Pacific Northwest Gardening: Plant Combinations, 1 by growin

growin wrote:
Sorry, I get carried away sometimes with ideas - love design with a fresh palette like yours! One of the nicest trellis forms I've seen make me think of Annie Cougar's garden. All-natural split cedar beams in a very open trellis. It looks natural, flowing and westcoast. I've also had wonderful success making a fence (and could make a trellis) from 6' Cedar Grape Stakes split into 1x1 or 1x2 pieces nailed together with space between and then cut after installation to interesting shape. I've seen this on the San Juan and Gulf Islands and think the weathered grey cedar is calming, "westcoast" and creates a warming affect.

What I see your landscape needs is some trees and maybe some rock outcrops. One tree I find outstanding during several seasons is the Lily of the Valley Tree (Oxydendron arboreum) which is fully hardy and easy to care for. It doesn't grow fast and has great colour even as a small tree. I've also grown very fond of Golden Monterey Cypress (not sure if its hardy there but think it is) Cupressus macrocarpa 'Goldcrest' which has layered growth, bright golden foliage and smells of lemon when you brush it. I also encourage you to spred Arbutus seed whenever and wherever you can. They are hard to grow when you want them, beautiful with age and deserve better recognition.

There is a nursery not too far from you that has an amazing collection of the rare & hard-to-find stuff that you should visit or atleast download their catalogue. http://www.cistus.com/ and then there's Colvos Creek Nursery near Seattle: http://www.colvoscreeknursery.com/