— from Gwen Stamm —
Photo: Margot Shaw
If you are thinking of installing a drought tolerant, deer resistant landscape this year, you may want to make a stop at the Orcas animal shelter for some ideas. Recently, the animal shelter created the Faithful Friends Garden through the generosity of Anna Tejada. This garden, beautifully designed by BB Hamilton, features a commemorative brick walkway. You can purchase a brick for the walkway and have it inscribed with the name of a pet or person of your choice.
Jeff Bossler selected the appropriate plants for the Friends Garden and added some finishing touches with strategically placed rocks. The Garden Club and Orcas Master Gardeners donated funds for plant identification tags along with some of the plants. The tags have both the common and botanical names. All plants were chosen for their drought tolerance and deer resistance.
While you meander along the red brick path, sit for a moment on Michael Yeaman’s sculpted bench made from a 70 million year old conglomerate boulder and enjoy the sound of gently flowing water from the garden’s fountain. It is truly a peaceful place.
After some landscape browsing, feel free to go inside and say hello to the cats and dogs. You might find your new gardening partner, someone who can help you get through those long non-gardening, winter days.
