By Jim McCausland, Sunset senior garden writer
In the hills on the southeast side of Seattle, Columbia City has that lovely-old-neighborhood feel: small- to medium-size city lots, a few newer houses interspersed with many original ones, large old trees and shubs, vegetable plots, and some excellent rock gardens.
Good gardeners have done wonders here, making room for everything from chickens to tree-shaded ponds. You can see some of their best efforts on this year’s Columbia City garden tour Saturday, June 14, from 10 to 4.
The tour covers 17 gardens scattered throughout this relatively small neighborhood. Bring your digital camera to help you remember exquisite plant combinations, garden art displays, gates, ponds, paths, and a few choice collectibles whose names (like Dasylirion wheeleri, pictured at right below) are as forgettable as the plants are memorable.
Advance tickets are $5 from:
KC's Flower, 4873 Rainier Ave. S.
City People's Garden Store, 2939 E. Madison St.
Flowers on 15th, 515 15th Ave. E.
Wells Medina Nursery, 8300 N.E. 24th St., Bellevue
Minter's, 13043 Renton Ave. S.
On the day of the tour you can buy tickets at Columbia City Gallery, 4864 Rainier Avenue South. For more information, contact Joan Jevnikar (206/722-1557). The tour is cosponsored by Sustainable South Seattle.
