It is always fun to play hooky. I sometimes refer it to running away from home. Since my business office is in the basement of my house that literally means leaving work and doing something else.
This last thursday I ran away from home to the Elisabeth C Miller Botanical Garden in Seattle. I have never been before but I will go back again. It was wonderful to see 3 acres of beautiful gardens, with shade and sun, conifers, and succulents, and most things in between. Our guide was one of the head gardeners Kelly. She did a really great job of directing us around the garden. I loved the fact that she knew many plants but not all of them, and was not afraid to admit it. I believe that we plant people are always learning too. These are not all great pictures but will give you a sense of my exploration and perhaps inspire you to visit too. It was a rare hot sunny day.
Garden path around house
Lovely weeping yew
hardy orchids in the bog garden
great plant combination
weeping camellia
If you get a chance to visit do. Only 500 visits per year are granted. I would love to go back in the fall. The mature trees will possibly be brilliant with color.
It, like all gardens, will change through the years. Trees need to be removed, winter damage, drainage issues, and plant purchases. This keeps the garden alive with new spaces and plants. I love to remind my clients that gardens are not like your living room. When you buy a new couch it is beautiful but stays the same. A plant on the other hand will grow, mature, blossom, have fragrance, fall color, winter interest, will spread, even sometimes have a sport or cross pollinate with another plant and create a new hybrid. I love that about gardens Elisabeth Miller endowed the garden so that new plants could be added as if she were still alive.
Check out their website for more information. Miller botanical garden
