Vashon gardens part 4. There's even topiary. Of course, you knew there would be topiary in a place like this. The first is made from Japanese holly rather than the traditional boxwood. The second is a series of classic hornbeam arches, each made from two columnar hornbeam trees pulled together so that they grow intertwined and then sheared to get the effect.
Vashon gardens part 5. Second: the very famous Carhardt Garden, considered one of the best private gardens in Puget Sound. It's a private residence on several acres fronting Quartermaster Harbor. Mr Carhardt has spent decades constructing a multi-acre shade garden filled with exotic and rare woodland plants from around the world. His wife collects sculpture from local artists (and creates some herself).
Vashon gardens part 6. There's even topiary centerpiece of the Carhardt garden is the pond, which requires quite a bit of maintenance to keep it pristine and pool-quality. It has an island with dwarf conifers on it. There's also an entire Indonesian gazebo in carved teak, and lots of expertly arranged containers.
Vashon garden's part 7. The plant collection here is tremendous. Photo 1: Tradescantia 'blushing bride'. 2: Dracunculus vulgaris, voodoo lily or corpse lily, smalls like rotting meat when it first blooms (and oh could you smell it here). 3: Bletilla striata or hyacinth orchid.
Vashon garden's part 8. Lastly, a stop at tiny village of Dockton, once a bustling fishing and canning facility, now has only a few historic homes left. One of them has a lovely windswept cottage garden overlooking the harbor.
If you live in the #PNW and are interested in touring gardens like these, you can do so by joining the Northwest Perennial Alliance.https://northwestperennialalliance.org
Eugene Parnell