Gardens of the Globe

I’m starting a new series today on gardens. There are many different types of gardens including herb, butterfly, Japanese, vegetable, container, castle, and community just to name a few. Over the next few months, I’ll periodically post blogs about the various gardens we have visited on our travels. We have visited quite a few since we both find them inviting, tranquil, and delightful places to wander. If there’s a garden nearby, we always want to stop by.

I received my love of gardening from my mother, she was a master gardener and was always happy to be digging in the dirt. One of my early memories of mom was going together to the local nursery where I could pick out a plant for one of the flower beds at our home in Seattle. I remember kneeling next to her and watching as she dug a small hole, added a little fertilizer, gently eased the tender plant out of its container, placed it in the hole, and mounded the dirt around the base of the plant. Then with my little, four year old hands, I would clumsily try to mimic her steps. I found it amazing to watch the plant grow and flourish over the spring and summer, and mom probably made sure it did just that.

Before my arthritis advanced, we had a pretty nice garden at our home in the states. We loved that yard, and spent many happy hours there. Here are a few photos.

Today, I’m focusing on my favorite gardens in Washington and Oregon. These are not necessarily the most popular, but they’re my favorites in the PNW.

Mukilteo Community Garden, Mukilteo, WA. Founded in 2009, this lovely garden strives to grow, educate, and share. We never participated, but if we eventually move back to Mukilteo, we will get involved.

Leach Botanical Garden, Portland, OR. This beautiful, sixteen acre property was originally the home of John and Lilla Leach, who purchased a portion of the plot in the early 1930s. Their original home, a charming stone cottage, still stands on the property.

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens, Portland, OR. The gardens have an interesting history dating back many decades. The first rhodies were planted here in 1950, and there are currently over 2,500 rhodies, azaleas, and other plants on the property.

Elk Rock Garden, at the Bishop’s Close, dates back to the late 1800s and is one of the oldest gardens in Oregon. Perched on the cliffs high above the Willamette River, this 13 acre garden is a lovely place to stroll and take photos.

I hope you enjoyed this first look at some beautiful gardens. I have many more to share over the coming months.

As always, I would love to hear from you, so feel free to leave a message.

The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway. Michael Pollan

Tricia