“It’s a good experience in these gardens on a personal level,” says Tam Crocker, the Garden Conservancy’s Olympia representative, who says about 200 people do the tour each year. “It’s not a mass garden tour.”
The Open Days program has been allowing visitors into America’s most beautiful private gardens since 1995; the Olympia tour has been going for the last five years. This season features more than 300 gardens nationally, six of which are in the Olympia area. The tour – which will happen rain or shine – is self-guided, with visitors setting their own schedule. The $5 entry fee to each Olympia garden goes to benefit the Chase Garden in Orting, the only garden preservation project in the state.
Participating gardens are recommended by local landscape designers, and chosen by the Chase Garden board.
So what will you find on this year’s tour? One of the highlights for Crocker are two gardens belonging to plant collectors. At the Pear Street gardens, more than 4,000 diverse plant specimens are on show, including heathers, conifers, lilies, and hyssop. In Mary Snyder’s garden the entry drive features tuberous begonias, asparagus ferns, and blue oat grass, with mixed perennials farther on.
“It’s interesting to see what attracts different collectors,” says Crocker.
At the garden of Sam and Christine Garst, meanwhile, you can check out water-wise features such as a rain garden and waterfall, and a solarpowered goldfish pond. Two large koi ponds are the highlight of The Koi Garden, along with concrete dinosaur eggs, leaf castings and bird baths – handmade by the owner – sprinkled throughout the property.
Other gardens on the tour include that of Judy Montoure and Dorian Sanchez, which has woodland, tropical and Asian areas; and that of Ray and Shanna Winters, where an lawn-free, Asianinspired, Northwest-native garden uses creative ways of composting, recycling and water retention.
At each garden, visitors can meet and chat with the owners.
“Everyone (on the tour) is very creative with their space,” Crocker comments. “It gives other people lots of ideas, and it’s a very pleasant experience.”
Rosemary Ponnekanti: 253-597-8568 rosemary.ponnekanti @thenewstribune.com
