Visiting Dan Hinkley's Windcliff Part Two: the back garden

It just so happens I toured Monrovia Nursery on Tuesday, as some of you may know Dan Hinkley has a collection of plants at Monrovia. Why am I telling you this (other than to let you know there will be a post on Monrovia at some point in the future?) because my visit to this garden was still fresh enough in my head that I could place some of the plants he talked about in his garden. And I was confused. He calls this section of the garden the front, because it faces Puget Sound. To me it was the back, because it's the second side of the house/garden which you visit. Either way, it's amazing...

Another restio, who's name I do not remember.

Here's the one you see multiple times in the garden, Rhodocoma capensis.

Looking back over my shoulder...

A reminder this garden is graced by it's proximity to Puget Sound. It's got to be at least a USDA Zone 9 (Acacia pravissima).

Remember what I said yesterday about the Agapanthus?

I should know what that bright green business is.
Yes I should.

And this too.

Finally a slice of the Sound comes into view...

Dierama pulcherrimum, angels fishing rod.

Seeds...

And the seed pods of more bloomed Phormium.

The first glance of the back/front of the house.

If you had a view of Puget Sound (Seattle and Mt. Rainier visible on a clear day) wouldn't you want a couple of nice mature Pacific Madrones to frame it?

You can just barely make out a bit of the Seattle skyline under the first group of clouds (on the left) in the distance.

I loved the over-planted feel of this garden, the fact you couldn't move through it (especially this section) without brushing up against the plants. At times it was hard to tell where the path led.

You could see things (like the house) off in the distance, but weren't sure how to get there.

But everywhere you looked (and walked) there were fabulous plants in front of you.

And on each side...

I finally made my way over to a paved clearing, which led to the house.

If you turned back you were still in the midst of the plantings.

But you no longer felt like you weren't ever going to find your way out again (a delicious feeling, for a bit).

I knew there was a large Agave up near the house, it was thrilling to see it with my own eyes.

I believe it's A. salmiana ferox...

What a twisty Arctostaphylos.

This felt a little too close, like I was invading their personal space.

Not that I stopped, no, I wanted to see all the plants! I was careful to avert my eyes from the windows though.

That wasn't too difficult, with so much to see...

Right about here Dan came shooting out of the house to follow-up on a plant I'd asked about. Camera in hand I was paranoid for a moment he was going to ask me to stop taking photos. No worries though, instead we talked about how quickly the pod on this palm flower bursts open.

And how great the dried pod is for arrangements.

It was time to make my way back around front and to the neighbor's garden, which was also open for the afternoon and where my friends were waiting for me.

What a wonderful garden this was, do visit if you can...

Weather Diary, Aug 23: Hi 74, Low 59/ Precip: trace (a light mist for about 15 minutes)

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