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Kubota Gardens

February 28th, 2012

Many years ago when Mr Chiots and I spent a week in Seattle we stumbled upon Kubota Gardens and really enjoyed it. We took another trip back when we were out last August. It’s such an interesting garden because the emphasis is on coniferous plants not flowers, thus the structure, form, and texture are the features. Here’s a slide show of the flowers I spotted along the way. To view in full screen click on the icon in the top left hand corner, click the same icon to exit full screen mode.
[flashgallery folder=”Kubota_Gardens”]

Generally, I’m not much of one for coniferous plants for some reason, but I did love the wide variety I saw at Kubota Gardens. I’m definitely more interested in adding more to the gardens for winter interest and structure now.

Do you like Japanese Style gardens? What about coniferous plants?

13 Comments to “Kubota Gardens”
  1. Kathi Cook on February 28, 2012 at 6:23 am

    Those conifers are beautiful. This summer I visited Innisfree garden in Milbrook NY. I t is a chinese influenced Amercan garden tthat has been preserved. I was lucky to be there when the lotus flowers were blooming. I also try to visit the NY Botanical Gardens. whenever I am in the city. They have a gorgeous conifer garden. It makes me want to add some specimen conifers in my yard. I will add plants and shrubs without a thought,but trees are such a commitment, they intimidate me.

    Reply to Kathi Cook's comment

  2. daisy on February 28, 2012 at 8:40 am

    What a gorgeous place! I’m not too into sculptured gardens, but do love conifers. Thanks for sharing your visit!

    Reply to daisy's comment

  3. tj on February 28, 2012 at 8:47 am

    …Love the purple flowers in the 10th photo – beautiful! Also, I love your Slideshows too, they always work without a hitch. :o)

    …I love conifers. I love anything that offers a bit o’ green in the dead, gray days of Winter, not to mention privacy. And I do love some structure in some areas of the garden but I’m not a big fan of Japanese gardens. Go figure.

    …Thank you for sharing such lovely photos! I see some worthy of 2013’s Chiot’s Run Calendar. Just sayin’. ;o)

    …Enjoy your day you two!

    …Blessings :o)

    Reply to tj's comment

  4. Augustus on February 28, 2012 at 8:49 am

    I like conifers. I worked for a designer who used them extensively. I like globular blue spruce, hemlocks (both fancy and plain), firs of any type. I live near the Adirondacks and I like to hike to treeline, here it is around 4000 ft., to see the stunted firs and spruces. I also like to add interesting stems and branches, for winter texture, such as Coryilus Contorta or Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick.

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  5. Foy Update: Garden. Cook. Write. Repeat. on February 28, 2012 at 9:47 am

    I got to visit this garden for about two hours before it got dark a couple years ago. I’ve been hankering to get back ever since. I only got about half way through. It has a really interesting sense of flow and use of open and closed spaces. I am fairly certain this one is maintained entirely by volunteers!

    Reply to Foy Update: Garden. Cook. Write. Repeat.'s comment

    • Susy on February 28, 2012 at 7:40 pm

      I think you’re right on the volunteers thing. They don’t sell tickets either, it’s a donations recommendation for entrance.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  6. Donna B. on February 28, 2012 at 9:55 am

    I absolutely LOVE the look of japanese garden’s… I find them one of the hardest to replicate though, but that’s mainly because I don’t have the skill yet with shrubs and dwarf tree’s… Have been doing research on the types of plants to have though! [The Renegade Gardener is the pro w/ conifers for cold regions…]
    I have a shady area of my yard that I would love to turn into a semi-tea-garden with a seating area.

    Reply to Donna B.'s comment

  7. Sincerely, Emily on February 28, 2012 at 10:21 am

    The conifers make an interesting garden. That was neat to see. Thanks for the photos.

    Reply to Sincerely, Emily's comment

  8. Dan on February 28, 2012 at 5:18 pm

    That is an amazing garden, thanks for sharing.

    Reply to Dan's comment

  9. KimH on February 28, 2012 at 7:30 pm

    Gorgeous pics as always. Im not fond of conifers for some reason.. perhaps because Im allergic to some of them? I dont know. Its nice to visit a garden like that.. but Im really more of a country cottage garden lover.

    Reply to KimH's comment

  10. bonnie on February 28, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    very pretty pics

    Reply to bonnie's comment

  11. judym on February 28, 2012 at 10:35 pm

    Love the conifers. The grasses also have great texture. I have several grasses here that provide some winter texture. We have “critters” that eat some conifers here. I find them on our Blue spruce every spring. I forget what they are but some day want to get rid of them if possible. But I think we will be planting some trees and such all along the creeks around the house.

    I love Japanese gardens – I went to an historic estate in Richmond that had beautiful gardens. One section of which was Japanese. I took a lot of very nice photos there. Wouild love to go to this garden.

    Reply to judym's comment

  12. Stacy on March 1, 2012 at 1:22 pm

    I have developed an appreciation for evergreens and conifers since I went back to school for horticulture. I used to think “why go for needles when you can get the money leaves and flowers?” but now I see the texture and structure that evergreens give year round.

    I had the opportunity to visit Whistling Gardenshttp://whistlinggardens.ca which is a dwarf conifer garden. The project is amazing considering it is one man who is building and financing the whole thing! He officially opens to the public this spring, so I’m hoping to go back then.

    Reply to Stacy's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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