Sneak peek: Day 4

Get ready for a quintessential Seattle summertime experience on a ferry boat ride across Puget Sound (photo courtesy Washington State Dept. of Transportation)

On Monday, July 25th, our last Fling Date together as a group, we will embark on a day trip to Bainbridge Island’s famous The Bloedel Reserve and finish up with a rollickin’ garden party surrounded by plants, art, food and cocktails – at Dragonfly Farms and Nursery on the Kitsap Peninsula. We’ll return to the Fling host hotel at the end of a long, inspiring day by taking a second ferry ride, from Kingston to Edmonds, north of Seattle. The views will be lovely, the weather mostly gorgeous and the gardens will be awesome Bring your cameras, your sun/rain hats and comfortable shoes! 

Lorene, Marty and Debra, standing under shelter at The Bloedel Reserve - on our misty garden scouting day.

Last week, on a typical May day here in Seattle, Marty, Lorene and Debra set out to do the “pre-trip” to Bainbridge and Kingston. We were semi-prepared for the crazy rain that assaulted us that day. One hooded raincoat and one umbrella between three women. Together, the three of us have logged close to 100 years living here in Seattle, but our weather optimism has never faded. Garden Bloggers, be prepared for any weather! 

The 35-minute ferry ride from Seattle to the village of Winslow on Bainbridge Island provides just the right interlude to slow down one’s breathing after leaving the city behind. Our car was parked down on the lower deck; our cushioned benches were situated on the upper levels. So after enjoying a relaxed crossing taking in awesome views, we descended several flights of steps to car. Time to drive onto the island!  

The pool tames the forest with its geometric precision in the Reflection garden.

Our first stop: The Bloedel Reserve, a private estate that comprises approximately 150 acres on Bainbridge Island. About 84 acres here are second-growth forest. The remainder are altered landscapes, including various gardens, pools and meadows.

 

We will be hosted by docents and horticultural staff, who will lead 1-hour guided tours through the many gardens. Docents will also be available in specific featured areas to point out key plants and answer our questions. These tours are optional; it’s okay if you just want to wander on your own, as well! The Bloedel Reserve is typically closed to the public on Mondays. We are incredibly grateful that the management has invited garden bloggers to have exclusive access to tour, photograph, take video and write about this incredible gem! 

The elements of stone and sand evoke meditative moods in the Japanese Garden.

A self-serve lunch will be provided around 12:30 p.m., at the main Visitor Center. We are invited to eat outdoors in the formal, European-style landscape that offers gorgeous water, mountain and city views to the east. 

Photographer and garden blogger David Perry, seen here sharing his tips and techniques with students at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

In the early afternoon, our very own David Perry will teach a mini-workshop on digital point-and-shoot photography. He recently led a similar class for students at the Denver Botanic Garden to rave reviews. While our Fling class will be briefer, due to time constraints, you can be sure that an hour spent at Bloedel practicing some of David’s tips will boost your photography confidence immensely!

By 2:30 p.m., we will board our buses and take a short, 30-minute drive across Agate Pass Bridge onto the Kitsap Peninsula. Our second stop will be the whimsical horticultural world called Dragonfly Farms and Nursery.

Our hostess: Heidi Kaster, a talented plantswoman and landscape designer who operates a barely-out-of-the-way nursery worth taking a major detour to reach. Her motto: “Where abnormality is the normality.”

 

Heidi Kaster, Dragonfly Farms

Wow. You will be blown away by the display gardens here — art and salvaged decor are playfully combined with uncommon and inspired plant groupings. Check out these photos from our visit last week.

 

Imagine the herbaceous plants at double-the-volume and you’ll pretty much capture the July scene in your mind’s eye. And take note that there’s lots of great glass art from another one of our sponsors, artist Barbara Sanderson of Glass Gardens NW.

 

We will have nearly three hours to explore, visit and shop with Heidi, while also being treated to a special cocktail party and hors d’oeuvres spread, courtesy of sponsor Proven Winners. More news on that event to come, but suffice it to say that Danielle Ernest of Proven Winners has some delightful treats up her sleeve!  

 

Glass Gardens NW's sculptures, emerging playfully from the clipped Lonicera nitida

The Dragonfly Farms retail nursery area, viewed through the trees.

The strolling lawn, where we will relax and enjoy cocktails and bites at day’s end.

It will be very hard to tear ourselves away, but we must return to Seattle on the 7 p.m. ferry boat. Fittingly, our 4-day Fling will conclude with a boat trip across Puget Sound, back to the city, to our host hotel, and to good-byes between new friends.

 

Tags: Bainbridge Island, Barbara Sanderson, Bloedel Reserve, Danielle Ernest, Day 4 sneak peek, Debra Prinzing, Dragonfly Farms Nursery, ferry trip, Glass Gardens NW, Heidi Kaster, Lorene Edwards Forkner, Marty Wingate, Proven Winners, Washington State Dept. of Transportation