I’ve never been one for an end-of-year round up post where I look back and reminisce on the highlights of the year, or share a collection of my favorite photos. However on December 21st, while I was sitting in the warm 72 degree sun at The Huntington and thinking about how lucky I was to be there, well, it occurred to me just what an amazing year of garden travel 2019 was for me.
The new gardening year officially kicked off in February with The Northwest Flower and Garden Show, in Seattle.
In April I flew down to Sacramento, CA, where my friend Gerhard picked me up and then we drove on to the Ruth Bancroft Garden (a visit which I have yet to share many photos of).
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The next morning we set off for Santa Barbara and the Bromeliad Summit. The summit included a day at Lotusland (which I'm still writing about) and visits to several outstanding private gardens including Aloes in Wonderland, St. Francis Ranch, the garden of John Bleck, as well as nursery visit to San Marcos Growers.
In May I visited the Hillside Desert Botanical Gardens in Yakima...
And in June we (Andrew joined me) were off to Denver and the 2019 Garden Bloggers Fling. During the Fling I finally got to see the Denver Botanic Gardens (again...still writing about this place) and oh so many fabulous private gardens, like this one, and this one and of course this one (plus many more I have yet to cover).
Later in June the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon hosted a 3-day extravaganza of local garden touring and lectures called Study Weekend. This event included stops at old favorite gardens like Floramagoria, and new-to-me stops like this one and this one.
July had me road tripping up to the Puget Sound area to take photos and do a few interviews for my book (more that in the future). Honestly I was on a high from that trip that lasted for weeks, and good thing because after that it was time to stop gallivanting around and log some serious hours sitting at my desk. Yes, by the time December rolled around I was oh so ready to get back on the road (or in the air). In addition to the day-long visit to the gardens of The Huntington I also (finally) saw Kris (Late to the Garden Party) Peterson's garden and Dustin Gimbel's garden (he of Second Nature Garden Design) as well as visit to Rainforst Flora and the Theodore Payne Foundation.
What will 2020 hold? Well it's gonna take a lot to beat 2019... but I can't wait to find out!
Weather Diary, Dec 30: Hi 48, Low 40/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
The new gardening year officially kicked off in February with The Northwest Flower and Garden Show, in Seattle.
 |
| "The Botanist Balcony" at the NWFGF, from Kim McCarthy of Urban Soule |
In April I flew down to Sacramento, CA, where my friend Gerhard picked me up and then we drove on to the Ruth Bancroft Garden (a visit which I have yet to share many photos of).
The next morning we set off for Santa Barbara and the Bromeliad Summit. The summit included a day at Lotusland (which I'm still writing about) and visits to several outstanding private gardens including Aloes in Wonderland, St. Francis Ranch, the garden of John Bleck, as well as nursery visit to San Marcos Growers.
 |
| Hechtia lanata at Aloes in Wonderland |
In May I visited the Hillside Desert Botanical Gardens in Yakima...
 |
| Echinocereus blooming in the Desert Hillside Botanical Gardens |
And in June we (Andrew joined me) were off to Denver and the 2019 Garden Bloggers Fling. During the Fling I finally got to see the Denver Botanic Gardens (again...still writing about this place) and oh so many fabulous private gardens, like this one, and this one and of course this one (plus many more I have yet to cover).
 |
| Agave utahensis, at the Denver Botanic Gardens |
Later in June the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon hosted a 3-day extravaganza of local garden touring and lectures called Study Weekend. This event included stops at old favorite gardens like Floramagoria, and new-to-me stops like this one and this one.
 |
| The garden of Erin and Brian Ray, a Study Weekend stop |
July had me road tripping up to the Puget Sound area to take photos and do a few interviews for my book (more that in the future). Honestly I was on a high from that trip that lasted for weeks, and good thing because after that it was time to stop gallivanting around and log some serious hours sitting at my desk. Yes, by the time December rolled around I was oh so ready to get back on the road (or in the air). In addition to the day-long visit to the gardens of The Huntington I also (finally) saw Kris (Late to the Garden Party) Peterson's garden and Dustin Gimbel's garden (he of Second Nature Garden Design) as well as visit to Rainforst Flora and the Theodore Payne Foundation.
 |
| One of many stunning vignettes in Kris Peterson's garden |
What will 2020 hold? Well it's gonna take a lot to beat 2019... but I can't wait to find out!
— — —
Weather Diary, Dec 30: Hi 48, Low 40/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.