Inspire Ecology - Seattle Gardening - PNW

This is the first Stellar's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) nest that I have ever seen in the garden. Another sign of increasing animal diversity. Not just visiting, but choosing this property as a location that may support them full time.

Another project completed (mostly) and onto the next.

I am happy to see 'Rodgersia nepalensis' in bloom for the first time in my garden. The largest of the 3 plants is also beginning to spread. Albeit very slowly.

I hope to have a much larger group in the next couple of years.

While similar in form and growth habit to our native Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), the larger and tightly pleated foliage of 'Rubus lineatus' does its best to stand out at the dense woodland edge.

Ever since I was introduced to my first species of Arisaema I have been enamored by the tropical appearance of these plants. Although this may be in part to our lack of them in this part of the world.

'Arisaema speciosum, the second species to have been planted in my garden and it taught me a valuable lesson. Although I had been cleaning the seeds of 'Arisaema taiwanense' with my bare hands, I quickly learned that the fruit of 'A. speciosum' was quite irritating to the skin. Likely due to calcium oxalate crystals.

The flowers of 'Syringa komarowii' dropping onto 'Darmera peltata' as the cycle through.

'Illicium henryi' has been a reliable evergreen shrub in my my garden for perhaps more than 2 decades now. And although it can apparently reach 40 ft (12 m) in the wild, it sure does take a long time to get there. As my plant is still only around 8 ft (2.4 m) tall.

The flowers are numerous, thick, and waxy. Yet with their diminutive size still don't stand out to the casual observer.

I wouldn't mind purchasing another of these but they are not commonly sold here in the states.

'Rhododendron keysii' blooming in the front garden again. This was sold to my by many years ago and I was quite nervous that it wouldn't survive the cold, but it has been steadfast. Now standing at about 8 ft (2.6 m) tall.

Still not over how beautiful I find this tree.

WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS

In this photo you may be able to pick out a number of species:

Acer circinatum
Aquilegia formosa
Dierama igneum
Helleborus foetidus
Hemerocallis dumortieri
Iris douglasii
Kniphofia northiae
Lobelia laxiflora
Phygelius capensis
Polystichum munitum
Sambucus racemosa
Schefflera delavayi
Teucrium chamaedrys
Trachycarpus fortunei
Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Vitis davidii