The Wolfe Garden

 The first thing I noticed in the Wolfe garden in Edmonds was how the purple house set off the plants in the front of the house. 

 Then you notice the plants.

 Chris is a tree guy, and he has many rare and unusual ones.

 Of course Mother Nature planted the huge cedar tree that anchors the back yard.

 This garden is Chris's retirement project, and to form it he hauled in 50 tons of rock and gravel.

 Chris is not the only gardener here though.  His granddaughter has her own style, and I hear she also loves to spread compost!

The Medearis Garden

It's always fun to visit a new garden, or new to us anyway.  Maggie and Myron have almost an acre to manage, and within that big space them have some lovely gems.

 The front of the house does not announce what is to be found in the back.  Yep, a swimming pool!

 There is an interesting mosaic in the pool surround. 

 Walk through the gate to the "back forty".

 There you find an outdoor summer room on the edge of a large meadow play area. 

 And even a bed, thought perhaps not for sleeping. 

Thanks, Medearis's, for opening your garden for the first time.  We enjoyed our visit. 

The Neal Garden

It was another spring weekend and another NPA Open Gardens tour.

On Sunday we visited six gardens in the Edmonds area, north of Seattle. We have been to the Neal garden before, but it is one of our favorites and we love having the opportunity to see it again.

 Kathleen describes herself as a "plant and garden art fanatic". It shows in her garden.

 The pretty potting bench

 About half of the back yard is taken up by the large pond and its lush surround.

 Kathleen loves color and handles it very artistically. 

 Much of the garden art she has created herself. 

 She didn't know the name of this hosta, but it is maybe the most beautiful one I have ever seen. 

 I had to ask what this lovely red-flowered shrub was - spice bush. 

 The shed is made of hand-hewn lumber, and the little patio in made of leaf-patterend pavers that the Neals created. 

 Lettuce growing in protective collars. 

Thank you, Kathleen and John for another chance to visit your beautiful garden.