Day 2 of the Puget Sound Fling last month ended at Lakewold Gardens, a 10-acre estate garden in Lakewood, Washington. The Fling banquet dinner was to be held on the terrace, but first we had time to explore the grounds.

A brass quartet, including co-planner Camille Paulsen‘s daughter on trumpet, serenaded us on the lawn. I admired the large, charismatic trees around the house. In one sky-scraping tree, bald eagles were nesting, one of the parents keeping watch on a high limb.

Floating flower in a water vessel

Eryngium in all its spiky, steely blue glory

Lake view

Succulent bowl on a log bench

In the shade garden…

…a stream wound through ferns and sedges.

Bear’s breeches in bloom

One of the garden’s majestic trees

At last it was time to take a seat at the tables set up on the wisteria-shaded terrace. Texas readers, I tell you with astonishment, there was no humidity, no sweating, and zero flies or other bugs on the dessert platters set out ahead of time. No, I mean it. Zero flies. Zero mosquitoes also. What otherworldly place IS this?

Fling co-planner Paula Rothkopf introduced next year’s Fling planners, Kim Halyak, Sharron Johnson, and John Simi, who gave us a preview of the 2025 Memphis Fling. It’ll be held in Memphis, Tennessee, from June 5th to 8th. I’m already looking forward to it!

As we headed back to the buses, the generous folks at Lakewold gave us all a copy of their hardback book Lakewold: A Magnificent Northwest Garden. Perusing it will bring back good memories.

Up next: The exquisite, jam-packed garden of Nancy Heckler. For a look back at Camille Paulsen’s spectacular garden overlooking Mount Rainier, click here.

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Digging Deeper

Explore the world of succulents and cacti at the Austin Cactus and Succulent Society’s Fall Sale on 8/31 and 9/1, from 10 am to 5 pm. Held at the Austin Area Garden Center in Zilker Botanical Garden, it includes a plant show with specimen cacti and succulents, handcrafted pottery, daily silent auction and hourly plant raffles, and expert advice. Entry included with the cost of admission at Zilker Botanical Garden: Adults $6 to $8, Seniors $5 to $7, Youths $3 to $4, Children under 2 free.

Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Stay tuned for more info!

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