The annual HPSO Open Gardens program is in full swing with a plethora of gardens open for tours during the month of June.  The June gardens are open on weekends and some are open on Monday evenings (times and locations are listed for members in the HPSO Open Gardens directory).

Some of this month’s gardens include –

Thomas Vetter

Vetter garden (Photo by Amy Campion of The World’s Best Gardening Blog)

A plant lover’s paradise nestled in Hazelwood, the Vetter garden is entering its 20th season and is a favorite stop on garden tours. The garden is a palette of colors and textures with ferns, trees, perennials and shrubs framing one beautiful vignette after another. If you miss this garden on June 10th, it will also open in July and August and by appointment.

Bruce Wakefield & Jerry Grossnickle – Old Germantown Gardens

Wakefield/Grossnickle Garden (Photo by Amy Campion of The World’s Best Gardening Blog)

After being off the tour for a few years, this spectacular garden near Forest Park is open again on June 18th and 24th. A plant collector’s paradise, the nearly 2-acre garden is packed with many unusual plants as well as familiar ones. There is much to see, including ponds, bog gardens, perennial borders, woodland areas, hillside trails, rock gardens and a tropical greenhouse.

Judy McElhaney – Matsu Kaze (Wind in the Pines)

McElhaney garden (Photo by Phillip Oliver of Dirt Therapy)

Some of the gardens on the tour are open by appointment only. One of these is an amazing garden in Vancouver, Washington that is filled with conifers of all varieties, ginkgos, dogwoods and Japanese maples. A labyrinth of winding paths showcase this magnificent collection which is enhanced by perennials, shrubs and vines. A waterfall, covered bridge and fire pits are other elements in this Asian-influenced garden.

Ann Amato and John Zorich

Amato/Zorich garden (Photo by Ann Amato of Amateur Bot-ann-ist)

Ann is a propagator and self-described “seed lover” and her garden “Campiello Maurizio” has a distinct Italian feel to it with bohemian touches that includes a xeric area, shade garden, propagation area and a graveled living space where they entertain and relax. The garden is open on June 10th and then later in the season so that visitors can witness the wonder of seedlings. The garden will be full of color by September.  The photo above was taken in March of this year after a mature multi-trunked Doug fir was removed because it was deemed dangerous. It was located on the south side of the house so it has dramatically altered the light around the house and in the garden.

Beth Hansen-Winter

Hansen-Winter garden (Photo by Beth Hansen-Winter)

Hansen-Winter describes her garden as an addiction that she cannot control (most gardeners can identify!). She loves to shop at nurseries and rummage sales where she picks up garden ornaments to enhance her garden which features more collections, such as succulents and agaves, maples, hostas, hydrangeas, conifers and species rhododendron. This delightful garden is open June 9th and 10th and by appointment.

Burl Mostul – Villa Catalana Gardens

Villa Catalana (Photo by Amy Campion of The World’s Best Gardening Blog)

You will feel as though you have stepped into Old World Europe when you visit Villa Catalana, inspired by San Clemente de Tahull, a 12th century Romanesque church in Catalonia, Spain. The estate is both a winery and the home of Rare Plant Research which specializes in unusual tropical plants. Some of the highlights include a grotto, a tropical plant conservatory, courtyard gardens, three ponds, a garden folly, grape arbors, Laburnum allee and Corinthian columns. In addition to garden gazing, you can partake in wine tasting, shop their unusual homemade “art” containers and items from Seattle glass artist Marz Rynkiewicz.

Villa Catalana (Photo by Loree Bohl of Danger Garden)

If you’re not yet a member of HPSO and would like to visit some of these gardens, become a member today to receive your Open Gardens directory with details!

If you are a HPSO member with an open garden this season & would like to have your garden featured on the blog, please contact us.