{"id":4500,"date":"2025-09-24T04:59:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T11:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/24\/cleos-summer-garden-in-washington\/"},"modified":"2025-09-24T04:59:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T11:59:09","slug":"cleos-summer-garden-in-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/24\/cleos-summer-garden-in-washington\/","title":{"rendered":"Cleo’s Summer Garden in Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Hi GPODers!<\/p>\n

We\u2019re back in Bellevue, Washington today to complete our seasonal tour of Cleo Raulerson\u2019s incredible garden. Over the past year we\u2019ve been enjoying her sensational space during the peak of each season, with new combinations and sources of interest evolving with the change of weather. (Check out her previous submissions here: Late October in Cleo\u2019s Back Garden<\/a>; moved to\u00a0 Cleo\u2019s Washington Garden in Winter<\/a>, and Cleo\u2019s Spring Garden in Washington<\/a>). Her garden has a truly year-round design and delights in every season, but some might say she saved the best for last. We\u2019re finally diving into the vibrant colors and lush growth of her summer garden.<\/p>\n

Welcome to my Summer garden! My garden is alive with the colors of more than 750 varieties of flowering plants, designed so that something is in bloom every day of the year. It truly bursts into color and movement in the summer. These photos were taken just prior to my participation in the Northwest Perennial Alliance Open Garden Tour<\/a> of member gardens\u201465 people toured my garden on July 27th. This is my 37th year in this garden. I now do naturalistic gardening\u2014it evolved from a planned design and my love of self-seeders. I edit to what pleases me and enjoy how plants weave themselves together. Textures and color combinations have become more important. Enjoy seeing Cleo\u2019s Seattle area garden at its mid-summer peak!<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a>\u201cWelcome Garden\u201d peace pole by Stephanie Burgess<\/a> with an aster<\/em> (<\/em>Symphyotrichum \u2018Cape Cod\u2019,<\/em> Zones 4\u20139)<\/em> to the left which will later have small white flowers. Yellow flower shrub in back is shrubby cinquefoil<\/em> (<\/em>Dasiphora fruticosa \u2018Goldfinger\u2019, Zones 3\u20137)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"three<\/a>Three blue pots planted with various sedums. Redleaf roger\u2019s flower (<\/em>Rodgersia<\/a> podophylla \u2018Rotlaub\u2019<\/em>, Zones 6\u20139)<\/em> is behind left pot, and a large Japanese lace-leaf maple<\/em> (<\/em>Acer<\/a> palmatum var. <\/em>dissectum atropurpureum \u2018Ever Red\u2019<\/em>, Zones 5\u20139)<\/em> is in the background. Stone mosaic is by Clare Dohna<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"colorful<\/a>Grasses are accents throughout the garden. This composition is left to right: lily-of-the-valley shrub<\/em> (<\/em>Pieris<\/a> japonica \u2018Little Heath\u2019<\/em>, Zones 5\u20139),<\/em>\u00a0maiden grass<\/em> (<\/em>Miscanthus<\/a> sinensis \u2018Little Miss\u2019<\/em>, Zones 5\u20139),<\/em>\u00a0betony<\/em> (<\/em>Stachys<\/a> officinalis, Zones 4\u20138),<\/em>\u00a0and barberry<\/em> (Berberis<\/a> thunbergii \u2018Crimson Pygmy\u2019<\/em>, Zones 4\u20139)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"summer<\/a>I have a Mexican pebble stone stream running down this bed that is currently hidden by: multiple varieties of past-bloom spirea, purple moor grass<\/em> (<\/em>Molinia<\/a> caerulea \u2018Moorflamme\u2019<\/em>, Zones 4\u20139),<\/em> society garlic<\/em> (<\/em>Tulbaghia<\/a> violacea \u2018Tri-Color\u2019<\/em>, Zones 7\u201311),<\/em>\u00a0and other perennials.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"front<\/a>This fast-draining front bed is filled with mid-summer color including: Mr Bowling Ball arborvitae<\/em> (<\/em>Thuja<\/a> occidentalis \u2018Bobozam\u2019<\/em>, Zones 3\u20138),<\/em> multiple varieties of gaura<\/a>, coneflower, helenium<\/a>, rudbeckia<\/a>, and many other plants.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"vibrant<\/a>A metal song bird by Haw Creek Forge<\/a> guards the back bed edging the waterfall. This bed shows off coneflower\u2014\u2019Cheyenne Spirit\u2019<\/em> (<\/em>Echinacea<\/a> \u2018Cheyenne Spirit\u2019<\/em>, Zones 4\u20139)<\/em> started from seed by the grower, red hot poker<\/em> (<\/em>Kniphofia \u2018Mango Popsicle\u2019<\/em>, Zones 6\u20138),<\/em> Scotch heather<\/em> (<\/em>Calluna<\/a> vulgaris \u2018Dark Beauty\u2019<\/em>, Zones 4\u20138)<\/em> not yet in bloom, and chocolate cosmos<\/a><\/em> (<\/em>Cosmos atrosanguineus \u2018Choca Mocha\u2019<\/em>, Zones 7\u201311)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"purple<\/a><\/p>\n

Plant explorer Dan Hinkley<\/a> hybridized a series of agapanthus which he named after some of his favorite gardening friends. This is \u2018Lucy Hardiman\u2019 #26 (<\/em>Agapanthus \u2018Lucy Hardiman\u2019<\/em>, Zones 7\u201310)<\/em>, named after one of my favorite Portland garden spirits and designers, who is sadly now deceased.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"blue<\/a>This blue pot\u2014somewhat hidden in summer by asters<\/em> (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae \u2018Purple Dome\u2019<\/em>, Zones 5\u20138)\u2014accents the center of my back garden. It is filled with sedums<\/a> and hyssop<\/em> (<\/em>Agapanthus \u2018Cotton Candy\u2019<\/em>, Zones 6\u201310)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"hydrangea<\/a>Black-stemmed bigleaf hydrangea<\/a><\/em> (<\/em>Hydrangea macrophylla \u2018Nigra\u2019<\/em>, Zones 6\u20139)<\/em>, flowers faded to a soft violet after starting true-blue. Bobo\u00ae panicle hydrangea<\/a><\/em> (<\/em>Hydrangea paniculata \u2018Ilvobo\u2019<\/em>, Zones 3\u20139)<\/em> is in the background.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"blue<\/a>One of the plants I work to keep in my garden is \u2018Antonow\u2019s Blue\u2019 honeybush<\/em> (<\/em>Melianthus<\/a> major \u2018Antonow\u2019s Blue\u2019<\/em>, Zones 4\u20139)<\/em> which was named after the late, great Seattle gardener Steve Antonow who grew it in his garden. I was privileged to visit his wonderful garden several times and having this plant in my garden reminds me of him and other great local gardens I have visited. Behind it is \u2018Snowflake\u2019 oakleaf hydrangea<\/a> (<\/em>Hydrangea quercifolia \u2018Snowflake\u2019<\/em>, Zones 5\u20139)<\/em>, with blue agapanthus<\/em> (likely straight species:<\/em> Agapanthus praecox, Zones 8\u201311)<\/em> to the right.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you so much for sharing your spectacular garden with us, Cleo! There is endless enjoyment and inspiration to find in the photos you\u2019ve shared over the past year, and while this series is over I sincerely hope that this is not the last update we\u2019ll receive from your garden.<\/p>\n

Can you believe that Cleo followed Garden Photo of the Day<\/em> for years before sharing her incredible garden? While this may surprise some, I know there are a lot more gardeners with amazing talent and wow-worthy spaces that are silent members of the community. There is no pressure to participate, but if you\u2019ve ever thought about sharing your garden with the blog but hesitated, please consider making 2025 the year to finally send those photos in. Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

We want to see YOUR garden!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Have photos to share? We\u2019d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!<\/p>\n

To submit, send 5\u201310 photos to\u00a0[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a>\u00a0along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We\u2019d love to hear where you are located, how long you\u2019ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.<\/p>\n

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on\u00a0Facebook,<\/a>\u00a0Instagram,<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0with #FineGardening!<\/p>\n

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet?\u00a0Sign up here<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Fine Gardening Recommended Products<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n

The Crevice Garden: How to make the perfect home for plants from rocky places<\/p>\n

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.<\/p>\n

A crevice garden replicates the environmental conditions of mountain tops, deserts, coastlines, and other exposed or rocky places on earth. These striking garden features provide perfect conditions for the plants native to these far-off places, bringing the cultivation of these precious gems within everybody\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n

Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs<\/p>\n

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.<\/p>\n

Pruning Simplified shows you exactly how to do it. This must-have guide offers expert advice on the best tools for the job, specific details on when to prune, and clear instructions on how to prune. Profiles of the 50 most popular trees and shrubs\u2014including azaleas, camellias, clematis, hydrangeas, and more\u2014include illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions that will ensure you make the right cut the first time.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n

ARS Telescoping Long Reach Pruner<\/p>\n

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.<\/p>\n

Telescopes from 4 to 7′. Cut and Hold (160) Blades. Drop forged blades for unsurpassed long lasting sharpness. Lightweight, 2.3 lbs., for continued use. Perfectly balanced for easy pruning.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n