The Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County will be hosting the 29th-annual Petals & Pathways Home Garden Tour from 10 a.m.-4 pm. on Saturday, June 22, with six outstanding gardens conveniently located throughout Port Angeles — plus an added attraction for the more adventurous walker, Webster’s Woods.
All these gardens, including Webster’s Woods will have Master Gardeners on site to assist and inform the garden enthusiast.
The Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County hosts these tours in which homeowners with fabulous gardens have offered to show their creations for the Foundation’s Fundraiser.
A map is printed on the ticket for a self-guided tour.
These tours, along with the annual plant sale at Woodcock Demonstration Garden in Sequim help support the Foundation’s many community projects, including the Woodcock Demonstration Gardens in Sequim, several plots at 5th Street Gardens in P.A. and numerous community services such as the Youth Enrichment Program (YEP), Green Thumb Education Series in Port Angeles and Digging Deeper Saturdays at Woodcock Demonstration Gardens.
These gardens are all playfully named for their uniqueness, such as “Islands of Color” and “Vedanta Retreat.” They often feature whimsical artist creations that enhance the landscape’s natural beauty.
Photo by Karen Teig/Master Gardener / The 2024 Petals & Pathways Home Garden Tour features six Port Angeles home gardens.
This year, participants will see an urban garden paradise with beautifully crafted wood structures, soft bark cushioned pathways through tall red cedars, Japanese influenced “Niwaki” pruning techniques and a lovely Victorian home and garden.
Early bird tickets are $20, while day-of-tour tickets are $25. Tickets are also available in person through June 22 in Sequim at: Over the Fence, 118 E. Washington St.; The Co-op Farm & Garden, 216 E. Washington St.; Sunny Farms Country Store, 261461 U.S. Highway 101. And, in Port Angeles at: Port Book & News, 104 E. First St.; Swain’s General Store, 602 E. First St.; Airport Garden Center, 2200 W. Edgewood Dr.
Featured venues include:
‘Islands of Color’
Located just off Lower Elwha Road, “Islands of Colors” is a 2.6-acre property on a sunny bluff overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The front yard features several trails that wander through tall western red cedar and big leaf maple trees where you can enjoy the numerous unusual nursery stumps and native vegetation.
Each trail has been given a name that highlights its natural features such as the “Cedar Bend Trail.” There, you will find a western red cedar whose trunk is bent at a 90-degree angle, a perfect spot for a family photo.
The backyard faces directly towards Mount Baker and the surrounding garden features colorful beds of perennials, annuals, and shrubs. There is a beautiful fenced-in vegetable and fruit garden with apple trees, several types of berries, and cool-climate vegetables.
To complete the enjoyment of this garden, there are sitting areas for relaxing and enjoying the view.
‘Miyako’s Garden’
This property, purchased in April of 2019, was a well-established winter retreat for it’s Victoria B.C. owners. John made a solemn promise to the prior owner to improve the unique garden. He has added patios, walkways and locally purchased stones to represent flowing streams.
“Miyako’s Garden” — so named in honor of the owner’s dear late mother — earned the 2022 Summer Green Thumb Award from the Port Angeles Garden Club. There is a passion for shapes and the owner grooms many of the plants, bushes and trees into cloud shapes known in the Japanese technique as “Niwaki.”
The crown jewel in the back yard is a formal tea house which is furnished with traditional tea house furniture. The iron tree with chandelier crystals is extraordinary when the sun shines on them.
Years ago in Japan, the owner visited a native forest where, in an entire section, crystals were hanging from the branches, and he dreamed one day of recreating that scene in his own way.
‘Hidden Treasures’
Have you ever collected something, not knowing why, but knowing that inspiration would hit one day? Artists are notorious for this, and Terri is no exception. A ceramic artist, she just sees things differently.
Photo by Karen Teig/Master Gardener / The 2024 Petals & Pathways Home Garden Tour features six Port Angeles home gardens.
Out front, a garden divider derived from glass doors and vintage recycled glass objects captures the attention of passersby. Don and Terri embarked on this garden adventure enamored by Pacific Northwest evergreens and maples, some that are contorted into a variety of whimsical shapes.
Their sense of humor and love of art is evident as you wander through the abundance of perennials.
The grass from the original yard was removed and replaced with chips and walkable groundcover plants to encourage people to explore the hidden treasures that can only be appreciated when you get up close and personal. Recipients of the Port Angeles Garden Club’s Green Thumb Award Fall 2023, this garden will inspire your creative side.
‘Forever Garden’
A variety of tall, blooming perennials border the lawns around this 120-year-old Victorian home. Upon entering the property, one finds the comforting umbrella shade of a mature, twisted Japanese Maple tree.
The east side of the garden features plum, cherry and apple trees along with blueberries, and strawberries.
The manicured Leland Cypress hedge, towers over bleeding hearts, lilies, delphinium, salvias, primrose, geranium and fern.
On the back side of the hedge is the guest cottage and patio surrounded by strategically planted trees and shrubs creating a wonderful private retreat to read, contemplate, or visit friends. Opposite the cottage is an owner-built greenhouse extending the gardeners’ growing season.
Since living at this property for 11 years these crafty gardeners have added the patio and walkway; built the shop, greenhouse, potting shed, and back porch cover; and, added all the brick lined flower beds.
‘Vedanta Retreat’
This quaint city lot in residential Port Angeles offers a peaceful sanctuary with an assortment of perennials that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees and with raised vegetable beds forming a border around the backyard. There are “before” pictures showing how this garden was transformed by the current homeowners’ makeover! The first step was to strip the grass and place a few stones. As much as they love the plants, the homeowners recognized a need for structure. Rock paths, sandstone, Lorenzo’s woodwork and birdbaths skillfully placed throughout the yard, give this garden a comforting and healing sensation. Well-placed groundcovers gracefully transition the garden from the hardscape to the plants.
Come get ideas for transforming your urban lawn into a peaceful sanctuary.
‘A Patchwork of Produce’
The 5th Street Community Garden is like a patchwork quilt of 54 rentable plots. All in one place on a site comprised of two City lots you will find an assortment of garden design layouts as confined by the 9-foot-by-12-foot plot size.
As you walk the grass paths, notice examples of different planting arrangements including: trellis systems, seasonal plant protection, and use of raised beds. There is a three-bin composting system, tools for sharing, and community areas along the front fence and near the picnic tables. Only organic growing and earth-friendly practices are used. This means no overhead sprinklers and the use of chemical insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are prohibited.
Photo by Karen Teig/Master Gardener / The 2024 Petals & Pathways Home Garden Tour features six Port Angeles home gardens.
The plot renters enjoy a community of sharing ideas and the social aspect of coming together through the growing season. Clallam County Master Gardeners have enjoyed a presence in this garden since its beginning in 2011 and offer periodic demonstrations and monthly Second Saturday Garden Walks.
Webster’s Woods
A 5-acre sculpture park surrounding the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center gallery, Webster’s Woods features forested trails contain a permanent collection of artworks, as well as annual rotating outdoor exhibitions.
Visitors can also enjoy original poems located on signboards throughout the park as a part of the Port Angeles Poetry in the Park program in collaboration with Olympic Peninsula Authors. Webster’s Woods is open daily from sunrise to sunset and entrance is free. Wear appropriate shoes as the trails can be challenging.
Two guided tours will be offered at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., or self-guided maps are available all day.
