Summer garden tour: John Mathews

Last summer a gardening friend and I went on the annual tour of home gardens sponsored by Olbrich Botanical Gardens. We took advantage of the fact that most of the gardens were on our side of town. I was familiar with half of them — which is how I am able to identify this garden.

John Mathews is a professional designer and we've visited each other's gardens a number of times. I always know I will see unusual plants and creative solutions when I visit his garden. 

John has a exceptional collection of conifers and they were marked with id tags which was a treat.

This garden is heavily influenced by traditional Japanese gardens but seen through the eyes of a western homeowner and plantsman. So I was not surprised to see a rain chain or large rocks.

When I get back home I always want to be sure I have images of how these lovely parts of the garden are actually put together. 

So I tend to take lots of detail photos.

We turned left at the rock which took us through the front garden. 

John interpreted a classic Japanese barrier using bundles of prunings. This was across the path from the big rock.

Further along were these standard Ginkgoes. I've rarely met a Ginkgo I didn't like and these were no exception. Look at the moss, rocks and ground cover. The path is behind this display.  

Nothing has been left to chance in this beautiful combination of planting and hardscaping along the side of the house, leading into the back garden. 

A koi pond nestled among rocks and plants. 

I love this scene because it has familiar plants and a simple bamboo fence that anyone could make. Great inspiration.

Again, familiar plants that showcase all different tones of green — contrasted with a big empty pot. 

Every garden we visited had containers with various types of plants. None compared with this one with its span, limited depth and use of rocks as both decorative accents and to create a mini crevice garden. 

Next up: John Mathew's wood and stone garden elements.

Comments

[Kris P]

Nice touches throughout - I can understand why you eye was drawn to them. I love the miniature crevice garden with succulents.

[danger garden]

Excellent! I am curious to know more about the material directly under the rain chain. What is it?

[Beth@PlantPostings]

Thanks for the lovely tour of John's garden. So many nifty little touches.

[Linda Brazill]

LOREE — It looked to me like narrow,  flat stones set on their side (rather than laid flat) in concrete. It was definitely a break with the surrounding material.

[Linda Brazill]

KRIS — That little crevice garden in a pot strikes me as very West coast.