PowellsWood; a Northwest Pleasure Garden

Parking on the lawn seemed so decadent...
PowellsWood is one of those places I'd been aware of, but never taken the time to stop and visit. The fact it was included on the Study Weekend's itinerary of gardens (with free admission), finally pushed me to visit.
Shady palms looked very promising...
And I do love me some astelia.
There are some of those hedges referenced in the intro blurb...
Looking thru this arch I had the feeling maybe I'd entered the wrong way and should have gone down around the house (no longer a home, but obviously it once was) and came up thru the sunny border. And so I headed that way...
Looking to my side after passing thru the arch.
And ahead...
More palms! These were rather stout.
And check out those podophyllum! 
Perhaps 'Red Panda'?


I was happy to see a nice loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) growing in the Greater Seattle area. This tree hasn't really seemed to catch on up there, not the way it has in Portland.
Heading back thru the arch again, only from the sunny side.

This rhododendron was repeated around the palms (see the above photo) and I really wanted to know what it was. 
There was a pair talking nearby, one of which I was pretty sure was Justin Henderson, Garden Director, and so I interrupted and asked. They were very gracious and yep, it was Justin (check out the Powellswood Instagram account for lots of fun posts from Justin), the next thing I know he was pulling up the rhododendron name on his phone...
Walking on...

Blechnum penna-marina, aka Austroblechnum penna-marina, such a great ground cover fern.

Rodgersia and Impatiens omeiana—a combination I adore, but only works in the springtime in my garden. Once our rains stop they dry up and are very unattractive. As this photo was taken in md-June, I wonder what it looks like now in this garden?
Walking on.

The moss!
Yes, I sat here for a spell.

I wanted to call this area a viewing platform, but on their website they call it an overlook: "An overlook, built largely of material from a recycled pier, provides a view of the ravine, trails, and wildlife below."
Hmm, a very interesting pile of "things", there's a story here I am sure of it.
I'm now longing for a rotted-out slice of wood in which I can plant.
Another glace at the moss (!)...
Hmm, Aralia elata 'Aureovariegata' perhaps? (I'm thinking back to a plant I saw at Dancing Oaks in 2015)...
More fabulous variegation, on a hosta this time.
I enjoyed my inaugural visit to PowellsWood, and since I didn't have time to wander the trails out into the nature preserve this time, I know I'll be back!