Visit five colorful coastal gardens during July 14 tour

WSU Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor & Pacific counties

Five coastal gardens in the Markham and Grayland areas will open their gates to visitors July 14.

These gardens are seldom open to the public; the last time was nine years ago. Two of the five are owned by Washington State University Master Gardeners: the home of Charles Sedivy and Hans Streich, and the home of Terri Small and Bill Bruning.

The Sedivy/Streich garden began as bare land 40 years ago. The borders have been amended over the years with compost to provide a healthy growing environment for the owners’ extensive collection of plants and shrubs. The planting areas behind the house have recently been modified to incorporate landscaping that minimizes the need for heavy maintenance or water. Where there used to be a lawn is now a curved dry river bed. A garden cottage and a small patio with a water feature are designed for entertaining and are screened from the neighbors.

Just west of the Westport Winery is the Small/Bruning home. Terri, a graphic artist, considers gardening an extension of her love of the outdoors and art. “I have often thought of how I garden as ‘painting with plants,’” she said.

Terri often describes this property as one with a split personality: Look north, and you are at the beach. Look south, and you are at the farm. The garden has many special features, including a river of about 50 hardy Rozanne geraniums that spill down a slope. There’s also a small pond where dozens of frogs live. They call it Waldo Pond, named after the “Where’s Waldo?” picture books.

Farther east is the garden of Cindy and Carl Vessey. Cindy is an expert plantswoman, growing a colorful mélange of flowering trees and shrubs. From what was once a large lawn, over the space of 25 years she has carved out borders and planting areas for the trees, shrubs and perennials that she loves best.

Carl constructed the several outbuildings in the garden. Visitors may enjoy a stop for cookies at a garden cottage decorated with collectibles, then move on to admire the workmanship of the construction of the other buildings. They also may enjoy strolling along the borders to see the abundance of plant material in this garden, some not often found elsewhere.

The garden cultivated by Chi and Bill Zaiss demonstrates their masterful job of selecting plants both for their shape, color and texture and for a limited garden space. Although Chi has gardened for over 50 years, she and Bill began this particular garden from scratch 11 years ago.

Returning visitors who participated in the 2009 tour will find a decidedly more mature garden. The Zaisses have developed a Northwest garden with a coastal influence, a peaceful refuge marked by small water features and rose, clematis, ornamental grass and hosta collections.

Gary and Kristie Creeger created their garden seven years ago by moving trailers of mature plants from their home north of Spokane to this small parcel near the beach in Grayland.

The garden looks like it has been there much longer than five years because of the size and maturity of the plants. The garden is full of color and blooming plants, all artfully arranged. The house is small, but the Creegers have increased their living space with cottages — an art studio for Kristie, who is a wood carver; a workshop for Gary; and a guesthouse with an outdoor shower.

The tour, sponsored by the Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties Master Gardener Foundation, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 14.

Not only will these five private gardens be open to the public, the WSU Master Gardeners will be selling plants at a sixth location that day. These are plants Master Gardeners are sharing from their own gardens at great prices.

Tour tickets are $12. They are available in advance at the Rose Cottage in Grayland; at Marshall’s Garden & Pet in Aberdeen; at Harbor Drug & Gifts in Hoquiam; at Valu Drug in Montesano; at Elma Variety Store; at Galway Bay/Celtic Imports and Mermaid Cove, both in Ocean Shores; and at Dennis Co. and Everyone’s Video & More, both in Raymond.