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.
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| Rhododendron 'Blue Peter' |
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| Popcorn Viburnum |
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| Double-file Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum) |
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| Exbury Azaleas |
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| Wiegela |
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| Azalea 'Tri-Lights' |
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| There were also some magnificent trees on the property. This is a huge Japanese Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata). |
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| Variegated Box Elder (Acer negudo variegatum) |
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Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana)
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| A gigantic Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) |
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.
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| That is Interstate 5 in the distance. |
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| 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
Comments
Of course, your photos are first-rate!
I wish there was always a grand park and a river between me and I-5 :-)
(And yes, also super impressed to see the mature Japanese umbrella pine and the monkey puzzle tree.)
What a charming garden. And great photos too of course!