NWFGS-2020: Christianson's Nursery Display Garden

These are some pictures from the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival (Seattle, Washington State, February 2020). 

 Christianson's Nursery and Greenhouse's  Display Garden won Founders'Cup (Best in Show) and Fine Gardening Magazine Award, Professionals'Choice Award, People's Choice Award and Garden Creator's Award.

The following is the Garden's official description from the NWFGS site :

HILL TOP FARM The two-time “Best in Show” winner Christianson’s Nursery takes you to a farmhouse garden in the English countryside with this floral and fragrant display. As seasoned veterans in restoring buildings and greenhouses at their home base in Mount Vernon, Washington, it’s clear their expertise carries over to this garden. Spot the antique tools and lighting that harkens back to the 1920’s, which might make you feel like you’re in the middle of an orchard taking a breath of fresh air. Using perennials and plants adaptive to the Pacific Northwest, this garden features vegetables, peonies, lilacs, iris, rhododendron and azaleas, among other plants surrounding the farmhouse facade. Take-home ideas: Protecting your vegetables from the cold and hungry critters; use of edible plants and fragrant plants   Garden Creator: Christianson's Nursery & Greenhouse; Mount Vernon, WA christiansonsnursery.com Designed by: John & Toni Christianson

Many of the objects (garden tools, rhubarb and kale forcing domes, etc.) are vintage.

Garden includes three types of English fences.

Click below to read more

Garden Memories From Last Fall

I realized that if I don't post anything right now, I hurt this blog's feelings... Four months with no posts... it's bad!

So, let me post some garden pictures from last fall.

I am looking at September pictures and can't believe that this is my garden. I spent the whole day cleaning, pruning, weeding and raking the garden, and it's difficult to believe that it will be as lush as the pictures show.  Many plants are showing up from the ground, I see many buds and new growth, but oh, my, what a difference between the September and February garden!

There were several significant projects in the garden last season.

The major change in the front garden was removing one of our fir trees and two cedars belonging to our neighbors. Additional sunlight and less competition from the big trees' roots gave a push to the plants growth on the small hill. Previously, they had stunted growth. Aralia Sun King was a big winner! It bloomed for the first time since I planted it.

Click below to read more

My Summer Garden-2019

Blogging was not a priority during the summer for a very clear reason - gardening!
Fall is also busy, but at least I can choose some pictures of my summer garden, in chronological order.

 Poppies are my love.

Click below to read more

My Visit To the Enchanted Garden of Patricia and Scott Bergford in Olympia, WA

These are the pictures from my visit to the beautiful garden of Patricia and Scott Bergford in Olympia, Washington state. I'm grateful to the Petal Pushers Garden Club that arranged the visit and kindly invited me to join it. 

Click below to read more

May 2019 My Garden Pictures

Just pictures today. 

Pictures are taken on the May 1st, 9th, 11th and 13th. The same corners of the garden might be shown several times on different dates. The garden participated in the 'NPA Open Gardens', May 11-12.

Front Plant Bed at Its Best in 2018

I'd like to share the views of my Front Plant Bed that I think was in its best shape ever last gardening season. And, I know exactly what gave this plant bed its luscious, best ever look.
Of course, many plants reached substantial size and several new important plants have been added (among them, Japanese maple 'Autumn Moon' and Hydrangea 'Oregon Pride').
But, there were two more important elements which I added to this central bed in 2018.

First, one of my potted Red Banana plants (Abyssinian bananas, Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii') was placed here.
Starting from the spring when I got it out of the garage, tall Red Banana instantly added dramatic effect to the Plant Bed. In summer, when it unfurled its gorgeous dark leaves, it became a star of the Front Garden. What a gorgeous architectural plant it is!

Second, several containers with annuals were placed in the front of the Plant Bed. What's important, those were relatively tall containers, which allowed their flowers to 'float' and fill otherwise empty or dark spaces. For two of these tall pots, I bought hanging baskets and just plopped them into the pots (instant gratification!). From afar, the pots are almost invisible and the flowers look suspended in the air.

Only the central front bed is shown in this post, but the second Banana plant and several identical pots were located  further to the right, on the opposite side of the driveway. It provided a sense of unity and rhythm to the entire front garden.

Abyssinian Banana, big bush of Hydrangea macrophilla 'Oregon Pride', Phormium (New Zealand Flax) and Japanese Maple 'Autumn Moon' are striking plants defining the look of this Plant Bed

It's difficult to overestimate the impact of the Hydrangea macrophylla 'Oregon Pride' in this Plant Bed. 
It's not just the large bright flowerheads that can differ in color on the same bush, but its big leaves and striking burgundy stems that attract attention. 

Click below to read more

Unplanned Visit to Chanticleer Garden

Here are some pictures from my unplanned visit to  Chanticleer Garden Garden in Wayne, PA in last August. I loved the Garden and hope to see it again - hopefully, in May or June and not on such a sunny day.

August Garden Pictures - 2018

These are several pictures of my August garden.

It still looks summery, with very few signs of fall.

The pictures are in chronological order.

Click below to read more