This year’s garden tour features five magnificent properties that show off the beauty of our island, an Art Bazaar of local artists showing and selling their work in the VCA lobby, and a garden-inspired exhibition of local artists in the Koch Gallery.

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Garden #2

NOTE: This garden is accessible only by shuttle, with parking and pick-up at the intersection of SW Biloxi Rd at SW 112th St.

When the owner bought the property four years ago, he acquired a house that had been partially remodeled and a vacant half acre lot sloping steeply to the water. At the time, the slope and the abundance of blackberries made it impossible to get to the waterfront.  In short, a perfect blank slate with a stunning view.

The concept that emerged is a Japanese meets Pacific Northwest meets Zen-feeling to the entry and the formal gardens. The gardens feature sculptural stone walls, blue slate patio, and a granite infused water feature. Visitors will find layered Japanese maples, a specimen mature pine that had been trained in the bonsai style (a gift from Dan’s brother’s business, Plant Detectives), specimen rhododendrons (including a King George), scented azaleas, dogwood, and grasses.

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As the property moves away from the house, more natural gardens flow down to the water where visitors will find Gowdy spruce, more rhodies and Japanese maples, native salal, thunderhead pines, shore pines…and then more grasses.

The owner describes the sloping terrain as a Monet’s Hillside, “my attempt at a Darwinian, drought tolerant, deer resistant perennial garden, and a lot of lavender.”

The south section of the hillside picks up the owner’s Zen/native sensibility with a water feature, more shore pines, salal, rhodies, and maples complimented with a fire bowl and Adirondack chairs.

Gravel paths and stone walls descend from the upper garden to the waterfront with a granite bulkhead with 2 massive stone staircases to the beach.

CREDITS:
Garden Designers: Lisa Hummel (entry and upper garden); Suzanne Hattery (trails and hillside, southern, and upper southern areas).

Stonework and patios: SAS Design

Plant Materials: Art Laster of Plant Detectives (large trees, including sculptured pine in upper garden); Dr. Al Watts, (rhododendrons); Kathy’s Corner; Dig; Charlie Morgan of Amazing Maples

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