Today’s photos come from Lori Fowler, senior gardener at the Gorge Power House in Newhalem, Washington.
This is such a unique environment. Newhalem is nestled along the Skagit River and is a company town located in the majestic North Cascade National Park. With several historic gardens and acres of natural land to maintain and revitalize, my projects are many and diverse.
I created these baskets to dress up the visitor entrance. I just love the juxtaposition of natural forest beauty and the hard concrete and manmade power. I used the “electric” color palette as a play on the Powerhouse location.
A flower box at the Skagit General Store. Brightly colored annuals create a fiery color scheme.
Another flower box at the Skagit General Store. This one relies mostly on perennials and shrubs for color, instead of annuals. When it comes to container designs, you are only limited by your creativity, and containers are a great place to try out combinations before committing to them in the garden.
And a third flower box at the Skagit General Store, this one mixing annuals and perennials and blending yellow and white for a cool, refreshing composition.
One more flower box at the Skagit General Store. This is such an inspiring design, and I love how much of the color comes from the creative use of foliage rather than flowers.
The Gorge Power House lookout. What a magical space!
More from the Gorge Power House lookout. Majestic rocks are wrapped in magical mist.
And one last view of the Gorge Power House lookout. I love the bright orange bench! Sometimes color comes from flowers, sometimes from foliage, and sometimes from the clever use of paint.
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Comments
Electrifying!!?
That bermed planting bed behind the orange bench looks fairly recently planted. With the huge boulders, artful cascades of large-scale gravel and nice mix of shrubs, trees and perennials, this looks likely to mature into a stunning foreground for the building.
What a wonderfully dramatic backdrop for your beautiful and colorful container combinations to offer a contrast. Your talent seems up to the job of of complimenting the magnificence of Mother Nature. Very nicely done, Lori.
Beautiful!
so fun to see especially after coming in from digging out after a snow storm. Love the vibrant colours!
Love it! The planter boxes are wonderfully whimsical and exciting!
So nice to see your respect for the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the juxtaposition of beautiful colors against massive rock face. Truly inspiring.
what lovely plantings that work beautifully with the existing space (and what a dramatic 'existing space'!!!) - congratulations on a well thought out and well-executed design!
Thank you for posting this, Lori. Since we live in WA, I see a summer road trip in our future. Your combinations are indeed electric and pleasing to the eyes.
Fantastic vistas augmented by unusual and interesting container combinations. Love it.
Fabulous!!
Magnificent!!!!!
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