Hulda Klager Lilac Garden

We drove up to Woodland, Washington (about 20 minutes up Interstate 5) last week to see the Hulda Klager Lilac Garden. Klager lived in this house from 1904-1960 where she propagated lilacs and developed fourteen varieties. You can read more about her and her family on the plaque below.





The house and grounds had a distinct Southern feel to it. The house is only open during Lilac Days (which ended on Mother's Day) and we were a day late. We did get to peek inside through the windows though and I would have liked to have taken the tour. Maybe next year...




Most of the lilacs were already spent with the exception of a few. There were other spring flowering shrubs, like rhododendrons and viburnums, that were spectacular.

Weigela and Rhododendron next to the barn

Rhododendron 'Blue Peter'

Another stunner that I did not get the name of

Popcorn Viburnum

Double-file Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum)

Exbury Azaleas

Wiegela

Azalea 'Tri-Lights'

There were also some magnificent trees on the property. This is a huge Japanese Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata).

Variegated Box Elder (Acer negudo variegatum)

Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana)

A gigantic Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana)

The view from the front porch

I have been to Woodland many times to shop at Tsugawa Nursery but I had never been to the other side of the interstate where the downtown area is located. It is quite old-fashioned and very charming. I did not get any photos of the street or shops but we stopped at a monument with views of the river.

That is Interstate 5 in the distance.

The yellow-flowering shrub across the river is Scotch Broom. It is very invasive here and can be see all along the road sides.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Foliage Follow-up

This is my first "Foliage Follow-Up" posting. I have always wanted to join in but just never got around to it. As I was taking photos for Bloom Day, I noticed that there is some very nice foliage in the garden. I hope conifers count!

One of my prized possessions right now is this pine tree- Pinus contorta 'Taylor's Sunburst'. Isn't it amazing?

Another conifer that I am thrilled to have is this spruce (Picea orientalis 'Skylands').

Spanish Fir (Abies pinsapo 'Glauca')

And one last conifer - Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens 'Glauca')

Now on to some trees. This is a maple called 'Eskimo Sunset' (Acer pseudoplatanus). I cannot decide if I like it or not. It was an impulse buy and it is certainly unusual looking. Right now is it looking pretty good so I am liking it at the moment.

I know that I love the Golden Variegated Dogwood. This poor tree was pot-bound at a nursery about to go out of business and it looked rather puny all last summer. Planting it in late May did not help matters. A few weeks ago, the leaves opened and it is stunning. I am worried that it might not like the full-sun location where I planted it but I honestly do not know where else it would go.

Japanese Maple 'Murasake Hirohime' was already planted here when we moved it and it always looks amazing. It is a dwarf variety.

Pieris 'Mountain Fire'

I love the Ninebarks - choosing just one variety was difficult but I decided on 'Coppertina' (Physocarpus opulifolius).

Barberry 'Rosy Glow' (Berberis thunbergii) - The rabbits love it. :(

I included Ceanothus 'Black Diamond' on my Bloom Day post but as you can see, the foliage is the star attraction. The flowers have just started to bud out.

Vinca minor 'Illumination' In our former garden in Alabama, Vinca spread like wildfire. I initially had this in a pot with some annuals and am now hesitantly trying it in the retaining wall planter. I want it to cascade over the side.

Another Home Depot bargain bin find, Sedum 'Cherry Truffle'. It has a nice pink flower later in the summer which looks great against the purple/black leaves.

 Foliage Follow-up is hosted by Pam at Digging. Check out the link for more bloggers sharing their foliage photos.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy