September 01, 2024

There was an excessive amount of backyard goodness and exuberance to include in a single put up about Daniel Sparler and Jeff Schouten’s Backyard of Exuberant Refuge, which I visited on the Puget Sound Fling. Right here‘s Half 1, in case you missed it. At the moment, Half 2 begins on the again patio of the couple’s Seattle house, the place potted crops and distinctive artwork caught my eye.

Mossy gargoyle

Bumblebees have been snoozing late in orange dahlias throughout our morning go to.

Tucked in

Time to get up, sleepyheads.

Sooner or later I’m going to DIY some painted concrete columns for my backyard, like Daniel and Jeff have achieved. I simply love this.

Good-looking from any path

One other patio with a mosaic flooring and striped columns is encircled by a blue wall. Gargoyles and orbs cap the pillars on this daring scene.

The silver-blue leaves of a eucalyptus shimmer in the back of the backyard.

Hydrangea, one other stunning specimen within the Puget Sound gardens on tour

Ferns and mossy boulder — might something be extra Pacific Northwestern?

They will develop agaves too.

A gravel backyard permits dry-loving crops to thrive, accented with totems that I believe are the work of ceramic artist Dustin Gimbel.

One other view

Turquoise flames of glass sprout from an orange-and-purple pillar, a putting focus.

Right here it’s from under.

A aspect path results in the decrease backyard, via an inviting arch of red-leaved bushes. The silver foliage of the eucalyptus contrasts properly.

In an extended sunny mattress, flowers like daylily and dahlia mingle with aeonium.

That pink arch

Daylilies

Dahlia with one other snoozy bumblebee

It’s enjoyable to see aeoniums popping up amid the flowers.

Aeonium and dahlias

Fuchsia too

View to the home and again patio

Take a look at the variety of pots gathered right here. I learn at Hazard Backyard simply how devoted Daniel and Jeff are to their potted crops. They bundle their most tender containers — about 200 — indoors for the winter. One other 300 get moved towards the home for the winter and dragged inside throughout exhausting freezes. And one other 100 or so get sorted out another means. That’s 600 potted crops accounted for as of Loree’s 2023 weblog put up! Little doubt they’ve acquired a couple of extra by this level.

This gorgeous spiral cactus has delight of place on a patio desk.

Freckled lilies have been attractive too.

One other sleepy bumblebee. Will these gals ever get up?

Morning glory and fuchsia

A blushing mangave will get the star therapy with glass starfish and flowers.

Tiled stairs lead up the aspect of the home, your complete passage lined with potted succulents. And dinosaurs.

Crimson backyard with aeonium, fuchsia, and dahlias

Agapanthus

No thought what this cascading, purple-flowered vine is, but it surely was beautiful.

A slim path alongside the home is become a showstopper with a huge, starfish-like aloe and assortment of agaves.

One other dino, succulents, and a Mayan plaque provide extra causes to cease and look.

However why not add painted spheres for good measure? Don’t get stabbed by that huge agave as you squeeze by.

Out entrance, a painted-and-tiled pillar makes a centerpiece for an association of pots and gargoyles.

Pots, pots, in every single place — and pillars too

A lush shade backyard close to the exit. Did I even see this complete backyard? It goes on and on…

What a joyful backyard this was to discover. The house owners’ marriage of their plant obsession with playful artwork and painted concrete makes it exuberant certainly.

Up subsequent: The dramatic, terraced Berk-Kessler Backyard. For a glance again at Half 1 of my tour of the exuberant Sparler-Schouten Backyard, click on right here.

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Digging Deeper

Discover the world of succulents and cacti on the Austin Cactus and Succulent Society’s Fall Sale on 8/31 and 9/1, from 10 am to five pm. Held on the Austin Space Backyard Heart in Zilker Botanical Backyard, it features a plant present with specimen cacti and succulents, handcrafted pottery, every day silent public sale and hourly plant raffles, and knowledgeable recommendation. Entry included with the price of admission at Zilker Botanical Backyard: Adults $6 to $8, Seniors $5 to $7, Youths $3 to $4, Youngsters beneath 2 free.

Come find out about gardening and design at Backyard Spark! I manage in-person talks by inspiring designers, panorama architects, authors, and gardeners a couple of occasions a yr in Austin. These are limited-attendance occasions that promote out rapidly, so be part of the Backyard Spark e-mail checklist to be notified upfront; merely click on this hyperlink and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Keep tuned for more information!

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