More Heronistas

Just wanted to do a quick visual tour of Duane West's place in western Washington. He has been very very busy.

New sheds, love the colors

'Shiro' plum = yum

Fastigiate copper beech in narrow container

Cute bird condos

his old place (lived here for 30+ years!)

I made fried oysters for dinner

All the veg from the garden

Beaver freak out moment

"alien" peony fruits

Duane West, Celia Pedersen

Echinops ritro toughing it out on the edge of the dry woodland

Ricinis 'Carmentcita' with amazing hot color

yummy veg

Martha liked my kale chips

Martha Stewart also blogged about Dan and Robert's celebration. She liked my tall and slender kale chips and there happens to be a photo of me at dinner!  There are some great photos of Dan's garden too. You have to go through the slideshow to see all of the photos.

Martha's blog

Drift

Few people know that there's a real life Pippi Longstocking, but there is.  Her name is Celia Pedersen (a hardy Dane), and she lives in a magical cabin on a bluff by an enchanted cove in Dabob Bay. Celia was and is now again the head gardener at the recently restored Heronswood Garden. I met Celia 13 years ago when I came to visit Heronswood in hopes of being an intern. The following year I was accepted and my life was never the same.

It's not hard to pretend that we're in Sweden as we row the boat along this fiord-like inlet.  Whenever I come to visit Celia she has some crazy task/adventure/project waiting for me. This time it was to row out to find some choice driftwood pieces.  Of course with Celia they'd never be pieces that just one person can handle. Celia and I towed the pieces back to the cove.

I was relieved/surprised/delighted that the sound is warm enough to swim, and that it was even warmer than Laguna Beach where I swam the week before.  Fresh oysters will be on the menu tonight. Yum.

Flowers for Dan and Robert with love

After being together for 30 years Dan Hinkley and Robert Jones (of Heronswood fame) were finally able to marry this year. I feel very lucky to be invited to their 30/60 Party (Dan's 60th birthday and a celebration of their 30 years together),  a party for 180 people. So, when I was notified the night before that I would be doing the flower arrangements I happily accepted. I returned to the house at 7:30 the morning of the party,  Dan made me fried eggs, toast, and a great cup of coffee. By 8:00 I started making up the 19 arrangements. At first I thought I would just make two or three prototypes and then repeat. But as I started I got a big inspiration, why not do each arrangement as a little work of art, ikebana-inspired art. And mind you I had the all of Dan's Windcliff garden to raid.

Below are the arrangements I hope you enjoy.