Garden Touring, Part 1

 As the summer wound down, so did the Open Gardens program of the Northwest Perennial Alliance. 

We missed many of the open gardens, but we were happy to be able to join in the touring of this last weekend's offerings. These gardens were in Lakewood, an area with small lakes south of Tacoma. In the early 1900's wealthy area residents began to build summer cottages along the lake shores, which then became expanded into year round residences on expansive grounds. Over time these estates have been divided into smaller properties, but still are examples of a grand lifestyle. 

The Gallinatti garden surrounds a stately home built in 1918 that was originally a gatekeeper's cottage to an estate on the shore of American Lake. Everything you see here is the result of extensive remodeling of the garden and part of the house.

The Open Garden sign lets us know we are in the right place, but it's the planting in this container that catches the eye. 

The elegant box hedges suit this lovely old home. 

Around the back, the hardscape and furnishings are placed to take advantage of the view of American Lake. 

Next we were off to Lakewold, an estate on the shore of Gravelly Lake. Lakewold is now a public garden, a National Historic Landmark,  and the home is used as an event center. Tom had looked on line to see what the plant sale had to offer and had his eye on some dwarf hostas, so we stopped at gift shop/ plant sale area first, which is the old gate keeper's cottage. 

A few pink dogwood blooms linger. 

The back terrace with a lake view. 

We have been to this garden in various seasons so we did not explore the whole ten acres this time.

Not much is blooming now, except the autumn hardy cyclamen. Tom is particularly fond of hardy cyclamen and had to check them all out. 

I, of course, love the big old trees, like this Douglas Fir "Wolf Tree".

Wolf trees had their terminal buds damaged  and so they grew all which way. 

Tom studied the cyclamen. 

Designed in the Olmstead style, this garden, of course,  has a great lawn dominated by an Empress Tree. 

Along the entry drive. 

There is an Asian influence in this side garden off the main drive. 

It was easy to keep a distance from the other masked visitors, and we enjoyed a nice stroll in this beautiful garden.

More to come.