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Ashington Manor Farm (Yeovil)

After a two-night stay at The Swan Hotel in Wells , we departed for Exeter. Along the way, our first stop was Ashington Manor Farm, the home of the husband and wife garden designers Julian and Isabel Bannerman.  Roses are a specialty of the Bannerman's, but sadly, we were too early to see any. That disappointment was curtailed by touring their magnificent farmhouse, which we were invited to roam around at leisure. And Julian Bannerman, who did most all the talking, was a very entertaining man.  Gathering at the front door - We actually entered at the side of the house, right off the patio, which led to this room, where the Bannerman's greeted us. The massive table was filled with books they had written as well as magazine articles about their gardens. As we were listening to Julian's speech, I happened to notice Isabel Bannerman's book "Husbandry" on the table and immediately recognized it as a book I have at home but have not gotten to yet. At the time, I ha...
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Green Neighbors Natural Garden Tour

Plitt garden (Vancouver, Washington)

A few weeks ago, we went on the Green Neighbors Natural Garden Tour which featured ten eco-friendly gardens in the Vancouver (Clark County) area. We saw all but two gardens and got a chance to see parts of the county that we had not visited before, like Washougal, which reminded us a lot of North Carolina.


The gardens ranged in size, from larger ones with more than an acre to very tiny ones. All of the gardeners practiced sustainable gardening techniques (no chemicals, pesticides or herbicides).


This small front garden was a rain garden and a good example of how to prevent storm water runoff. This is something I am interested in. I have been thinking about ways to add a rain barrel to catch water that would otherwise be wasted. We have gutters all around our house but I know there has to be a way around that.
I loved the color combinations here. I am suddenly a big fan of orange, a color that I tended to stay away from in our formal garden. (Garden of Barbara Samuels)
This beautiful combination was in the only garden (Brenda Wilson) on the tour located near our neighborhood.
The Ferguson garden in Washougal was located on the banks of a river and was full
of wildflowers and herbs.

Brenda Calvert's garden in Brush Prairie had chickens, bees, an orchard and large vegetable garden.
A beautiful Sumac ('Tiger Eyes') in the garden of Monica Zapulla.


We almost skipped the Karen Plitt garden in Brush Prairie because we thought it was too far away but I am so glad we ventured on. It was the largest garden with several ponds, water features and beautiful perennials and native plants.


This was a fun tour and very educational. It is an opportunity to see how gardeners in the area use sustainable techniques to keep our environment safe and still have beautiful gardens. And it was free! I will be looking forward to next years tour.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. rebeccaJuly 25, 2016 at 2:32 PM

    Wow. I love the colors in that birdbath too!

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  2. GRACE PETERSONJuly 25, 2016 at 11:17 PM

    It looks like this wa a great tour with so much inspiration. Thank you for your comments on my blog. The Cameleon Plant is indeed invasive for a lot of people but it has never been a problem for me. The only thing I can think of is that my soil tends to be really dry. As for your Fuchsia, it may not bloom very well in full shade. I've found that they do best with 2-4 hours of sunlight, preferably AM sunshine, with consistently moist soil. (Yes my water bill is crazy high.) :)

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  3. Endah MurniyatiJuly 26, 2016 at 2:00 AM

    Beautiful! I like the first picture so much. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. AlisonJuly 26, 2016 at 8:25 AM

    It's interesting that you became a fan of orange after moving here. The same thing happened to me! I wonder if it's something to do with the quality of PNW light. Or maybe the lack of bright sunlight for so much of the year makes us crave an alternative.

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverJuly 26, 2016 at 8:33 AM

      Alison, I think it might be the quality of the light. The colors seem so much vibrant here. I am thinking about using a lot of orange and purple combinations in the new garden.

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  5. Lisa at GreenbowJuly 26, 2016 at 8:41 AM

    I like orange too. It sings out loud in the garden.

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  6. outlawgardenerJuly 26, 2016 at 2:56 PM

    Orange and red have grown on me too. Looks like you had a great time on the tour; thanks for sharing the fun!

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  7. AaronJuly 27, 2016 at 3:53 PM

    Man, that sumac is pretty. Tempted to try one, but I've heard that Rhus typhina (the species that 'Tiger Eyes' is part of) can sucker rampantly...though Tiger Eyes is supposedly tamer.

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  8. debsgardenJuly 31, 2016 at 4:55 PM

    Gorgeous, and positive proof one can have a beautiful garden without using harmful chemicals!

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