Winter Walking

The only time I walk for exercise is during the winter months. My favorite place to walk is the neighborhood adjacent to ours  - unfortunately, ours is not as refined as this one. :( 

I don't think I've seen these homes during the summer months. Maybe I can do a summer walk this year. I imagine that the majority of residents are retirees and people who don't really garden. They hire lawn crews to mow and prune their plants. But most are well-kept (sometimes a random eyesore, but rare).

That said, there are some actual gardens. One of my favorites is this one, which has curved, raised beds. Last year, I met the very nice woman who lives here. She takes care of one side of the garden and the other side is tended by her sister.

I also think this one is very well done.

It was a gray day when I stumbled across this yellow door. I don't remember it last year. How cheerful is this?

A more adventurous gardener lives here. Lots of grasses and zone-pushing plants. You rarely see grevellia.

And right next door is a "certified habitat" garden. I love seeing this Garrya (Silktassel) every year.

And signs of spring next to their driveway.

 I love it when people don't cut the grasses in the fall.

I first got an idea for my new gate from this house. Theirs is much larger. From what I can see, it looks like there is a small stone courtyard on the opposite side, between the gate and the front of the house. The entire landscape has an Asian-themed feel. I admire the restraint, which I don't have, but I would have to fill in those blank spots.

This street is very steep and hard on the knees, but the lake view is spectacular.

One day, I am going to walk through the neighborhood that lies below this road - larger homes with a lake view. I can only see the roofs from the road.

Just including this one to show some of the not-so-desirable plants that PNW gardeners have to be careful with. Blackberry is a common culprit, taking over like wildfire if you let it, and very unpleasant to deal with. Here is a big patch growing on a hillside just about the mansions in the above photo.

Ivy is another thug. These people actually make it look decent. They let it carpet their entire hillside.

There are occasional passageways that connect the streets, so you don't have to go all the way to the end of the block. This one is planted with a line of the standard red-twig dogwoods as well a yellow one at the end (probably 'Midwinter Fire').

I love these little sidewalk libraries. You see them everywhere here, and there are several in our own neighborhood. This is the nicest one I've seen - there is a guestbook you can sign, and a stamp and pad to stamp the books you donate. I found a Jo Nesbo book here a few weeks ago that I haven't read. In this depressing time, it is comforting to know that things like this exist.

The heaths are the stars of the winter garden, in my opinion, and every year when I see them, I wish I had planted more of the heavy flowering varieties.

A beautiful 'Chief Joseph' pine with some accompanying yellow echoes.

A strip alongside the sidewalk, done very nicely. I should have taken a wide shot, as the planting further down was even lovelier.

Ending with boxwood, or at least I think this is boxwood. I've never seen it this orange.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy