Hardy Plant Study Weekend -- Susie Marglin's Garden

Every four years, the Northwest Perennial Alliance hosts Hardy Plant Study Weekend, an annual four-day conference that rotates with three other regional gardening groups, the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon in Portland and the Hardy Plant Groups of Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia. It was four days of total immersion in gardening that included lectures in the morning and garden tours in the afternoon. The theme this year was "Married to Your Garden: How to Save the Relationship." My relationship didn't really need saving, and the lectures didn't really stick with that theme (thank goodness, because it's silly), but for the most part they were informative and entertaining nevertheless.

Susie Marglin's Bellevue, WA garden was another big favorite from the tours that I went on during Hardy Plant Study weekend. Here's the blurb from the booklet:

"Susie has been gardening here for just a decade and a half -- having moved many of her favorites from her former garden (which was beloved by all who visited). Now she gardens half-time here during the best seasons and the rest in Mexico, that influence can be seen throughout. Here she has a place to gather in the evening, remember the past and plot the future. Note the arbor that divides the garden and the many fountains and plants used to get the most out of a compact city lot. Explore the many vignettes as you wander from Latitude 48 with redwoods to Latitude 23 with palms and more!"

You'd never know what hides behind this plain wooden fence.

Outside the fence, poppies and Nicotiana are a well-matched plant combo, colorwise. Just wait till you get inside!

The small front garden contains borders and a stone patio, as well as a handful of containers

Rosa glauca

The stone patio with a pale pink Dierama

The route to the back garden is through the impeccably furnished house (pausing only to pet the friendly little dog), and as you step through the back door, this is the sight that greets you. I stopped still and gasped. This is the arbor that divides the back garden in half, into sunny and shady areas.

The bright fountain makes a magnificent focal point

There were numerous small water features throughout the garden as well, leaving me to wonder if the entire yard was wired. Everywhere in the sun are collections of pots and potted plants.

Lizards seem to be a favorite theme.

There's always an Agave. Sometimes several.

I loved this fellow, bedecked in wind chimes and jewelry.

There's a Gila monster on the roof of the house!

As you step through the arbor and look to the right, this is what you see.

As I took the photo, I didn't realize two of the pillows were real and two were trompe l'oeuil paintings.

Perhaps not the most comfortable seat, but then, many gardeners have a hard time actually sitting still when out in the garden. We really should take the time to enjoy our own creations more.

Even the book cover and the pink liquid in the glass match their surroundings.

Fabulous head planter! I want one.

Far in the back of the garden are two enormous Sequoias, providing shade

Perennials in a holding area -- I'm always heartened to see a gardener's pot ghetto

I did!

Read my previous post about Bob Barca's Hummingbird Hill Garden on Whidbey Island here.

Read about the NPA and the Hardy Plant Study Weekend here.

Hardy Plant Study Weekend -- Bob Barca's Hummingbird Hill on Whidbey Island

I am sooooo far behind on sharing my photos and thoughts on recent garden tours. I've just returned from Hardy Plant Study Weekend in Bellevue, WA, where I sat through several interesting and entertaining talks and went on garden tours every day for four days. I also want to share some of my photos from the Gig Harbor NPA tour over a week ago, which I attended with Peter The Outlaw Gardener and my friend Annette, as well as more photos from my visit to Far Reaches Farm. Where do I begin?

I've decided to start with pictures of one of my favorite gardens from Plant Study Weekend -- the Barca garden, aka Hummingbird Hill, on Whidbey Island, which I saw last Friday. Here's the description from the Plant Study Weekend program booklet.

"Here you will find the garden of a man who was passionate about plants and pushing the envelope of what you can grow. After a pretty good winter come and see what is flourishing and what has been replaced. For years Bob Barca spoke and shared aspects of gardening -- encouraging and inspiring many to try new plants or to plant for the birds. His garden is now tended by his widow and her sister, always involved in projects. Many of the hardscape features help the marginal Mediterranean climate shrubs overwinter. A collector of all things Proteaceae and more, Bob displayed collections in pots as well. Hopefully the Tropaeoleum will be in bloom as it covers the garage wall. No matter the weather it always feels like summer in this garden."

The salmon pink color that every hardscape element and structure is painted is the garden's signature color.

The walls are all built from cinder block and covered with mortar, then painted. Here plants pop up from some of the cinder block openings.

Euphorbia flowers perfectly match the wall color

An enormous Cistus was just smothered in blooms

There were huge Grevilleas blooming everywhere!

Grevillea 'Molonglo'

'Marshall Olbricht'

 

The cinder block structure reminds me of a pueblo

Arctostaphylos growing in the gravel

Clerodendron hookerianum

Melianthus major

There were also many, many plants that I didn't have a chance of recognizing.

I asked for and got the name of this flowering tree, but did the name stick with me? For maybe ten seconds. (There seems to be a consensus of opinion that it's Pineapple Broom/Cytisus battandieri)

Was the Tropaeoleum blooming? Yes, they both were.

Tropaeoleum tuberosum

T. tuberosum

Tropaeoleum speciosum

A large conservatory attached to the side of the house was also still full of plants.

I bet this stove keeps the space cozy in the winter

A fully functioning sink for washing up

I thought at first that Bob Barca's Hummingbird Hill reminded me of Mexico, or the American Southwest, but in truth, it is a place unto itself. I don't think I've seen anywhere quite like it, and doubt if I ever will again.