Dry Garden Improvement Project

The Dry Garden & the Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden remain the most problematic areas in the Ornamental Border.  It is pointless to do anything with the Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden until Seattle Parks & Recreation removes the trees there.  That leaves the Dry Garden as the most obvious area for improvement.  I propose that we remove the Acanthus, which isn't doing well in that location & has been discussed, as well as the Kniphofia & Phygelius, which are growing out of control.  In this area, including the area on the north side of the stair (which is a bit vacant) I propose we plant some of the following drought tolerant plants.

Shrubs
Arctostaphylos columbiana (Hairy Manzanita) Arctostaphylos densiflora (Vine Hill Manzanita)
Cistus ladanifer (Crimson Spot Rockrose) Cistus purpureus (Orchid Rockrose)
Dorycnium hirsutum (Canary Clover)
Erica arborea 'Estrella Gold' (Tree Heath) Erica australis (Tree Heath)
Myrtus communis (Common Myrtle)
Phlomis fruticosa (Jerusalem Sage)
Rosa rugosa (Sea Tomato)
Yucca filimentosa 'Color Guard'

Perennials
Achillea millefolium 'Terracotta' (Yarrow)
Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed)
Erigeron karvinskianus (Santa Barbara Daisy)
Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy)
Euphorbia rigida
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass)
Stipa gigantea (Giant Feather Grass)

Groundcovers
Hypericum cerastoides
Lithodora diffusa
Sedum, various species

Fall 2014 Improvement Projects

Native Garden

Native Garden

Native Garden (street side)

Winter Garden with perennial border

Winter Garden

Winter Garden

Winter Garden

During 3 work parties in September & October 2014, all non-native plants were removed from the Native Garden, 10 cubic yards of compost were spread on the Native & Winter Gardens, & new plants were added to both gardens.  A perennial border was created along the west edge of the Winter Garden.  Below is a list of the plants added to those gardens.

Native Garden

Shrubs

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’ (Lawson Cypress)

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Snow White’ (Lawson Cypress)

Mahonia repens (Creeping Mahonia)  

Ribes sanguineum ‘White Icicle’ (Flowering Currant)

Thuja plicata ‘Grune Kugel’ (Dwarf Western Red Cedar)

Perennials

Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)

Achillea millefolium ‘Terra Cotta’ (Yarrow)

Armeria maritima ‘Rubrifolia’ (Red-leaved Sea Thrift)

Erigeron glaucus ‘Sea Breeze’ (Beach Aster)

Iris x pacifica ‘Heritage Hybrids’ (Pacific Coast Iris)

Iris x pacifica ‘Orchid Sprite’ (Pacific Coast Iris)

Iris tenax x douglasiana ‘Baby Lilac’ (Pacific Coast Iris)

Groundcovers

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick, Bearberry)

Fragaria chiloensis (Sand Strawberry)

Fragaria vesca (Woodland Strawberry)

Mahonia nervosa (Longleaf Mahonia)

Oxalis oregana (Redwood Sorrel)

Sedum divergens (Stonecrop)

Sedum oreganum (Stonecrop)

Sedum spathulifolium ‘Carnea’ (Stonecrop)

Winter Garden

Shrubs

Aucuba japonica ‘Picturata’ (Japanese Laurel, Aoki, Gold Dust Plant)

Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rainbow’ (Fetter Bush, Dog Hobble)

Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Scarletta’ (Fetter Bush, Dog Hobble)

Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis (Dwarf Sweet Box)

Sarcococca ruscifolia (Sweet Box)

Skimmia japonica (Japanese Skimmia, Miyama Shikimi) 

Perennial
Hakonechloa macra 'Beni-kaze' (Japanese Forest Grass)

Groundcovers

Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ (Carpet Bugle)

Fragaria vesca (Woodland Strawberry)
Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver' (Dead Nettle)

Perennial Border

Echinacea purpurea ‘PowWow’ (White Coneflower)

Lilium auratum (Gold Band Lily)

Penstemon x mexicali (Mexicali Beardtongue)

Salvia verticillata ‘Purple Rain’ (Lilac Sage)

Scilla peruviana (Giant Squill)

Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden Plant List

The Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden lies on both sides of the southeast entrance to the park, across from the Dry Garden, south of the Native Garden & east of the Shade Garden.

Plant List

Trees

Acer campestre (Hedge Maple)

Betula jacquemontii (Himalayan Birch)

Distylium racemosum (Isu Tree)

Prunus serrulata 'Mt Fuji' (Flowering Cherry)

Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk' (Japanese Tree Lilac)

Shrubs

Abelia 'Edward Goucher'

Abelia x grandiflora 'Francis Mason' (Glossy Abelia)

Abelia x grandiflora 'Confetti' (Glossy Abelia)

Abelia x grandiflora 'Sunrise' (Glossy Abelia)

Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight' (Butterfly Bush)

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Worcester Gold' (Blue Mist Shrub)

Hebe buxifolia (Boxwood Hebe)

Phygelius x rectus 'African Queen' (Cape Fuchsia)
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Summer Wine' (Eastern Ninebark)

Potentilla fruticosa 'Mount Everest' (Shrubby Cinquefoil)

Rosa rugosa 'Double Blanc de Coubert' (Rugosa Rose)

Spiraea bumalda 'Limemound' (Japanese Meadowsweet)

Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' (Korean Lilac)

Weigela florida 'Minuet'

Perennials

Achillea millefolium 'Terracotta' (Common Yarrow)

Aster x frikartii 'Flora's Delight'

Crambe maritima (Sea Kale)

Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove)

Dorycnium hirsutum (Hairy Canary Clover)

Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican Hellebore)

Heuchera americana 'Plum Pudding' (American Alumroot)

Luzula nivea (Snowy Woodrush)

Papaver orientale (Oriental Poppy)

Sedum 'Frosty Morn'

Vine

Lonicera japonica 'Halliana' (Japanese Honeysuckle)

Abelia grandiflora 'Francis Mason' in May 2013

Acer campestre in May 2013

Betula jacquemontii in May 2013

Betula jacquemontii in May 2014

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Worcester Gold' in June 2013

Crocosmia masoniorum in July 2013

Digitalis purpurea in May 2013

Dorycnium hirsutum in May 2013

Hebe buxifolia in May 2014

Helleborus argutifolius in May 2014

Heuchera americana 'Plum Pudding' in May 2014

Papaver orientale in May 2013

Phygelius x rectus 'African Queen' in June 2013

Potentilla fruticosa 'Mount Everest' (Shrubby Cinquefoil)

Rosa 'Blanc Double de Coubert' in May 2013

Unidentified Rose in May 2014

Spiraea x bumalda 'Limemound' in May 2014

Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' in May 2014

Weigela florida 'Minuet' in May 2014

Meeting of the Border Leads

On 4-21-14 the Border Leads (Dale Herter, Kate Faulkner, Jordan Jackson & Joyce Moty) met in the border to review plans for the improvement of the Native Garden.  It was agreed that most of the existing plan for the Native Garden Improvement Project, proposed in July 2013 & approved by the Bradner Leads in August 2013, would begin to be implemented in the fall of 2014.  We decided to change the plan to keep both Mahonia 'Arthur Menzies' & prune them.  We agreed that all other non-native plants would be removed from the Native Garden & moved to new sites if possible.  We considered adding new planting to the street side of the Native Garden consisting of Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) & Creeping Mahonia (Mahonia repens) both medium-sized shrubs.  Jordan suggested adding Pacific Coast Native Iris (Iris douglasiana & hybrids) & Beach Aster (Erigeron glaucus) to the plant list for the dry & sunny strip along the path.   Joyce offered Camas (Camassia sp.) & False Lily of the Valley (Maianthemum dilatatum) from her garden for the project.  Jordan offered Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) & White Flowering Currant (Ribes Sanguineum 'White Icicle'). 

We agreed that compost for the new planting the Winter Garden should be added as soon as possible to allow it to settle & break down to become less acidic, before planting in the fall.  Jordan offered to draw new plans for both gardens shortly before planting begins.  Different approaches to irrigation were discussed without agreement.  There was general agreement that a list of rules should be made to guide improvements to the Ornamental Border, such as using drought-tolerant plants, researching the size & shape of shrubs before planting & planting large shrubs well away from the path.

Winter 2014

Acer buergerianum (Trident Maple) & Acer griseum (Paperbark Maple).

Sheet mulch.

Sambucus caerulea (Blue Elderberry).

Chionodoxa luciliae (Glory of the Snow)

Drimys lanceolata

Euphorbia characias & Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican Hellebore).

Helleborus x hybridus.

Magnolia stellata 'Rose King'.  All photos were taken on 3-18-14, 2 days before the 1st day of spring. 

During the fall/winter of 2013/14 some general pruning was done in the Ornamental Border.  Most notable was the transformation of the Sambucus caerulea (Blue Elderberry) in the Native Garden.  The 2 lowest limbs of the Acer buergerianum (Trident Maple) in the Winter Garden were removed, which made room to plant shrubs between it & the Acer griseum (Paperbark Maple) & also gave the latter more room to expand.  There was a work part in early March 2014, during which the weedy area north of the Shade Garden was sheet mulched & a think layer of compost was spread on the Native Garden.

Meeting with Heidi Narte

Dale Herter, Jordan Jackson & Joyce Moty met with Heidi Narte, Senior Gardener with the Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation, in the ornamental border, on the morning of 8-19-13.  Ms. Narte reviewed & generally approved the improvement plans for the native & winter gardens.  She approved the removal of the Prunus serrulata 'Mt Fuji' in the butterfly & hummingbird garden, because it was inappropriately sited.  She was willing to consider the removal of the Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans' in the winter garden & one of the Mahonia x media 'Arthur Menzies' in the native garden.  She noted the the Acer campestre in the butterfly & hummingbird garden would eventually need to be removed, because the tree would grow large enough to interfere with the power lines above it.

The improvement plans for the the native & winter gardens had been unanimously approved at the Bradner leads meeting on 8-12-13.   

Winter Garden Improvement Project

The winter garden was improved in fall 2014.  Five cubic yards of Cedar Grove Compost was spread & the following  plants were added.  Click here for the current winter garden plant list.

Shrubs
Aucuba japonica ‘Picturata’ (Japanese Laurel, Aoki, Gold Dust Plant)
Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rainbow’ (Fetter Bush, Dog Hobble)
Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Scarletta’ (Fetter Bush, Dog Hobble)
Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis (Dwarf Sweet Box)
Sarcococca ruscifolia (Sweet Box)
Skimmia japonica (Japanese Skimmia, Miyama Shikimi)

Groundcovers
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ (Carpet Bugle)
Fragaria vesca (Woodland Strawberry)

List of possible future additions:

Shrubs
Berberis darwinii 'Compacta' (Campact Darwin's Barberry)
Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’ (Dwarf Hinoki Cypress)
Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel)
Rhaphiolepis umbellata (Yeddo Hawthorne)
Ribes sanguineum (Flowering Currant)
Viburnum davidii (David's Viburnum)

Perennials & Groundcovers
Acanthus mollis (Bear’s Breeches): move from dry garden
Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle)
Anemone x hybrida (Japanese Anemone)
Campanula latifolia (Giant Bellflower)
Campanula poscharskyana (Serbian Bellflower)
Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove): scatter seeds
Franchoa ramosa or Franchoa sonchifolia (Bridal Wreath)
Geranium phaeum (Mourning Widow)
Liriope muscari (Lily Turf)
Luzula sylvatica ‘Aurea’ (Golden Wood Rush)
Narcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' (Daffodil)

These perennials were planted in fall 2014 along the west edge of the border.

Perennial Border
Echinacea purpurea ‘PowWow’ (White Coneflower)
Lilium auratum (Gold Band Lily)
Penstemon x mexicali (Mexicali Beardtongue)
Salvia verticillata ‘Purple Rain’ (Lilac Sage)

Scilla peruviana (Giant Squill)

Here is a list of possible future additions:
Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)

Allium cristophii (Star of Persia)
Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove)
Eryngium amethystinum (Sea Holly)
Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Cranesbill)
Lychnis coronaria (Crown Pink)
Paeonia ‘Flame’ (Peony)
Thymus serpyllum (Creeping Thyme)