Whatcom Horticultural Society

Garden Tours

Annual Tour of Private Gardens


June 19 & 20, 2010

 

Tour five fabulous gardens and visit a garden art gallery. This video slideshow sampler runs about 5 minutes.

 

LUANNE & LARRY VAN WERVEN

7555 Hannegan Road, Lynden

Van Werven Garden

With views of the Canadian Cascades, surrounding pastoral lands and valley, the setting of Luanne and Larry Van Werven’s garden and home is absolutely stunning! Extensive hardscaping defines this formal garden and back yard designed for elegant year round entertaining. The repetition of textures, foliage and color combinations in both pots and landscape create a calm, uncluttered look. Greeting you at the entryway, there are 15 rose bushes on the left and a mature paper-bark maple on the right. On the garden shed, the fragrance from a beautiful variegated honeysuckle perfumes the air. Next, you will encounter an herb garden accessed by a spiral path. Beyond, is a great juxtaposition of Euphorbia “Diamond Frost” echoing hosta with variegated margins. Take the time to enjoy Luanne’s exceptional pots that are woven throughout. In the front yard, a secluded setting for a small pond is provided by a very special Katsura along with a Douglas-fir, dogwood, and Pin Oak trees. Enjoy your stroll through this grand garden.

DIRECTIONS (From I-5)
Take Exit 255 (Sunset Dr. /Mt. Baker Hwy exit) east. At the Hannegan Rd., turn left (north) and stay on the road for over 9 miles. A quarter mile past the Van Dyk Rd., turn left at 7555. There is a long driveway, park in the field on the right.

 

JUDY & JACK BOXX

270 E. Laurel Road, Bellingham

Boxx Garden

Hidden within the plush garden of Judy and Jack Boxx are a multitude of curiosities waiting to be discovered. At the entry, you're sure not to miss the biggest one, an authentic working windmill inherited from Judy's father. Around the stream and pond are hostas, ferns, maples and vines. Judy’s most recent work, a three pillar fountain of rock and stained glass, was inspired by a recent trip to England. A cart with a French inspired portable herb garden sits in front. The knot garden on the side was created after trips to Spain and England. An elaborate use of boxwood extends throughout the garden with most plants being started from cuttings. The shaded back is full of impatiens, hanging fuchsias, begonias, and more antiques.

Their love of water features showcases Jack's mechanical abilities and Judy's artwork. There's a dove cote, tiled pond and a very unusual fountain made from a bicycle. Be sure to continue on to the very back to view the vegetable garden surrounded by fruit trees. The Boxx's lush garden of 1.5 acres has evolved over 40 years and it's an excellent place for you to get some inspirations of your own.

DIRECTIONS (from VanWerven’s)
Turn right onto Hannegan Rd (south)and head back 4.2 miles to E. Laurel where you turn right. Continue for 1.5 miles. 270 is on the right (north).

 

ARLENE & GERRIT BYEMAN

147 E. Laurel Road, Bellingham

Byeman Garden

Bring your mining pick and be on the lookout for hobbits as you explore the intriguing hillside garden of Arlene and Gerrit Byeman. Their clever use of recycled materials is an inspiration; they have used old silo staves for wall and pond building as a way to deal with drainage issues. Gerrit says, “Most people have a gazebo, we have a gold mine” and theirs is surrounded by plants of all escription and is the perfect place for morning coffee. An elaborate shaded walkway of hostas and ferns features a recycled deck railing, fireplace bricks and old mining and logging equipment.

Throughout are Arlene’s favorite gifts: ancient stumps, fossils and rocks that look like they have been there for eons. There are at least 5 pathways up to the top of the hill where you will find gunnera in a hollow (check out their castings) and creative uses of cow panel fencing in the vegetable beds.  Next to the asparagus is a roundabout that was built:” to keep up with the Guide.” Oh, and don’t miss the telephone pole, it was the victim of a car crash, and lives on as a split rail fence. Be sure to allow plenty of time to see everything! Gardening in this spot since 1970, the Byeman’s are inspired by their creativity, hobbies and recycling enthusiasm.

DIRECTIONS (from Boxx’s)
Turn right back onto the E. Laurel Rd. (west) for .3 miles. 147 is on the left (south), but look for parking directly across the street in the equipment yard.

 

HARVEY & COLLEEN SCHWARTZ

2501 38th Street, Bellingham

Schwartz Garden

Hold onto your sunhats! There is a lot to do and see at the garden of Harvey and Colleen Schwartz. Not only is it the location of this years’ Garden Art Gallery portion of the tour but you have also been invited to peruse the beautiful adjoining gardens and ponds of neighbors Tom and Dorothy Sherwood and Greg and Eileen McCracken.

The heart of Harvey and Colleen’s garden is the naturally fed pond which they made in 1993. Both goldfish and wildlife enjoy the pond and exist together in relative harmony. As you explore, you will find that many distinct “rooms” have been created in the garden. Harvey gardens by instinct and observation focusing on what is working. Happy plants stay, overcrowded ones get divided or transplanted, failing ones get edited. A Yin and Yang Garden in the sunny front yard evolved to one that features plants that “rabbits don’t like.” Check out the rain barrels east of the Yin/Yang. Other recent projects include rock pathways and walls. It’s a constant evolution beautifully created using no chemicals or pesticides. His motto: “Give me spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees.”

The Garden Art Show and Sale will be in the Schwartz garden.

DIRECTIONS (from Byeman’s)
Take the Laurel Rd. back to Hannegan and turn right. At the Mt. Baker Hwy, turn right and then get on I-5 south.  Exit at 250 (Fairhaven Pkwy) and turn left.  Go under the freeway and head east up the hill on Connelly.  Follow the yellow dots on the main road (toward Lk. Padden), right on 36th, left on South, right on 37th, left on Harrison.  Take a left on 38th to park and walk back down to 2501 on the left. 

 

ROBIN & GORDON PLUME

413 Parkridge Road, Bellingham

Plume Garden

You will be awed and amazed by this garden! Passionately built over the past 20+ years by a serious gardener and a renowned builder, it combines strong structural bones and thoughtful plant choices providing year round appeal. Although the half acre lot is steeply sloped, it is very accessible due to various terracing solutions. Each part of the garden reflects its name and nature. There is the Rose with clipped box, the French with clipped Hornbeam and bubbling fountain, and the Kitchen with espaliered fruit trees. The way to the lower garden is bordered with shade species rhododendrons. Look up to take in the expansive Mediterranean hot slope. Tropicals, along with rare and unusual plants, are mixed in throughout the garden. Many are dug each winter and tended to in the green and lathe houses. This is also a garden for the craftsman. Unique structures, from the toolhouse crafted from timber-end blocks to the Palladian Folly with turned columns (“Hopefully complete by tour day!”), offer a glimpse of genius that is given free rein.

DIRECTIONS (from Schwartz’s)
Turn right onto 38th (north) and take an immediate left at Harrison.  Continue on the main road as turns down the hill and becomes Connelly which becomes Old Fairhaven Parkway as it crosses under the freeway.  Stay on the Parkway and take a left at 12th St.  Go straight through the signal up Parkrige Rd. and park at the Fairhaven Middle School lot.  Walk .3 miles up the hill to 413 Parkridge (on left).  If needed, there will be a shuttle.

 

Garden Gallery Art Sale

Part of the 24th Annual Tour of Private Gardens

At the Garden of Harvey & Colleen Schwartz
2501 38th Street, Bellingham
Saturday & Sunday, June 19 & 20, 11 AM-5 PM

Tour of Private Garden Ticket Holders and volunteers enter at no charge, non-ticket holders: $3.00

The harmonious natural setting of the Schwartz Garden is the showcase for the Garden Gallery Art Sale.  Enjoy exploring their garden rooms and viewing the beautiful pond and plantings that are all part of an ecologically balanced system.  A wide variety of garden art will be offered for sale.

Featuring local artists:

 

Tour Tickets

Prices:
Ticket Locations:

After June 1, tickets and directions are available at these Bellingham locations: A Lot of Flowers, Bakerview Nursery, The Garden Room, The Garden Spot, The Gardens at Padden Creek, Kent's Nursery, DeWilde's Nursery, and Whatcom Convention and Visitors Bureau.

County locations for tickets are: Cloud Mountain Nursery in Sumas, Hi Hoe Nursery and Vander Giessen Nursery in Lynden.

Tickets are also available on the days of the tour at the gardens. Driving directions are included on the tour tickets.

Additional Information:

• The Annual Tour of Private Gardens takes place over two days. You may visit each garden once, in any order, over the course of the two days.

• Please understand the need for children to remain with an adult at all times.

• No dogs are permitted into the gardens, except for service animals.

• Carpools are strongly encouraged. Private garden parking is limited.

• Not all gardens are wheelchair accessible. If you have difficulty walking, contact a volunteer staff member for parking and access information.

• We regret that there are no restrooms available at any of the gardens.

• The tour will be held rain or shine. Umbrellas and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

• Please be aware of personal safety at all times. Sponsors and garden owners are not responsible for personal injuries or the loss or damage to personal property.

• Garden owners have generously volunteered time for this event. Please respect opening and closing times: 11am – 5pm, Saturday and Sunday.

 

©2010 Whatcom Horticultural Society. Last update June 13, 2010
Site design & maintenance by Mark Turner of Turner Photographics, Bellingham, Washington