Garden Bucket List (Part 3)

Posted on October 23, 2025October 24, 2025 by Betty Hanselman

Following our visit to the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, James and I headed to another garden on his bucket list, the Seattle Japanese garden. This beautiful garden was born of an idea that first originated in the early 1900s after the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific expo sparked an interest in Japanese gardens. However, it was not until 1960, 50 years (and two world wars) later, that the project actually took root, under the creative oversight of Japanese landscape gardener, Juuki Iida.

The garden, designed as a stroll garden around a central pond, now graces 3.5 acres in the Washington Arboretum, providing serenity and sanctuary for visitors of all ages and ethnicities. Winding gravel paths and stone benches invite garden visitors to view the garden slowly, taking in the beauty of its natural elements – water, plants, rocks and birdlife – and the manmade structures – bridges, lanterns and a Japanese tea house.

Of special interest to James was the 110-year-old Japanese Black Pine at the north end of the garden. Years ago, he had read about it and was keen to view it in person; we headed there first. This beautiful, gnarled ancient was originally nurtured by Masagoro Yamasaki and his son Richard, before being donated and transplanted to the Seattle Japanese Garden in 1993. Lovingly named the Yamasaki Pine, it stands as a symbol of resilience, longevity and cultural heritage, and continues to be carefully maintained with traditional Japanese pruning techniques.

Respectfully submitted by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (with gratitude for this garden gift)

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October Is…

Posted on October 21, 2025October 24, 2025 by Betty Hanselman

“October is the fallen leaf, but it is also a wider horizon more clearly seen. It is the distant hills once more in sight, and the enduring constellations above them once again.”

~ Hal Borland (American author and naturalist; 1900 – 1978)

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The Falling Leaves

Posted on October 16, 2025October 16, 2025 by Betty Hanselman

“But in October what a feast to the eye our woods and groves present! The whole body of the air seems enriched by their calm, slow radiance. They are giving back the light they have been absorbing from the sun all summer.”

~John Burroughs (American naturalist, conservationist, and essayist; 1837–1921),

Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& awed by autumn)

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Garden Care Tips For Early Autumn

Posted on October 14, 2025October 16, 2025 by Betty Hanselman

The sunny, pleasant days of early autumn are perfect for getting outside to prepare your garden for the cold weather to come. The following garden-care tasks can be done now:

Clean up all dead perennials. However, only cut down perennials if they are brown. If they are green, they are still storing energy in the roots for nest year’s growth. (Remember this maxim: If it’s brown, cut it down. If it’s green, let it be.”
Plant any perennials and grasses you have divided, shrubs you are relocating, or bulbs you want to add for spring color.
Do final shaping of shrubs by hand, since shearing when the weather gets too cold may cause your plants to brown from ‘winter burn’.
Contact Hanselman Landscape (or your irrigation system installer) to blow the water out of your system so the hoses don’t freeze and burst when freezing weather arrives.
Call us if you’d like help putting your garden to rest for the winter. We’d love to customize and carry out a maintenance plan suited to the needs of your garden and your budget.

Contributed by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& fall fanatic)

The Golden Month

Posted on October 9, 2025October 10, 2025 by Betty Hanselman

“Glorious October: I think of it as the golden month. There’s goldenrod in the fields; the sunshine is melted honey; the foliage flames with orange, red, and gold. The days are warm and mellow, the nights sharp and cool. A man feels alive and full of energy and only slightly sad.”

~Charles H. Knickerbocker (American author and physician; 1922 – 2001)
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& October gold seeker)

Garden Bucket List Pt 2

Posted on October 7, 2025October 10, 2025 by Betty Hanselman

During our recent visit to the Pacific Northwest, James and I spent a delightful morning in the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Seattle. This non-profit membership organization is, according to the website, “. . . dedicated to the conservation, public display, and distribution of Rhododendron species.”

This beautiful, wooded space contains one of the largest collections of species Rhododendrons in the world, displaying over 700 of the more than 1,000 species found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Interestingly, some of the specimens even hail from tropical regions of southeast Asia and northern Australia!

Most surprising was the wide variety of characteristics between the species we viewed–from tiny plants with narrow, fern-like leaves, to large, tree-size specimens with leaves the size of small umbrellas!

A large variety of young Rhododendron plants is available for purchase near the entrance to the garden, encouraging visitors to convey the beauty of Rhododendrons to their own properties.

If you value the large, showy blooms, evergreen foliage (many species), and versatility of Rhododendrons, talk to us (717-653-1273). They are among our favorite plants; we’d love to share their beauty with you and plant some in your garden!

Shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& Rhody enthusiast)

For more information about the Rhododendron Species Garden, please visit the website: https://rhodygarden.org/