Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Monday, August 1, 2011

Seattle Garden Bloggers' Fling~A Feast For The Senses

DRAGONFLY FARM
It's going to be weeks before I come down from this high! Seattle Fling was a trifecta of delights: good friends, old and new; perfect weather; and, fantastic gardens. This was my fourth 'fling' and they keep getting better!
THE EPPING GARDEN VIEW
The gardens we toured were outstanding~A veritable feast for the senses.

DELIGHTFUL ERYNGIUM AND BUMBLE
As always, there were one or two plants that caught my eye and tempted my resolve! Like eryngium~What a beauty and it was covered with bees! But, dear readers~I wasn't fooled; just entranced! (My Garden Agreements)
KATE FARLEY GARDEN
Wouldn't you have been tested/tempted by those Alstroemeria! They prefer cool climates and well drained soils! Of course, they make nice container plants~ Imagine them next to the Purple Waiting Bench.
SHELAGH TUCKER'S SEATTLE GARDEN
Each garden was creatively designed and filled to capacity with fantastic plants, wonderful hardscape and artistic touches that teased the senses. I wish that I could see them again!



The cheerful colors of the Birrell Garden shed must light up the garden and the spirit on the coolest gray days.

MOSAIC PEBBLE LANDING~SHELAGH TUCKER GARDEN
Shelagh Tucker has combined the colors of her house, garden plantings and hardscape into this beautiful pebble landing.
DENISE LANE GARDEN
What I enjoyed the most was how brilliantly the gardeners used sculptures/containers/other art pieces with their plantings and hardscape. They all came together to inspire, delight and entrance visitors.

EPPING GARDEN

I'll be looking over my photos for months!

DRAGONFLY FARM
Projects are already lining up!

SUZETTE AND JIM BIRRELL GARDEN
A metal smith has been charged with making a rebar bender! Curly Ques will be the rage at C and L!
LORENE EDWARDS FORKNER GARDEN
Neither Nashville's weather nor those danged mosquitoes can keep this excited gardener from attempting to make a version of this marvelous column seen in Lorene Edwards Forkner garden....I can't wait to see her new book!

THE SEATTLE TEAM PLUS JANET ENDSLEY

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you Lorene Edwards Forkner, Debra Prinzing, Marty Wingate and Mary Ann Newcomer for a magical time in The Emerald City!


xxoogail

PS I hope to see you all at the next one!



This post was written by Gail Eichelberger for my blog Clay and Limestone Copyright 2011.This work protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Please contact me for permission to copy, reproduce, scrape, etc.
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33 comments:

  1. Lisa at GreenbowAugust 1, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    Everything looks marvelous. This is a unique treatment of a bench. I like that curly rebar too. What fun to see so much inspiration.

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  2. FairegardenAugust 1, 2011 at 6:22 AM

    It was a real treat, as you say so eloquently, dear Gail! I love that capture of the Eryngium and bee. So true, that the photos from Seattle will be studied and enjoyed for years to come! Will you rent out the rebar bender?
    xxxooo
    Frances

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  3. Dig, Grow, Compost, BlogAugust 1, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    You showcased some of the highlights from each garden. I'm starting to wonder if I should learn how to weld. :-) And I'm still trying to figure out which photos to show. I see several posts in my future if I get the time. It's was so wonderful to see you Gail. I really must get up to C&L sometime soon.

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  4. AnonymousAugust 1, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    Lovely Fling and visit to Seattle. The gardens were gorgeous and what I would have expected in these Eden like conditions and great weather. It would be nice to attend and have all that fun next year.

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  5. LayaneeAugust 1, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    You captured the magic, Gail. Rebar bending tool is on the drawing board for many of us. What fun she shall have. LOL

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  6. Benjamin VogtAugust 1, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    I hate missing these event each year. It looked awesome. You've made me jealous, again! I'm sure you're happy to be back int the heat though, right? :)

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  7. KathyAugust 1, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    That peachy-apricot with purple has become my new favorite color combo. Alstroemeria isn't hardy here, but I have plenty of daylilies in that color. Now I have to find some purple perennials--or paint a bench!

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  8. AnonymousAugust 1, 2011 at 1:01 PM

    Gail, what are those beautiful blue flowers in the first pic?
    Sallysmom

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  9. GailAugust 1, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    Sallysmom, I think they must be a campanula~But, I am not completely sure! I'll ask around. gail

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 21, 2015 at 10:16 PM

      I see this is an old post I stumbled across, but for anyone else looking, they are Brodiaea laxa (I love the common name, Ithuriel's spear)

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  10. LesAugust 1, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    I really must stop reading these Seattle posts that all of you are writing. They make me wish there was some way I could have gone.

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  11. Elizabeth MusgraveAugust 1, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    Sounds and looks absolutely fabulous Gail. I would love to have made it there but was quite pleased to have made it as far as Malvern! I have just bought an eryngium which looks remarkably like that one too!

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  12. Victoria SummerleyAugust 1, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    Great post, Gail. I'm still ploughing through my account a day at a time, but I'm beginning to wish I'd approached it in a more impressionistic spirit. Yours is a great thumbnail portrait of a great trip. Lots of love, Victoria xxoooxx

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  13. MeemsAugust 1, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    What a beautiful tribute to the Fling, Gail. I so wish I could have seen it all first hand. But how nice of you to take us along. Great for ideas and inspiration! All beautiful and to think ... you got to where sweaters! So much fun.
    (((hugs))) Meems

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  14. Paula Jo @ Home and Garden DecorAugust 1, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    What an awesome post Gail.
    The pictures - gorgeous!
    The gardens - simply beautiful!
    I can see very well how you will be busy for weeks going through all the pictures again and again and I am looking forward you posting more about the fling.

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  15. Mr. McGregor's DaughterAugust 1, 2011 at 9:03 PM

    I don't thing I'm able to summarize the experience so succinctly. It was just so...wow. Good job.

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  16. Carol MichelAugust 2, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    Ah, yes, Seattle!! Such good times and I'm enjoying reading all the posts to capture the moments and savor them again and again. Thank you for this round up of photos. I want a rebar bender, too!

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  17. JanAugust 2, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    I very much enjoyed your photos and review of some of the sights you took in. Everything looks so lush and full in the cooler temps. Glad it was a great trip and that you had such a good time;-)

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  18. joeyAugust 2, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    Anxious to see pics from Fling trip, a super lovely post, dear Gail, and as always ... great photos! Alstroemeria looks divine in a garden ... I have only seen/purchased them cut! Thank you for sharing.

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  19. Pam/DiggingAugust 2, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    That's a wonderful last picture of the Fling planners, Gail! I didn't get one of them all together, but I'm glad you did. I hope you do make a curlicue rebar bender -- and please post a tutorial about it when you do! I missed the homeowner's discussion about he does that, but I LOVE the effect.

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  20. sweetbayAugust 2, 2011 at 12:35 PM

    Beautiful shots Gail. Sounds like a wonderful experience! I love the combo in the first picture. How gorgeous.

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  21. BarbarapcAugust 2, 2011 at 1:02 PM

    Gail, must put some money in a/c as my run and away and meet the bloggers for next year. The blue flower, I'm thinking it is agapanthus? was it in a pot, although it's a real water hog and the plants around it look sort of sedum like - dry lovers. Completely puzzling, but so Provence and a brilliant photo!

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  22. F CameronAugust 2, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    So many inspirations! I'll have to come back and look, digest, look, so I'll keep this post bookmarked!

    Everyone looks so happy! What a wonderful get together!

    (Is it true the 2012 will be in Asheville, NC? I may be able to make that trip...we had too many family trips taking up my travel budget this year.)

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  23. Cindy, MCOKAugust 2, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    It all seems like a beautiful dream now. I keep trying to recapture the sense memory of cool Pacific Northwest air on my skin ... and failing miserably!

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  24. Janet/PlantalisciousAugust 3, 2011 at 1:25 AM

    So many wonderful ideas there, I am itching to bend metal, paint sheds and build columns. Sounds like a fabulous time.

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  25. Rock rose August 3, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    So nice to meet you Gail. How well you condensed all those days of fun garden visits-everyone different. The head is bursting with ideas.

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  26. LolaAugust 3, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    What a great bunch of pics. Thanks for the tour. I love the re bar item.

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  27. KathleenAugust 3, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    I can absolutely see why you're so inspired. Wonderful photos and gardens. I really love all the textures and colors in that first photo. I bet the cool weather felt wonderful too. Someday I will find a way to join you all....

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  28. CarolineAugust 3, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    After seeing your photos, I definitely need a Canon G-12! Wonderful synopsis of the event. Lovely to meet you at the Fling!

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  29. Dee/reddirtramblingsAugust 4, 2011 at 7:17 AM

    Loved reading this. It brought all the memories to the surface again, and I needed that respite. Thanks. Much love to you my dear friend. I'm so glad I got to see you.~~Dee

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  30. RoseAugust 4, 2011 at 7:52 AM

    I can only imagine what a "high" you have been on--everything is simply gorgeous! Beautiful gardens, beautiful weather, and good friends--it doesn't get much better than that.

    Love that old bench planter; what a great way to recycle something into a work of art. And yes, I can just see some curly rebar fitting in perfectly at C & L! Glad you had such a great time!

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  31. Curbstone Valley FarmAugust 4, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    Awwww...now I'm even more sad I missed it :( The gardens look simply gorgeous. I hope I can make it to the next fling!

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  32. LINDA from Each Little WorldAugust 4, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    Love that bench and container of stones. Clearly great flowers but really noteworthy non-blooming garden features. Thanks for the tour.

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson


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