--Driveway BEFORE--
Photos are
from Kathy and Kevin Schuler in Kirkland, Washington. Kathy says,
"Our garden hugs the side of a hill and is surrounded on the south and
west side by a forested park. The home sits on a small parcel of land with a
diminutive front yard facing north; narrow strips about five feet wide are on
the east and west; the back yard is roughly 200 square feet connected to the
forested park. The micro-climates are deep shade to all day sun. We live in a
house with a backdrop of tall Douglas firs and mature big-leaf maples. My first
thought was to create a garden following the theme of the dense woodland
understory. Instead, we decided on creating order and repetition with our
shrubs and trees. The challenge is to give the eye focal points and a sense of
order within the context of soaring conifers and an understory of indian plum
and salmonberry...."
--Driveway
AFTER--
The first
project was to screen a neighbor’s fence by planting 32 arborvitae along the
driveway. We added a beautiful plumrose Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria
japonica var. elegans).
I started planting Pacific Northwest natives in 2005 when we moved into the
home. There are nearly 100 sword ferns planted. Most of them come from county
salvage digs. The county has yearly work party days. You volunteer 3 hours to
dig natives then stay in the woodland digging up plants you would like for
yourself. This is a great way to get natives into a yard. For several years I
have volunteered during winter salvage digs and brought home truckloads of
ferns. I recall one fern was so large I separated it into nine pieces.
--West side BEFORE--
--West side AFTER--
The before picture shows the shady alley that eventually became a lush drift of
sword ferns. The rocky slope is amended yearly with mulch and compost. A row of
'Karl Foerster' feather reed grass provides a backdrop; the drift of sword
ferns runs the 100-foot length; clumps of yellow crocosmia guide the eye down
the garden to a golden euonymus at the corner of the house. The grass pathway
is hugged by Wood sorrel (Oxalis oregano). The two pictures that follow show
the garden in both directions.
North side
– House Front
Because the house sits on the side of a hill we have two tiers of cement block
walls leading up to the front steps. A red Japanese maple, 'Karl
Foerster' feather reed grass and three arborvitae help provide a sense of order
contrasting the wild woodland. Rows of 'Hetz Midget' arborvitae are planted on
both tiers giving the eye a resting place.
The lower tier of cement blocks and steps are softened with
sandwort (Arenaria montana).
A closer look at the contrast and textures of the red
Japanese maple, swaying 'Karl Foerster' feather reed grass and arborvitae.
The front porch faces north. Here the deer ferns and red
sorrel thrive despite the Pacific Northwest dry summer.
The front porch faces north. Here the deer ferns and red
sorrel thrive despite the Pacific Northwest dry summer.
South – House Back
The backyard is about 200 square feet with a steep slope to one side. Drifts of
sword ferns cover most of the area. Before we started the garden, the slope was
covered in Himalayan blackberries, which we removed. Buried in the blackberries
was a beautiful golden euonymus. I keep it pruned and skirted high to provide
architectural detail.
South – House Back
The backyard is about 200 square feet with a steep slope to one side. Drifts of
sword ferns cover most of the area. Before we started the garden, the slope was
covered in Himalayan blackberries, which we removed. Buried in the blackberries
was a beautiful golden euonymus. I keep it pruned and skirted high to provide
architectural detail.
Plant groupings at the back of the house: Hosta 'Patriot'
foreground; 'Rose Glow' Japanese barberry; 'Blue Star' juniper to the right.
Grape vine (Vitis labrusca 'Niagara') planted with red Crocosmia
'Lucifer'
Grape vine
(Vitis labrusca 'Niagara') planted with red Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
Devil’s
tobacco (Lobelia tupa), a species native to central Chili, is a dramatic flower
that does extremely well in the Pacific Northwest. A 'Niagara' grape
vine and red crocosmia are in the background.
Mother fern (Asplenium bulbiferum) has a graceful arching
fronds providing eye catching contrast in the shady landscape.
The back yard against the woodland
East side of the home
A stone walkway leads the way to the back of the home while a row of arborvitae
adds continuity to the landscape theme and provides screening.
Some Native Plants in the garden:
Pacific ninebark (Physocarpus
capitatus)
Vine maple (Acer circinatum)
Evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)
Red huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium)
Pacific rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum)
Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana)
Hardhack spirea (Spiraea douglasii)
Orange honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa)
Wood sorrel (Oxalis oregana)
Deer fern (Blechnum spicant)
Sword fern (Polystichum munitum)
False Solomon’s seal (Smilacina racemosa)
Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)
Foam flower (Tiarella trifoliata)
Bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa)
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium idahoensis)
Carpet bugle (Ajuga reptans)
Broad-leaved stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium)
Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum)
Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Piggyback plant youth-on-age (Tolmiea menziesii)
Dewey’s sedge (Carex deweyana)