A New Season
Today was the day we signed on the dotted line and sold our garden to its next caretakers. (We agreed to sell our home and barn too). We made the decision a year ago, recognizing that as much as we loved it here, it was taking us longer to look after the 5 acre property simply because as have have got older we need more tea breaks! Rather than wait until we had the decision forced upon us, we took a deep breath and agreed it was time. It sold immediately when we listed the first week of June.
We wanted to move to a single story home within walking distance of Main Street in the same town (Duvall, WA) but needed it to be large enough for when family and friends visited plus have a workshop for Andy and a modest garden for me. When I gave this wish list to our realtor she blanched! There had only been three such properties sold in the past year – most ramblers were much too small for us and/or had nothing for Andy . So it was nothing short of a miracle that we found a suitable place to buy in less than two weeks. Not only that, it is just two doors away from our daughter and her family, it has a lake view, is remarkably private and it has a 35-foot-long in-ground swimming pool! I'm still pinching myself. (For those of you who don't know this from my newsletters, I'm a keen open water swimmer and typically swim 3-5 times a week).
What to Take?
Our grandaughter Anna is a bit older now but I'm sure she will still be helping us with the move
The first question from every gardener is "What will you take with you?" In answering that I'm making myself my own client so that I make pragmatic choices rather than purely emotional ones. Since I know I'm not alone on this journey I thought I'd share my thoughts with you in case it helps others.
What is the sun and shade pattern? What about the soil?
A carpet of spring blooming Lynnhaven Carpet fleabane.
I'm fortunate in that I know what our new garden looks like. In short – like it needs help! More importantly there is very little shade and the soil profile is expected to be very similar to here. That being the case there is little point in taking my favorite shade-loving perennials. Instead, I've given our daughter Katie some of my English bluebells, primroses and big leaf hardy geraniums for her garden knowing I can always visit them there.
That brings me to sun loving plants. The conundrum is that I won't even get to design the garden until this winter as my initial focus will be the house interior, so taking over lots of pots of perennials which them have to be hand watered through this summer may be a false economy at least of my time. Even digging them to pot them up puts the plant at risk in mid-summer. Plus, I have very little that is hard to replace with the possible exception of my Lynnhaven Carpet fleabane (Erigeron spp.) so I think I'll transplant a few of those rosettes and heel then into a corner somewhere as they are such a useful groundcover for hot, dry places. It certainly seems prudent to design our new garden to be drought tolerant rather than watering regularly so this would be a good addition and is hard to find in nurseries.
What about containers?
This tall rustic urn will once again be pressed into service. It is a timeless piece
Again this had to be a pragmatic choice. Going from 5 acres to a 1/4 acre with a good portion of that being the pool and surround means I don't have the need for as many containers in the new garden.
I began by considering the 'look' I wanted to eventually create both in the front entry sequence and in the back garden. Since the back garden contains the pool with turquoise and cobalt blue tiles it made sense to re-use my large orange and turquoise planters back there. They are gorgeous and will really add color to the grey concrete pool surround throughout the year
The front garden is going to take some creativity to help redirect the eye away from the expansive parking and driveway to the front door. I remembered that when I needed to add some sort of trail marker to indicate the entrance of our woodland garden I used a large rustic blue-green urn so I think I will try to re-use it in a similar way at our new home. It's heavy – but that's what movers are for!
While it is understandably a popular idea to have a planter by the front door, we have very little space to work with. It is our daughter who has potentially solved this one for me. We had passed her a tall rustic brown container with an oval shaped mouth when we moved to this house in 2009. The shape is almost triangular at the back so it fits well into a corner, which is how we used it on our previous porch. We are going to try it at our new home – and the rustic finish will tie into the tall urn.
That means my various cube-shaped and contemporary pots are best left here for the new owners. They fit neither in shape, color nor style at the new place.
Art work? Furniture?
The gorgeous glass sculpture designed and created by Jesse Kelly will be coming with us nestled in many layers of bubble wrap
My gorgeous glass art in the turquoise pots will be coming with us. The color is perfect and it was a gift from my late Mum when we moved here. I'm not sure of its final placement yet although I have a few ideas brewing! We will leave the companion blue fountain for the new owners, however.
Talking of fountains I do have the rustic teapot fountain, currently outside our little cabin. I've no idea where that might go but will take it as it can be repurposed as two free standing elements if I choose. I purchased the teapot as a fun gift to myself when I was working at Molbak's nursery over 20 years ago!
We will take all the furniture with us as there is room for it and it has served us well. We purchased the teak dining set 25 years ago – just shows that buying quality pieces really is worth it!
Memories
Details from our daughters wedding bouquet in 2013
One thing that can't be packed away in a box, nor left behind are the many wonderful memories we have of our time here.
From our daughters wedding to garden workshops and video production. The four dogs who enjoyed romping through the meadow over the past 16 years and our granddaughter Anna, now 8 years old, who learned to count slugs under our weeping willow tree during Nana Camp in 2020. The sounds of hummingbirds, frogs and owls, the bobcat and cougar sightings, and the many deer who inspired me to write my latest book. The fragrance of honeysuckle on a warm summers morning and the candy-apple perfume of the katsura trees in fall. Crisp frost etching the peeling bark of the river birch trees and the blanket of stillness that descends after a snowfall.
Our gardens and our lives evolve. There are seasons for both, and therein lies the beauty.
I look forward to sharing our new garden adventures and this new season with you.
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So great you be near family! With the pool! Happy wrapping and packing!
Ha – thanks!
We're hiring more and more out for our very landscaped 3 acres and to tell you the truth, I wish both of us were ready to downsize like this! I understand your emotional ties and your pragmatism, in the end, only excited for you. A pool sounds exactly right for you! Undoubtedly this new garden will be the epitome of form and function, as well-designed smaller spaces often are. Happy designing!!
Thanks so much Nancy. You have created a beautiful home so I know if you make such a decision it will be a really hard one.
Congrats on your new home! It will be wonderful! A new slate to start again!
Thank you!
Sounds as though you have dealt perfectly with the decision to downsize while you are able! Age brings many necessary decisions and so much easier to do nothing ! There was no way I could make hard decisions with our situation with a lovely home filled with beautiful family antiques and treasures, a million dollar view of 11,000 foot Mt Lassen and the whole Lassen range, our home of 34 years and 160 roses! So, the good Lord stepped up and made that decision for us! A wildfire! Poof, all decisions gone in an instant.
I’ve looked at all this as thankful I have a God who looks after me! As Job said, “ The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh, blessed be the name of the Lord”. He has completely provided for our needs and wants! We now have a lovely home with a smaller garden and no decisions about what to do with all those “ treasures”. Friends and family have cared for us and now at 87 and 89, we are content though the new home seems to have somehow filled up again with different “ treasures”!
Yikes that was quite the experience! I'm so glad that all turned out so well in the end.
I so enjoyed reading the whole story Karen, especially since I recently made the same decision. I’m thrilled you found a great house, one that was meant to be with a pool, close to town and your daughter! Wishing you great happiness as you create your new home and garden. I look forward to following along!
Thanks Jennifer – excited to get the keys on Friday with swim suit in one hand and measuring tape in the other!
Arms around you (and Carol Cowee's ) heart as you graciously move to this new season of life and the provisions that have been given to you! It's encouraging and life giving. So happy for your new home and I know you will love creating beauty there. 💜 🌿
Thank you for your kind words! Yes, I am loving my new garden and home. Recently my garden was one of 4 private and 2 public gardens on a garden tour put on by AAUW and they raised $12,770. for women’s scholarships. It was fun having nearly 300 folks share our garden.
Congratulations!
Thanks so much Sue. I hope you get wonderful new neighbors by the way!
A new garden to design…it'll be fun. My sister and I have discovered the use of a dolly is perfect for moving heavy pots around…which we do frequently. She has a wide driveway in the front as well. We made a faux low hedge using simple square containers planted with nandina; looks good in every season. Know you'll come up with creative solutions for each area. Believe me, you can have a whole lot of plants in a smaller area and make it look wonderful. Moving is exhausting, but will be worth it. The new situation has so many positives. I think you'll love it.
I'm determined to love it! Attitude of mind is key – when that falters I'll swim 🙂
I know it was a difficult decision to leave your beautiful large garden space, but certainly understandable. We made a move 5 years ago but in an opposite direction. Our "downsizing" in 2007 to a patio home in an HOA was a mistake. I gardened there but it had to be in pots and soon that became harder to manage as my container collection grew. So we moved again in my late 70's to a home with a yard, but of manageable size. I just had to have some dirt to garden in. I've never been happier, and now at 82 the size still works and the garden is at a point where I can do as much or as little as I need. I'm so happy for you both and wish you the best in your new home and garden. Can't wait to see what you do there!
I'm so happy that you had the courage to admit the 2007 move wasn't a good fit and that you have ultimately discovered your new home and garden. Congratulations on that – and I hope to also be working outside into my 80's
Hello, what a bittersweet junction in your lives. It’s certainly a great opportunity to be so close to your family…and downsize on the physical work… but change is really very hard. ( at least for me! ) This is such a good reminder that change is the only constant and we need to adapt and go with the flow.
Good luck with the move and can’t wait to hear about your upcoming adventures. ❤️
Yes change can be hard which is why in part I knew I had to pace myself. Right now I'm in a good place – ask me again in February!
Oh my gosh, it must be hard to leave your beautiful 5 acres. How about that find, though – 2 doors down from your daughter, a big pool and that view! I'm so happy for you ! Looking forward to udates on your move & new home. From your fan in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
I am still amazed myself! Thanks so much
Wow Karen, there is kismet at play here with your home wish list achieved, proximity to family, plus a pool! Congratulations to you and Andy on making the big decision, selling quickly, and finding the perfect fit. There's so much in this story to admire and I can't wait to see the beautiful design you'll create for your new garden.
Thanks so much Lisa!
How very exciting, Karen! I'm very happy for you and Andrew. That you managed the selling, the buying and now moving all while still busy with overseas trips is nothing short of amazing. The energizer bunny got nothing on you 😀
I'm looking forward to reading about your new garden's evolution.
Cheers-
[…] with photos: A New Season (Karen Chapman/Le Jardinet) Chapman is moving from a 5-acre property with some shade to a 1/4-acre […]