On the Seattle Waterfront, Corylopsis spicata is found growing in the large, raised beds just south of the new aquarium. 

Trachelospermum jasminoides, or star jasmine, is a low-maintenance, evergreen vine with fragrant, white flowers. Native to Eastern and Southeastern Asia, it is dependably cold-hardy in the Puget Sound region. It creates a beautiful backdrop when trained up a trellis or over an arbor

This gorgeous mid-spring bloom, also known as the Camas lily or Wild Hyacinth, is in the Asparagus family, Asparagaceae.

Above all, it is the inherent dynamic qualities of plants – the living, ever-changing aspect of garden spaces – that distinguishes gardens from more static structures like houses.

It’s mid-June on the Seattle Waterfront, and the newly planted perennials have relaxed into the easy-breezy verdancy of early summer.  If you take a walk, here’s what you might see.

While there is still much more to look forward to being planted along the western corridor, the presence of the trees along the road is beginning to define what one day soon will be a wonderful tree-lined corridor with gardens, parks, developed public spaces, the aquarium, and much more.

They light up the garden from October through January, a time of year when many other flowering plants are dormant. Graceful and upright in form, they look great in a variety of settings: in a large pot by a front door, espaliered against a wall, or planted in mass and maintained as an informal hedge.

Plant communities have evolved over time to recover from and thrive in the wake of all kinds of disturbances including drought, fire, grazing, floods and landslides. By studying the resilience of natural ecologies, we can create gardens with dynamic and enduring beauty.