Garden preview

Originally published July 21

Here's a preliminary look at the gardens from tour organizers. Addresses, directions and maps for the seven gardens on the tour below are shown on the tour tickets.

The first four gardens, all relatively close to downtown Olympia, are accessible by the tour's free shuttle. Tour-goers must provide their own trans-portation to the other three, two of which are near Fishtrap Cove in northeast Olympia. The third is in the Hawks Prairie area, also in northeast Olympia. No restrooms are provided at the gardens.

- Karen Nelson and Gail Sullivan: Visit this highly productive, organic vegetable, herb and perennial garden surrounding a historic house built in 1908. The garden features camellias, hydrangeas, grapes, an English walnut tree, cherries, plums, apples, blueberries and currants along with colorful flowers.

- Willow Oling: See a plant collector's paradise filled with native and unusual herbs, perennials, plants and ornamentals as well as black bamboo and fruit trees.

- Karen Klocke: Check out this bountiful food garden. Klocke gardens organically on three city lots, supplying healthy food for herself and several adopted families. Fruits and veggies grow in raised beds, where Klocke experiments with different varieties. Birds and butterflies enjoy feeders, baths, bushes and other ornamentals.

- Toni and Mike Brown: The Browns have maintained older, traditional plants associated with their 80-year-old home while incorporating new growth. They've tucked pleasant hideaways in unexpected, welcoming places.

- Sharlyn and Ken Russell: The Russells have worked their garden expertly around native trees and plants as well as domestic varieties. They demonstrate skill with the Northwest's cool, wet, clay and shady conditions, often complicated by deer and slugs. Nearby, a forest provides a natural habitat for wildlife.

- Deanna and Bob Johnson: The Johnsons' garden works with the environment. They've taken a wet, shady environment and created a well-groomed woodland garden. They've prevented erosion by using terracing and native plants. A dramatic dry steam bed of cobblestones and granite boulders provides a pleasant contrast to damp moss beds, creating an oriental touch.

- Leslie and Joe Miller: The Millers' garden offers an outstanding example of a young garden for a young couple with children. Here a beautiful landscape and play area combine surprisingly well.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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