For proof that Northwest native plants are anything but dreary in winter, take a stroll through the Olympic Sculpture Park. It's my favorite bad weather walk, because there's so much sky and water you get as much light as you can anywhere this time of year. The Seattle Art Museum has created not only a spectacular site for viewing art and the beginnings of a magnificent native plant garden, but a lively social scene, a promenade of families, kids, dogs, and art lovers.
The native plants at the park have been criticized, but let's give them a chance to grow up and grow in. The concept of setting art into groves of native plantings on this very tough and exposed site is a brilliant one. The park submerges you in nature as well as art....even at this bleakest time of year....
All photos were taken on Sunday before the deluge of rain set in - you can see how bright and open the park is even on the most threateningly dark afternoon...
The Typewriter Eraser by Claes Oldenburg, on loan from Paul Allen
A grove of quaking aspen underplanted with ferns
Snowberries and Nootka rose hips
Evergreens like this arcostaphyllus (left), salal and kinnikinnick (covering the hillside, right) carry the garden through winter;
Mahonia takes on red tints in winter
Bridget on the promenade, an homage to Seattle's Olmsted legacy.
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