In today's post I'm continuing my coverage of two charming and beautiful gardens on the NPA's South Sound garden tour this past weekend, when yet again Peter
The Outlaw Gardener and I went gallivanting around the countryside. Yesterday I showed pictures of the garden of Karen and Larry Decker (you can check out my post
here). Today, another lovely old-fashioned cottage garden full of delights!
The Garden of Tom and Linda Reeder
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| The front garden is a combination of sun and shade and as you near the front door it is a riot of color. |
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| Colorful planter |
You cross the garden and head to the right, passing into a shade garden. Like yesterday's garden you are given a choice to go directly into the sunny back garden or to head further into the shade. We chose the shade, following a path that crosses a dry creek and down a slight incline to a wooden pavilion with seating.
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| Hiding in the dry creek under some Mahonia leaves is a stone dragon |
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| The garden is decorated with glass thrift shop finds turned into flowers, very colorful! |
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| Peter and I both marveled at this brilliant way of displaying thrift store glass flowers. Rather than drilling a hole, simply glue a vase onto the back and then slip it over bent rebar. |
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| Further along in the dry creek is a pagoda lantern and a fish. |
We headed back up toward the sunny back garden, where we met the gardeners Tom and Linda Reeder. As we took more photographs we talked to Linda and were thrilled to discover she was a garden blogger! You can check out her blog
Linda Letters here, where you'll see lots more photos of her garden.
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| A bright purple birdbath with a stone bird eyeing a stone kitty. Or is it the other way around? |
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| Hanging on one of the trees is an adorable little face carved into a piece of wood. |
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| And a glass bug! |
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| The Reeders had set out an assortment of goodies for visitors, along with some ice cold lemon water, very refreshing! |
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| I took the sign's advice, and scarfed some chocolate-covered pomegranate pieces. |
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| Linda's grand-daughter had a little plant stand, where she was selling starts of this pregnant onion, but because it was so close to the end of the open garden, Linda gave me one! The potting bench in the background was built from repurposed pallet wood. |
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| The Reeders have quite a collection of old brass hose nozzles -- conjuring a great childhood memory! |
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| I've never seen a Johnny Jump-up in this color, I love it! |
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| Peter and I both coveted these metal Alliums, which Linda got at Gardener's Supply. |
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| Notice how the pot and its black mondo grass are perfectly color-matched to the 'Sum and Substance' Hosta and the dark-leaved Bugbane? The Reeders' garden was full of little touches like that. |
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| From across the garden, Peter takes a photo of the shade bed. |
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| Two perfect pink Dahlias. |
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| Part of an entire swath. Cactus Dahlias are my favorite Dahlia flower form. |
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| In the greenhouse, a collection of old sprinklers hangs on the wall. |
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| A lovely vignette |
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| A two-tiered display of bonsai almost seems to float in mid-air. |
Thank you so much to the Reeders for opening their garden to NPA members! I know it was a lot of hard work getting ready. They were wonderful, friendly hosts.
I hope you enjoyed this tour of NPA gardens in the South Sound area. Peter and I had a blast, as always! And it was a thrill to discover another local blogger, who is also a great gardener and a very gracious hostess. Please check out Linda's blog Linda Letters
here.
