“Go, sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound.
The summer sun is faint on them—
The summer flowers depart—
Sit still— as all transform’d to stone,
Except your musing heart.”
~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning (popular English poet of the Victorian era; 1806 – 1861)
For quite some time, James has been wanting to visit some of the notable gardens in the Pacific Northwest, one of them being the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride across the Puget Sound from Seattle.
Early this year, we were thrilled to receive an invitation to attend the wedding of one of our son’s college friends and to learn that the wedding venue was, of all places, the Bloedel Reserve!
In July, we flew to Seattle in time to visit the Bloedel Reserve the day before the wedding. We spent part of a glorious sunny day strolling the beautiful grounds, through wildflower meadows and woodlands, around the Japanese teahouse gardens, and over emerald lawns to the estate house where the wedding set up was taking place, overlooking the sparkling waters of the Puget Sound. What an unexpected delight to be able to privately preview the wedding venue as part of our garden tour!
Named one of America’s top 10 public gardens, the Bloedel Reserve was the perfect choice for a wedding! Surrounded by towering trees, meticulously-maintained lawns, and sweeping vistas across the Puget Sound, friends and family gathered for a most exquisite celebration. What a rare privilege it was for us to be witnesses of Ben and Sara’s lifetime covenant in the gardens of this spectacular estate!
Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& delighted garden tourist)
“This is my rock
And here I run
To steal the secret of the sun;
This is my rock
And here come I
Before the night has swept the sky;
This is my rock,
This is the place
I meet the evening face to face.”
~ David McCord (American poet, author, and editor; 1897 – 1997)
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& grateful for plenty of rocks to go around!)
If the thought of fake rock does not jive with you, we offer the real thing: classic, stable, enduring rock products delivered and harmoniously arranged in your garden. For the lasting beauty and balance of authentic boulders and pavers, give us a call at 717-653-1273. Our “rock stars” excel at garden rock medleys.
Shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& fan of Hanselman Landscape’s ‘classic rock’)
The goldenrod is yellow;
The corn is turning brown;
The trees in apple orchards
With fruit are bending down.
The gentian’s bluest fringes
Are curling in the sun;
In dusty pods the milkweed
Its hidden silk has spun.
The sedges flaunt their harvest
In every meadow nook;
And asters by the brook-side
Make asters in the brook.
By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer’s best of weather,
And autumn’s best of cheer.
~ Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885; American poet, writer, activist)
Wishing you joy in your garden and surrounding landscape during this beautiful time of year! We’d love to help–give us a call (717-653-1271)!
Shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& joyful ‘all-season’ enthusiast!)
On September 11, 2001, John Perry, NYPD officer and NY State Guard first lieutenant, gave his life in an attempt to rescue those still trapped in the Twin Towers. Although his act of courage is honored publicly each year on this day, his sacrifice also has a perpetual and growing memorial in the form of a beautiful, private Japanese garden tucked away on his family’s property on Long Island.
John’s brother, Joel Perry, contacted Hanselman Landscape in 2022 about designing this garden, believing that the atmosphere of mindfulness and serenity fostered in Japanese gardens would be perfect for this memorial.
On this very personal project, our designers worked closely with Joel to make sure that even small details acknowledged the depth of his brother’s and family’s sacrifice. Features like the boulders–specially chosen to represent John, Joel, and their sister Janice–and the two existing trees retained to represent the Twin Towers contribute to the garden’s design to ensure Joel’s family has a meaningful and tangible way to honor their brother’s memory.
Joel greatly appreciated the conscientious care, commenting that his friends have been “wowed” by the meticulous, “clutter-free” appearance of his gravel garden and the high-quality plants provided by Hanselman Landscape.
As the years pass, our team hopes that this living memorial will continue to provide solace for the Perry family, commemorating John’s bravery and sacrifice with timeless stone and ever-growing garden beauty.
Contributed by Julia Kramer
Garden Care team member at Hanselman Landscape
