The Garden Tour 2010

The Garden Tour came off without a hitch, or rain. At least until the very end. At 3:45 at Beth’s with only a few of us left, the thunder started and the waters poured forth inundating Grant Creek and northern Missoula. Given the havoc the rain played with flowers before the tour – keeping them from opening as well as knocking the petals off those already in bloom – the anxiety of a fabulous display for the tour was unfounded.

The beginning of the end... storm clouds on the horizon at noon.

The start of the tour was the opposite of the end and the blue trim of David and Nancy’s house matched the blue of the big sky. I think perhaps a bit of the sky fell and gave an unparalleled display of blue fields of flax high on Mt. Jumbo. At Sue and Terry’s the blue was the Bachelor Buttons and Russell Lupines, at Jackie and Stewart’s the Catmint, Iris and Jacob’s Ladder just beginning to open, and at Janice’s a large blue, heavily ruffled iris stood out. The sky at Beth’s matched the Mountain Lupine shimmering blue between the trees and formed the welcoming background for the reception.
Nancy’s knot garden, somewhat dubious after this winter and before spring finally arrived, is starting to green back up and made a nice showing, even for boxwood growing on top of what is usually a very dry mountain.

Passing to the north of the knot garden leads to David’s fruit and vegetable garden. The concrete retaining wall adds warmth to the garden over the winter, helps to warm it earlier in the spring as well keeping it frost-free later into the fall and is an extremely resilient windbreak.Passing behind the house to the west and above the last of the Balsamroot blooming in the woods takes us to the small patio and pond overlook. Part of the trail near the pond was closed to safeguard the nesting blackbirds, only one of many species attracted to the woods and water on the mountain. David had turned the creek on for the tour. Recycled through the pond, full from days of rain, he didn’t have to add water this year to make it all function properly.

The pond is home to many plants, a number of bird species, salamanders and a few fish.

Connie and Jean enjoy the diversity of plants in the lower garden.

Sue and Terry have one of my favorite perennial borders, and when it is in full bloom it is truly amazing sight and shows what a small space can do. Varying in width from about twelve or fourteen feet to about thirty feet it is an excellent combination of large flowering and colored shrubs in the back and perennials of various sizes and bloom season in the front. The photo doesn’t really do it justice since the two cold wet days this week kept the poppies and big Russell lupine from blooming, and Sue’s grandmother’s yellow iris, brought from South Dakota when she started the garden, were beaten down. On the other hand our cool wet spring has helped her hostas be their best. I’ve never seen hostas in Missoula grow quite this large. And they set off the many bleeding hearts to tremendously good advantage.

Hiding behind the hostas was Sue's Jack-in-the-pulpit.

Jackie’s garden is another example of a lot of garden in a small space and where care and watering is minimal. A large Beauty Bush in full bloom welcomed people on the tour.

The border bed on the west side of the lot was designed for minimal water usage and season long color. It starts with crocus and miniature iris blooming in mid- to late March and goes until late fall when the Catmint finally quits and the Asters freeze.

An old wheelbarrow and stone bench accent Jackie's backyard.
The dry garden next door, installed and designed by Karen, made another impression. But with that brilliant red Firecracker Penstemon, it is hard to miss and the biggest advantage is that there is no need to water. Janice’s garden as visitor’s saw is still under construction in the front but enough is done that you can see how it will develop. The back, about half new this season, will take another year or two to develop and match the older part, but at the moment it is all very neat and tidy thanks to Tom and Will. The tulips were just finished and the big summer peak bloom hasn’t quite begun yet. But if the garden was not at its most colorful the people on the tour were impressed with the new outdoor kitchen and pizza oven. A couple of guys really liked that big new grill!

The last stop and the reception were at Beth and Paul’s. An amazing forest vista (with music by Grant Creek) carefully developed over the last 30 years along with the accompanying gardens were the backdrop for the reception. Beth’s back yard where participants arrived is somewhat subdued by comparison to the cacophony of plants and color inside the deer fence in the front yard. The tulips were almost gone but that is to be expected the last day of spring. The remaining tulips, enormous Polemoniums, Anemones and colored foliages make an exciting impression.

The constant spring rains this year have given all the wildflowers the boost they need to show off to the best of their abilities. The flax, the lupine, Arrowleaf Balsamroot, wild roses and Penstemon are just a few that have outdone themselves and made their “garden” proud.
And yes, the Cypripedium montanum was in bloom at Beth’s.

Thanks to all who were able to attend and I’m glad everyone had a good time and enjoyed themselves. Maybe in a couple of years we will try this again.