Back to Demonstration Gardens
Garden construction and maintenance funded through the generosity of longtime supporters of horticulture, Orin & Althea Soest. Plants donated by Molbak's and T & L Nursery. Garden design by Michaela Groeblacher.
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Eryngium 'Sapphire Blue'
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The Soest Herbaceous Display Garden opened to the public in 1998 thanks to the generosity of Orin and Althea Soest. The garden was created to help local gardeners select plants appropriate to a variety of site conditions commonly found in Pacific Northwest urban gardens. This garden features over 280 kinds of herbaceous (non-woody) plants that include perennials, annuals, and bulbs. Many of the perennials in the garden attract birds and beneficial insects such as butterflies. Enjoy your time in the garden! The garden demonstrates how soil and light affect plant growth and health. The eight raised beds consist of either a sandy loam or a clay loam soil texture representative of common urban soils. The use of small trees in beds demonstrates how certain plants perform in partial shade versus full sun. Irrigation is applied using “water-wise” techniques to avoid wasteful runoff and evaporation. Making decisions based upon your garden’s soil type, sun/shade regime and irrigation practices will give plants the best chance to thrive. A garden changes dynamically with the seasons and over time. At the University of Washington Botanic Gardens (UWBG), we consistently evaluate plant performance. Cultivars that are too aggressive here are replaced by others that will grow in the Soest Garden. A premier garden at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens attracting hundreds of visitors each year, the Soest Garden is both an outdoor classroom as well as an outdoor room that invites one to stop and relax. To learn more about plants and gardening, visit the Elisabeth C. Miller Library or tour the UWBG web site for information on classes offered to the gardening public. |
Update from the Soest Gardener, Riz ReyesJuly and August seem to be “the peak” of tremendous growth and bloom, and the time of year where we find the most visitors. From our regular neighborhood supporters, events and conference attendees, weekend weddings, and even our own staff here at UWBG–Center for Urban Horticulture, the Soest Garden is just THE PLACE to be to sit, relax, learn, play and even work! Professional artists and photographers take advantage of the varying light conditions throughout the day and the children enjoy getting their hands wet as they throw coins and gravel into the fountain. (Yes, a nightmare to clean and maintain, but so worth it to see them enjoy the garden.)
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April
2005 Handout(pdf) |
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