Quote of the Day: Prentice Bloedel
“Nature can live without man, but man cannot live without nature.”
-Prentice Bloedel
Last Tuesday we visited Bloedel Reserve right after our visit to Heronswood. One of the things I like about this garden is that there are so many large naturalized areas. There are meadows, sheep barns, woods, large sweeping borders, ponds, marshes and so much more.
The line between cultivated and wild blends blends beautifully in a way that most gardens cannot achieve. In much of the garden nature is allowed to progress as it should, trees fall and are allowed to decompose where they are, no tidying up as you so often see in other gardens.
I like this garden because it’s grand, and yet it’s very simple. The most cultivated area is the Japanese garden, the rest consists of large sweeping borders filled with shrubs. While it was clearly a very expensive garden, the ideas used would be very feasible for the average gardener with a larger lot. This garden is very inspirational for someone like me who now has a very large parcel of land.
Is there a public garden you have found particularly inspiration for your current garden space?
Susy, that is one amazing garden. As you say nature blends with the cultivated. I do like manicured gardens as well such as the English and the Japanese, but my favorite is the natural wooded gardens with mostly native plants.
I’ve mentioned our best garden here before which is the Lauritzen garden. It’s 100 acres of gardens that sports water falls, trellises, ponds, and massive green houses. All the plants for the garden are raised in the green houses with spring plant sales. An enormous two story high clear glass (I’m sure it’s not glass but clear) structure has been built for events. All during the year displays for each holiday are made so it will be interesting to see how they decorate this massive structure. Every time I visit this garden, my inspiration level for gardening gets elevated. I would bet that yours is the same with all the awe inspiring gardens that you have been visiting. What a great vacation you have been having, doing what you love the best. Your readers are truly blessed to be able to come along with you. Thanks for bringing us along.
Have a great garden touring day.
to Nebraska Dave's comment