Lakewold Gardens, featured on our blog last spring, continues to up its game as a storied estate garden.
Washington Rock provided ¼” Minus Trail Gravel and 2- to 3-Man Landscape Rock for the construction of a new entryway. A new path leads guests through a woodland garden filled with native plants like evergreen huckleberry, vine maples, sword ferns, and wild ginger. Landscape rock nestled among plants adds texture and complements the blue-gray pathway material.
“It should be like you take a step past the threshold and immediately feel a sense of calm and peace,” head gardener Justin Henderson explained. “The goal for this particular ‘room’ is that it feels more like a native Pacific Northwest forest.”
The landscape rocks were carefully placed under the guidance of a fellow garden director and an excavator operator. Over the course of two days, they moved each rock to the perfect spot in the perfect position.
Light & Dark
The interplay of light and dark is on display all throughout Lakewold. The new woodland path showcases this well.
At different times of day, the path may be warmed with muted light. When the sun blazes overhead, the shade darkens, and the gravel and rocks are painted with the silhouettes of plants and tree canopies.
Living Transitions
As guests follow the woodland path, the landscape transitions from the rustic woodland to a new avenue of European hornbeam trees. The line of trees beckons guests toward the grand estate house. The hornbeam canopies will eventually be pruned into rectangular shapes, creating an air of formality.
Laurels blocking the view of the house were cut down, creating an unimpeded view of the house as guests approach. In winter, the bare branches of the hornbeams and surrounding deciduous trees will give way to unique new views of the house.
The garden features many other new touches that add to the beauty of the garden: a new roof on the estate house, maturing perennials in the boxwood parterres, and a new pathway connection.
Justin also hopes to complete the renovation of a 120-year-old outbuilding by late summer. The forest green outbuilding, which is part of the estate’s tenured history, will serve at the garden’s new gift shop and will also contain studio space.
Other improvements are on the horizon, making Lakewold Gardens an experience guests will want to return to season after season.
Supporting Lakewold Gardens
Lakewold Gardens depends on entry fees, proceeds from events, donations, sponsorships, and grants to stay open to the public. Over 100 volunteers, ranging from art docent to facilities maintenance, also keep the garden operational.
If you’re interested in donating or volunteering, visit the Support Us page on the Lakewold Gardens website. Check out more photos on our Woodland Garden project page.
About Washington Rock Quarries
Washington Rock Quarries is a family-owned business that produces rock, sand, and soil products at Kapowsin Quarry and King Creek Pit in Orting, Washington. We look for opportunities to give back to the community through our Giving Back Program.
Check out other articles about our community involvement: