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“ Old schooling ” is how Michael Farndale described the look of his nondescript front chiliad in Bothell , Wash. , before he began transforming it . After having it professionally hardscaped with walkways , stepping stones and rockscapes , he put out on his own to create a glorious Zen - comparable garden populated with plant life aboriginal to the Pacific Northwest . “ It was the distinctive grass grounds from the sidewalk to the house , with a few scatter bush and English ivy have over . My desire was a lawn - free landscape painting that would require no mowing , tearing or fertilizing and would be inviting to wildlife , ” says Farndale .
Water course from a sculptural fountain into an surreptitious reservoir .
All that remains of the former yard are a few spirea , rhododendrons and maple trees . The grass is completely gone and supervene upon by a colorful palette of native flora carefully selected by Farndale to flourish in the Pacific Northwest climate . A lace - leaf Japanese maple that was push his front door was moved about 20 foot out from the house towards the street , where its beautiful Bonsai - similar form can be fully appreciated .
A wooden - board pathway lead visitors through the garden in zig style .
To add together to the garden ’s Zen atmosphere , a internet of gem and woods - plank tract run to areas of speculation , include a fence - border sanctuary where a stone Buddha head presides and a sculptural spring made of concrete by the entranceway . alternatively of downspouts , metal rain drains with soft lotus - shaped cups transportation H2O from the eaves to the vegetation below in bucket - brigade fashion .
A Buddha head presides in this fencing - frame segment of the garden .
Most of the works added by Farndale are perennial , including coneflower ( Echinacea ) , sea holly ( Eryngium ) , orchids ( Bletilla ) , blackberry bush lily ( Belamcanda),Fritillaria , Mukdenia , Vancouveria , Dodecatheonand many others . “ We attempted to use as many native works materials as potential , or at least flora that can withstand dry summers . Our territory are very sandy and loamy , and can dry out out very quickly . ” he order .
Farndale ’s domicile is locate about 12 Roman mile north of Seattle , at the north end of Lake Washington . " Throughout most of the year , the atmospheric condition feels like it ’s always spring , ” he says . “ medium winter temperatures are relatively mild ( about 40 degrees F ) . ”
The elision is July , which is often warm and juiceless , with temperature hang glide to the upper 80s or depleted 90s . “ Summer start about July 5th , when it seems to hold back raining overnight , averaging about six workweek of no rain until sometime in August , ” Farndale say . To keep his plants from withering during these keep up dry magic spell , he installed a dribble irrigation organization throughout the intact landscape . In addition , a good dowery of the rainwater overflow from the cap is design to drain into the center of the garden and percolate into the ground .
Farndale ’s fresh take doctrine of working with nature rather than against it has pay off , resulting in a thou that delivers great mantrap with little attending . “ The former old - school fashion required much more work to hold than what it is today , ” he says .
consider it or not , this garden need less maintenance than the honest-to-god school lawn that was replaced .
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