Diamond
in the rough
Making the most
of a view
By Stacee
Sledge
For the Bellingham Herald
Choosing
one finalist from the nearly 40 entries for the second annual
Bellingham Herald Garden Makeover Contest was tough. But in the
end, we chose a garden with potential that will also provide
readers with ideas they can use in their own yards.
Problems:
Occasional
strong wind gusts
Height
consideration in some areas, to protect neighbors' water
views
Preventing
erosion of the bank overlooking the bay
Controlling
mole damage
Goals:
Add
vegetation to screen the front door from the street
Beautify
the currently empty flower beds that frame the front steps
Plant
an herb garden that is easily accessible from the kitchen
Plant
a vegetable garden
Possibly
remove two overgrown cedar trees in the back yard,
replacing them with something that retains the visual
screen between them and their neighbors, but doesn't block
their bay view
Installing
lighting to the front flower beds and the front façade of
the house
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"It's
daunting to take that first step," says George Kaas, Herald
garden columnist, of the five-month undertaking that awaits our
garden makeover contest winners Dave and Teresa Anderson.
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PETE
KENDALL HERALD PHOTOS
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GARDEN PROPER:
George Kaas (upper right) speaks with Dave and Teresa
Anderson about the potential a space alongside the house
could have. Kaas suggests culinary herbs and a primary
cutting garden filled with perennials for bouquets near
the roses already present. He also suggests small
flowering trees that wouldn't block any views.
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The
side of the home steps down to a grassy yard with a
panoramic view of Bellingham and Bellingham Bay.
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"The
hardest part, perhaps, is the beginning of the project when you
feel overwhelmed with ideas, thoughts and possibilities," he
continues. "But the beauty of garden creation is that it's a
very fluid process that can be adjusted as we go."
Dave and
Teresa bought their 1950s-era home two years ago and spent a spent
a year remodeling the exterior facade, adding two garages to the
front of the house and changing the roofline.Thus, much of their
makeover will focus on updating the old-fashioned architectural
and landscaping styles of their home, as well as blending in
solutions that meet their lifestyle needs.
One of the
property's biggest assets is an incredible view of Bellingham Bay.
"One of
the most difficult parts is not doing anything to get in the way
of the magnficient view," says Kaas. "I want to enhance
the view and not have them alter anything that might disturb the
stabilization of the site," which can be prone to erosion.
Shade is
also a factor in this area, so the plan includes creating a little
shift in the elevation of the front view, working in some fragrant
plants and providing material for Teresa's cut flower
arrangements.
Teresa would
like to add a touch of beauty to their land, while Dave desires a
vegetable garden. They're striving for a balance between form and
function.
On a more
personal note, the couple wants to plant a memorial tree for
Teresa's mother. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2000,
shortly after the couple bought their home, and died one year
later.
Stacee
Sledge is a Bellingham freelance writer.
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