Color-rich Farley Garden at Seattle Garden Bloggers Fling

August 17, 2011


Kate Farley’s west Seattle garden, which I visited on Day 3 of the Seattle Garden Bloggers Fling, is a garden of exploration from front to back. I’m going to start in back, because the Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria) were blooming spectacularly, a huge swath glowing salmon-orange in the strong sunlight.


Behind the Alstroemeria, purple iris, lilac phlox, and an unknown golden-leafed shrub jazz up the scene even further. Semi, daughter of Frances of Fairegarden, joins me in photographing the spectacle.


And then there are the twin tuteurs painted two vibrant shades of purple (or maybe one is older and has faded over time?). They add height, year-round structure, and of course color to the planting bed.


They also happen to look stunning with the Alstroemeria.


A tiny, elevated deck behind the house is shaded by an umbrella of the exact color of the Alstroemeria—a nice touch.


From here a small curving lawn sets off the cottage-style border.


Paths lead to secluded vignettes, like this glass ball on an old pedestal…


…and this stone-and-pipe sculpture—or is it a fountain?


Tucked into the back garden, a welcoming shed attracted our eager exploration. Here’s Melissa of Houston Garden Girl talking with someone in the spacious interior.


As in many Seattle gardens we visited, grasses add movement and texture and look especially pretty in the summer sunlight.


Colorful potted plants here and especially along the driveway give a lushness to paved areas.


One of several lovely roses blooming in Kate’s garden.


The front garden—and your first impression of the house—is very different from the more open, sunny rear garden. It is densely planted…


…and shady, with a narrow green tunnel that invites you in. A bench offers a quiet place for contemplation or conversation with a friend.


A lovely mix of shade plants cloak the ground, brightening the scene with white leaves and flowers.


And working my way back to the street, here’s an example of what you see curbside: a densely packed screen of plants hiding the house and main garden from view, but offering up to passersby a beautiful vignette of flowering tree, bench, and stone accents.


What a lovely gift for the neighbors.

Up next: the highlight of the Fling, our visit to the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island. For a look back at Lorene Edwards Forkner’s “urban hillbilly chic” garden click here.

All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

9 responses to “Color-rich Farley Garden at Seattle Garden Bloggers Fling”

  1. Frances says:

    Dear Pam, Kate Farley’s garden was a stroke of genius in many ways. We entered through the trimmed hedge and were amazed at the magical transformation from bright sun to the quiet shade inside. You have shown things I missed, like the shed in back, but who could have missed the Alstroemeria and tuteurs? Not even Semi, it looks like. Thanks for the linkage, my friend.

  2. Darla says:

    That Alstroemeria is fantastic and I’m loving that pop of purple!

  3. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    Yes, this garden is full of color and personality. That stone bench out front is great. Those old stone corbels that work as the feet are awesome. No one is going ot run off with that in their back pocket.

  4. That swathe of alstroemerias was jaw-dropping, and the obelisks only added to the effect. I was having a hortgasm! Another of the exceptional gardens on the Fling tour. It would be hard to pick my absolute favourite, as they each had something I’d’ve liked to take home. Great post.

  5. Scott says:

    Thanks again for doing these Fling posts…it’s like I was there (almost!) I love how intensely planted their front yard is…so great!

  6. Fabulous colors! Love the Peruvian lilies so much.

    I’d love to use more color, but Richard thinks every object (furniture, pot, fence, umbrella) should be a shade of brown or beige! I had to secretly paint my obelisk purple while he was away! Once it was done, I wasn’t going to repaint it! LOL I’d love to use bright cobalt blue, purple and red to paint the wooden bridges, the benches and planters around my garden!

  7. ESP says:

    Hi Pam.

    I have enjoyed reading about your trip and visits to these gardens and seeing all your great pictures. It looks like you all had a lot of fun up there escaping the heat, having fun in the fish markets etc…I am jealous, can you tell. It also looks like you had some nice weather while you were there, though I bet a little cooler then Austin! It must have been quite a shock to the system exiting the plane 🙂
    Welcome back.

    ESP.