Camille Paulsen’s Tahoma-flora yard – Digging
August 11, 2024
One amongst my favourite gardens on the Fling tour final month was that of Camille and Dirk Paulsen. As thought of one among many co-planners of the Puget Sound Fling, Camille not solely devoted a yr of volunteer effort to convey Flingers to her area, nonetheless she managed to have her yard in tiptop kind for 100 associates to profit from for quite a few hours. It was our longest stretch of time in a private yard, for which I used to be exceedingly grateful. It gave me time to do my frequent obsessive photographing of your full yard — I made two perambulations — after which have an opportunity to sit down down down and simply profit from its magnificence.
I observe Camille on Instagram (@tahomaflora), so I used to be ready for her spectacular view of glacier-crowned Mount Rainier (an brisk volcano, by the way in which wherein whereby), normally typically referred to as Tahoma. Nonetheless what a deal with to see it particularly particular person on a cloudless summer season season day, floating above a hazy blue skirt, seemingly shut sufficient to realize out and make contact with. It’s solely 30 miles away, per a wayfinding signal on the as soon as extra deck, which supplies instructions to completely completely different well-known peaks all over the place on the earth.
Camille and Dirk designed and constructed a variety of their Puyallup, Washington, yard themselves. In accordance with a function about their yard in The Seattle Occasions, the couple inherited a substantial amount of good bushes as quickly as they purchased the home. Over time they nibbled away at areas of yard to yard up your full back and front yard, which at present accommodates a front-yard pond and patio, an Asian shade yard, a vibrant patio yard by a swimming pool, a contemplative pond yard, a hideaway beneath a weeping elm, a fireplace pit patio, a shade pavilion on a sunny yard, and additional.
Camille’s creativity and eye for magnificence is on current all by means of the yard. Check out the birch log (above) that she wired with moss, orchids, and staghorn fern and hung from an arbor. An outstanding focus, it distracts from a view of the home subsequent door, which opened up when Camille misplaced a tree, if I recall appropriately. Genius!
Let’s begin our tour all through the doorway yard, the place I wandered over — unsure if it was time or not — after being dropped off with my busmates at two of her neighbors’ gardens whereas the choice bus arrived at Camille’s place first. The primary busload had already labored their technique into the as soon as extra yard, so I had the doorway to myself.
Bushes, shrubs, and a strolling path encircle the front-yard fishpond.
As you methodology, you’re greeted by a curlicued elf’s hat of a tree — a weeping Serbian spruce, I take into consideration — and completely completely different conifers underplanted with golden groundcovers. You in all probability can inform that is going to be a gardener’s yard.
Alongside the pond, an infinite arbor encircles a spherical patio, which overlooks…
…a waterfall and stream flowing from the doorway of the home within the path of the pond, accented by a glossy Japanese maple and Japanese forest grass.
Sedum colonizing a mossy rock
Basalt birdbath tucked beneath a Japanese maple and blue conifer
A bronze pot all through the middle of the spherical patio is kind of a stone dropped correct proper right into a pond, inflicting outward ripples.
Following a flagstone path to the facet of the home, you come to a gateway. Gabion pillars topped with pots of annuals mark the transition.
As you enter the as soon as extra yard, a implausible torii gate constructed by Dirk frames a view of Mount Rainier. Howdy! What a showstopping entry.
The flagstone path is fantastically constructed with a lightweight S kind and a mixture of geometric and raw-edge stones.
Wanting as soon as extra within the path of the torii gate
A mossy lantern alongside the way in which wherein whereby
The Asian-style stone path
From the shade you emerge correct proper right into a sunny patio yard spherical a curvy swimming pool. Camille educated a weeping blue Atlas cedar that drapes like a dwelling curtain over the metallic security fence. Blue pots and spheres add shade and curiosity amongst patio seating.
Dahlias and blue Atlas cedar absorbing the photograph voltaic poolside
Sanguisorba cascades over a slope, backed by a burgundy Japanese maple.
Only a few my fellow Flingers have been attempting fairly glad on the patio, and shortly sufficient had their ft all through the pool — a Fling personalized.
Potted tropicals add summer season season shade and daring foliage.
Merely earlier the pool, an etched birdbath attracts the attention amid a romantic tumble of vegetation, with purple clematis color-echoing a hydrangea.
Clematis closeup
Earlier, a tranquil shade yard reveals off gorgeous foliage beneath a cover of Japanese maples and completely completely different bushes.
Japanese maple leaves catching the sunshine
It’s an intimate woodland yard, with hanging wire ornaments all through the bushes drawing you on.
A pond — its mirrored flooring reflecting the bushes — occupies the middle of this residence. A mossy boulder all through the water makes a contemplative island. Earlier it, two chairs perch on the perimeter of the yard, dealing with Mount Rainier.
As I acquired proper right here by the yard as quickly as further a little bit of bit later, I seen two Flingers having pleasurable with that view.
Extended view all by means of the pond within the path of a small waterfall spilling into it
Close to the pond, a weeping Camperdown elm hangs a inexperienced curtain of foliage all the way in which wherein whereby to the underside. Parting its branches, you uncover a secret hideaway…
…with this view of Mount Rainier and acres of forest. Stupendous!
Wyatt Emig attempting blissed out by the magic of this residence
A trio of Flingers — Patterson Webster, Michelle Reimert, and Judy Hertz — having pleasurable with the view
As I rotated, I seen completely completely different Flingers on a bench overlooking the pond. So many good spots to sit down down and revel on this yard!
Crossing a stone bridge over the waterfall…
…I headed for stairs main up-slope. The densely planted yard gives fairly a bit to know alongside the way in which wherein whereby, together with flames of inexperienced glass amid the foliage.
A bamboo handrail follows the stone steps…
…tufted on the underside with a waterfalling mound of Japanese forest grass.
The steps lead as so much as a fireplace pit patio, the place a tribe of Flingers was all smiles, even earlier than the sorbet arrived.
Talking of, Valley Social Gelato was quickly serving scoops of tasty strawberry rhubarb sorbet from a cart all through the driveway.
Nonetheless as soon as extra to the yard exploration
An excellent-looking shade pavilion overlooks the valley and Mount Rainier and was a most popular spot to sit down down and chat.
The pavilion and a small yard sit excessive above the swimming pool, diploma with an elevated as soon as extra deck.
Wanting down, I seen a contingent of Flingers soaking drained ft all through the pool.
Chocolate mimosa, crocosmia, and Mexican feathergrass make a fairly combo on the slope, as seen from beneath.
And correct proper right here’s that mimosa and feathergrass as seen from above on the yard. Arching metallic work echoes the rusty foliage.
Jim Bishop from San Diego having pleasurable with the shade pavilion
Valerie Smith, a mannequin new Flinger from Charleston, South Carolina
A palm, cannas, and completely completely different photograph voltaic lovers add tropical type alongside the yard.
Dahlias present one completely different splash of crimson.
Alongside a boulder-terraced wall, an Asian-flavored planting of forest grass, fern, and Japanese maples graces a cobble path ensuing inside the driveway.
Closeup of stone, forest grass, fern, and maples
Additional foliage shade
Camille planted up a gnarled outdated tree trunk, which she discovered and launched into her yard, to make her personal model of a stumpery.
Shut by, her fabulous hanging log drips with grey tendrils of moss.
However one other view
Hosta, fern, and forest grass mingle with fuchsia.
Sanguisorba and fuchsia are fairly in pink.
Wyatt and Camille
Camille’s yard is just spectacular. Wyatt’s expression sums up how I felt too — grateful for the chance to primarily expertise it. Camille and Dirk (and your daughters), thanks all for sharing your attractive residence and yard with us!
Up subsequent: Exploring Lakewold Gardens earlier than the Fling banquet dinner. For a glance as soon as extra at two of Camille’s gardening neighbors, click on on on correct proper right here.
I welcome your strategies. Please scroll to the best of this endure go away one. For a lot of who’re studying in an e mail, click on on on correct proper right here to go to Digging and uncover the remark self-discipline on the top of every submit. And hey, did any particular person ahead this e mail to you, and as well as you wish to subscribe? Click on on on correct proper right here to get Digging delivered on to your inbox!
__________________________
Digging Deeper
Come analysis gardening and design at Yard Spark! I prepare in-person talks by inspiring designers, panorama architects, authors, and gardeners quite a few instances a yr in Austin. These are limited-attendance occasions that promote out rapidly, so be part of the Yard Spark e mail pointers to be notified upfront; merely click on on on this hyperlink and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Maintain tuned for further information!
All provides © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized copy prohibited.
Present hyperlink
August 11, 2024 One amongst my favourite gardens on the Fling tour final month was that of Camille and Dirk Paulsen. As thought of one among many co-planners of the Puget Sound Fling, Camille not solely devoted a yr of volunteer effort to convey Flingers to her area, nonetheless she…