In many ways, this was my favorite garden. It's small, but the many hidden areas made it seem so much bigger. And the plants! So many cool plants that were completely novel to me. With the proclamation that "I planted every shade tolerant woodland plant I could get my hands on", I knew I'll find this foliage heavy shade garden enchanting, and it is: charming and inspiring vignettes at every turn, and I love those vintage metal?
I covet those pots! They're so good I think they are new, meant to look old. Nancy's was one of my favorites too. It had so many great vignettes and a wonderful flow. I missed the log planter by the outbuilding, and in your photo another cool detail: the willow fencing placed in front of a prosaic chain-link fence.
I have to echo Gerhard's statement. Impressed as I was by many of the Puget Sound gardens what can compete with Heronswood?! It was small but utterly packed with ingenious elements, living and otherwise. It's the garden I'd dream about having if I lived in that climate and had a smattering of Nancy Heckler's imagination. I haven't sorted through my own photos of that garden yet but, as many of yours came as a surprise, I know you caught many things I completely missed.
Thanks for sharing the products of your perceptive eye, Loree. I bet you've got some photos of things I missed, and I look forward to seeing them. Thanks for your kind words and beautiful photos. You are welcome anytime! I wish I were your neighbor. I'd show up with a bottle of wine and we could walk your garden This is now one of my favorite gardens. Loved every single thing about it. I have no willow but still attempt to make orbs and other things from clippings after pruning. Not an easy task!
It must be heavenly to have all that shade to escape the heat. Will revisit this posting often for inspiration. Glad you enjoyed it! I made a grapevine wreath once, from grapevine prunings, it was fun, but definitely helps you understand the work behind the price at the store of course those are probably made by machines. Probably my favorite garden of the tour. Me, an admitted sneerer of hydrangeas. I was flat out wrong about them. When grown well, and in harmony with the setting, they are magnificent.
