Botanical Exotica at the Volunteer Park Conservatory
June 6, 2013
Glass flowers by Jason Gamrath at the Volunteer Park Conservatory
The Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle is currently displaying some glass flowers by artist Jason Gamrath amidst their collection of exotic and not-so-exotic plants. We went there expressly to see the glass art, but quite frankly, the glass flowers couldn’t hold a candle to Nature’s offerings. The conservatory has done some remodeling since my last visit. The seasonal room seemed less crowded and more open, making for a less chaotic experience. The orchids are no longer behind glass. Here’s a virtual tour:
Seasonal room, Volunteer Park Conservatory
Hydrangeas
Cactus room
Orchid
Passion flower
Bromeliad room
Jon B Dove garden cottage, Georgetown Garden Walk
Yesterday was the 2012 Georgetown Garden Walk. My friend Carol and I strolled around, map in hand, enjoying the garden ramble. We re-visited old favorites from last year’s Walk, and eyed a few new surprises. This year the Garden Walk was made extra special by art in the gardens, a co-event called “Cross Pollinate.”
My absolute favorite part of the Georgetown Garden Walk was Jon B. Dove’s garden cottage. I would love to have a garden retreat like this to write, paint, and work on my blog. Here are some photos:
The Jon B. Dove garden cottage interior
A relaxing spot to read a book
Dove garden cottage, another view
A profusion of clematis, Dove garden
Honeysuckle blossom, Dove garden
Another garden shed being made over into an extra living space
Red poppy
A small backyard space converted into a magical oasis, lined by votive candles
Daisies
Garden gate, Georgetown Garden Walk
Garden arch, a cool, green spot
Many gardens sported interesting art objects, like this vintage toy airplane
Foliage from Solomon seal
Purple and green grape leaves
We saw borders lined with hubcaps, bowling balls, and this one with bottles
A gardener and her passion flower
Pink hollyhocks
Old-fashioned flowers — hollyhocks
Tea in the garden
Carol resting on a bench in Oxbow Park
Parasol and long braid
This woman with her parasol was perfectly attired for the garden walk.
Plein air painter in a garden
Budding artist, Piper, painting in her garden
Poster for 2012 Georgetown Garden Walk
Two Special Flowers at the Volunteer Park Conservatory
March 25, 2012
I stopped in the Volunteer Park Conservatory this week and enjoyed all the usual plants — cacti, orchids, lilies in the seasonal room, etc. But my eye was caught by two special flowers that I cannot recall ever seeing before — a scarlet passion flower (passiflora miniata) and the Tiger Eye flowering maple.
Brilliant red passion flower
Tiger Eye flowering maple -- the flowers dangle like oriental lanterns
Tiger Eye flowering maple
Passion Flowers
October 14, 2011
Blue Passion Flower (Passiflora)
Blue Passion Flower
Watercolor sketch of Passion Flower
The Passion Flowers are certainly intricate blooms. There are some flowering on Greenwood Avenue right now. Beautiful!
Georgetown Garden Walk 2011
July 13, 2011
This past weekend's Georgetown Garden Walk
Summer gardens are flourishing, and communities often host Garden Walks to showcase their gardens. I’ve never attended a Garden Walk event, so I made it a point to check out this year’s walk in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle. Georgetown is perhaps better known as an industrial and warehouse district, but there are a few residential streets and pockets of houses nestled among the businesses in the area. Armed with a map of the participating gardens, my friend Carol and I set off to explore the neighborhood. Here are some photos:
A private cafe table and chairs
Lovely arched arbor between a front and back yard
I loved the color of this ground cover plant
Hubcaps edge these borders. These gardeners also used old bowling balls to line the edges of some garden patches.
Floating four-leaf clover at Oasis Water Gardens
Old-fashioned hollyhocks
The most unusual flower I saw on the Georgetown Garden Walk -- passiflora, or passion flower
Giant Cowboy Hat 'n' Boots, Oxbow Park, Georgetown
My favorite garden: Jon B Dove's garden has a garden house, a perfect retreat!
Dove garden house, Georgetown Garden Walk
Interior of Dove's garden house
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