Mrs. Miller planted so many trees on her 7-acre estate overlooking Puget Sound that what could potentially be a panoramic view of the water framed by a few trees is more like a view of a lot of trees framed by a couple narrow views of the water.
One of the culprits is this live oak,
Quercus chrysolepis, which happens to be a state champion.
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| Quercus chrysolepis (Canyon live oak) |
It is practically begging to have a tree house build in it.
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| Quercus chrysolepis (Canyon live oak) |
A giant
Schefflera delavayi looking happy. Yes, it is evergreen and reliably hardy in the greater Seattle area (to around 5F/-15C). It seemed a little out of place here because the tropical look is decidedly not a theme in the Miller Garden, but I'm glad to see them growing it anyway. I also noticed a couple
Schefflera taiwanianas growing in pots.
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| Schefflera delavayi |
There is one big drawback to the Miller Garden: name tags are few and far between. None of the groundcovers, perennials, or small shrubs had name tags and very few of the trees did. So while I know this plant below is in the rhubarb family, I don't know much more about it.
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| Mystery Rhubarb |
I think this is a
Mahonia fortunei.
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| Mahonia fortunei? |
Along with Rhododendrons & Japanese maples, their collection of ferns is very extensive. This is a fern called
Pyrrosia sheareri. Most of the old fronds from last year still look great.
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| Pyrrosia sheareri |
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| Adiantum pedatum (Northern Maidenhair fern) |
I have no idea what this is:
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| Mystery fern |
They also have one of the most incredible nurseries filled with thousands of rare plants, but nothing is for sale. I find that a bit odd because they could raise a lot of money from people like me trying to spend their life savings on rare plants.
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| Tables filled with plants you've never seen before |
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| Inside one of the greenhouses |
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| I don't know what this is, but I want it!! |
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| Extensive hepatica collection |
Even though you can't buy a single plant, they are nice enough to give away a free one at the end of the tour. I left with an
Ercilla volubilis, which is an evergreen vine that
Far Reaches Farm happens to be selling on their website.
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| Ercilla volubilis |
Continue on to Part 3.
