocus Patch”
Heatherwood, Early Spring
In the fall of 2020 we planted our first batch (3000) of spring bulbs all around our garden. Now we have several patches of spring color popping up all over. Once they start emerging, I can hardly control myself from wanting to go out the first thing in the morning to see what new is happening in the garden.
We are getting ready to place our order for this fall.
“Cornelian Cherry Dogwood”
Heatherwood, Early Spring
Our Cornelian cherry dogwood is Heatherwood’s first tree to start blooming. The buds are just starting to break. Soon the forsythia and star magnolias will start break into their spring glory as well.
The first day of spring was five days ago. Today is the first time that I have been able to take a walk in our garden with my camera to welcome spring.
“Mary’s Bright & Shiny Garden”
Heatherwood, Early Spring
Our Heatherwood garden is the least interesting at this point of winter’s transition to spring. All the grasses and perennials have been trimmed back. New growth is waiting for the warmth of spring to sprout up. Typically, this garden patch between the cherry trees and yellow twig dogwoods is full of color and textures. We will just have to wait for about a month for the new growth and blooms to emerge into Heatherwood’s spring beauty.
“Trimmed Grass-Lined Path”
Heatherwood, Early Spring
This little s-curve leads a walker from Heatherwood’s central meadow area to an open grass area with a woodland area in the background. When one starts on the path they do not have an idea of what is around the bend. As they move through the corner, the view opens up to a conifer lined path framing the lawn and the woodland. Surprise!
“Yarrow Abstract”
Heatherwood Spring
Today is the last day of spring. It is time to say goodbye to most of the flowering trees and shrubs and to say hello to the flowering perennials. We still have several shrubs (viburnums and nine-bark) that are in their last stage of bloom plus several hydrangeas that will bloom later this summer. Our perennials are just starting to display their summer glory.
“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.
“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.