Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation

Cultivating plants, people and communities since 1977

The Four Seasons Garden is a succession of color throughout the year!

Year-round interest is the key to this diverse mixed border garden. A rail fence, trees, and shrubs form a backdrop for perennials, vines and biennials punctuated by running ground covers. Annuals and bulbs add a pop of seasonal color. Evergreens and foundation specimens anchor the garden's silhouette.
Camelia japonica blooming in February!

Camelia japonica blooming in February!

A spring time iris

A spring time iris!

Rhododendron 'Ring of Fire' blooming in May is always an attention getter.

Rhododendron 'Ring of Fire' blooming in May is always an attention getter.

Nigella damascena, commonly known as Love in a Mist, is a lovely, delicate lovely annual that reseeds itself here and there through the garden in early summer.

Nigella damascena, commonly known as Love in a Mist, is a lovely, delicate lovely annual that reseeds itself here and there through the garden in early summer.

Filipendula rubra commonly known as Queen of the Prairie. This summer bloomer waves its sprays of small pink flowers.

Filipendula rubra commonly known as Queen of the Prairie. This summer bloomer waves its sprays of small pink flowers.

 Hydrangea anomala petiolaris, a climbing hydrangea that adds to our summer blooms and accents our metal trellis.

Hydrangea anomala petiolaris, a climbing hydrangea that adds to our summer blooms and accents our metal trellis. 

Flowers of Kousa dogwood, a June blooming dogwood.

Flowers of Kousa dogwood, a June blooming dogwood.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' with its dinner plate size blooms draws lots of attention during the summer.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' with its dinner plate size blooms draws lots of attention during the summer. 

August brings a blast of summer color with this Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona' a bigleaf ligularia also known as leopard plant. Especially striking because it's a shade plant!

August brings a blast of summer color with this Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona' a bigleaf ligularia also known as leopard plant. Especially striking because it's a shade plant! 

The brilliant red bush is Euonymus alatus "Compactus' commonly known as burning bush. It is at its peak color in this September picture.

The brilliant red bush is Euonymus alatus "Compactus' commonly known as burning bush. It is at its peak color in this September picture.
A September bloomer, Heptacodium miconioides, commonly known as seven sons plant has white flower clusters followed by vivid red bracts that last through October.

A September bloomer, Heptacodium miconioides, commonly known as seven sons plant has white flower clusters followed by vivid red bracts that last through October.

Bark can be beautiful and striking as shown by the bark of this Parrotia persica, known as Persian ironwood. It can really draw our attention in winter when the garden doesn't have as much vivid color.

Bark can be beautiful and striking as shown by the bark of this Parrotia persica, known as Persian ironwood. It can really draw our attention in winter when the garden doesn't have as much vivid color.

Hellebore brightens up the garden from November through March with various varieties.

Hellebore brightens up the garden from November through March with various varieties.

Listed below are some of the exciting and colorful options that can be found in the Four Seasons Garden!

#Botanical NameCultivarCommon NameTreeNative
1Tsuga mertensianamountain hemlock**
2Cupressus macrocarpa 'Wilma'Monterey cypress*
3Parrotia persicaPersian ironwood*
4Cyclamen hederifoliumhardy cyclamen, fall blooming
5Acer griseumpaperbark maple*
6Sarcococca humulissweet box
7Stewartia pseudocamelliaJapanese stewartia
8Rhododendron caucasicum 'Christmas Cheer'
9Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow'spurge
10Saxifraga x urbium 'Aureopunctata'variegated London's Pride saxifrage
11Camellia x williamsii 'Donation'
12Camellia japonicaJapanese camellia, rose of winter
13Hydrangea macrophyllamophead hydrangea
14Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Variegatus'variegated false holly*
15Rhododendron 'Silver Skies'
16Lonicera nitida 'Baggesens Gold'box honeysuckle
17Oxydendrum arboreumsourwood, sorrell tree*
18Primula x pubescensdouble primrose
19Rhododendron viscosum 'Milleneum'deciduous azalea
20Rhododendron 'Ring of Fire'
21Rhododendron 'Seaview Sunset'
22Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Aurea Nana' (Sunball TM)sawara false cypress*
23Prunus laurocerasus 'Mount Vernon'English laurel
24Cornus kousakousa dogwood*
25Sequoia sempervirens 'Adpressa'coast redwood*
26Acer palmatum 'Garnet'Japanese maple*
27Armeria maritimasea thrift, sea pink
28Saxifraga x urbium 'Primuloides'dwarf London’s Pride saxifrage
29Euonymus alatus 'Compactus'dwarf burning bush
30Hosta fortunei 'Francee'
31Hosta fortunei 'Hyacinthia'
32Hosta 'Gold Standard'
33Actaea matsumurae 'White Pearl'Japanese bugbane
34Rhododendron 'Northern Hi-Lights'azalea
35Rhododendron 'Klondyke'azalea
36Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'smooth azalea
37Helleborus
38Clematis 'Nelly Moser'early large flowered clematis
39Heptacodium miconioidesseven sons' plant, autumn lilac
40Narcissus 'Tete-a-tete'
41Malus 'Bailears'ruby tears flowering crabapple*
42Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'sedge
43Thymus lanuginosuswooly thyme
44Primula vulgarisprimrose
45Campanula persicifolia 'Chettle Charm'peach-leaved bellflower
46Colchicum autumnaleautumn crocus
47Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona'bigleaf ligularia, leopard plant
48Heuchera 'Marmalade'coral bells
49Fillipendula rubraqueen of the prairie
50Hesperantha coccineacrimson flag
51Galanthus nivalissnowdrop
52Iberis sempervirensevergreen candytuft, perennial candytuft
53Aster dumosus 'Wood's Purple'
54Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurorea'golden hinoki cypress
55Dryopteris filix-masmale fern*
56Polyshichum polyblepharumtassle fern
57Athyrium niponicum var. pictumpainted fern
58Chionodoxa luciliae 'Glory of the Snow'
59Anemone nemorosawood anemone
60Geumavens
61Hydrangea petiolarisclimbing hydrangea
62Astilbeastilbe
63Polemonium reptansJacob's ladder
64Actaea simplex 'Black Negligee'
65Crocosmia 'George Davidson'
66Phygelius rectus 'Moonraker'cape fuchsia
67Phygelius capensiscape fuchsia
68Cupressus sempervirensItalian cypress
69Adiantum pedatumfive finger maidenhair fern
70Adiantum venustumHimalayan maidenhair fern
71Penstemon mexicali 'Sunburst Amethyst'beard tongue
72Irisyellow (unknown variety)
73Iris tenaxtoughleaf iris, Oregon iris
74Penstemon x hybrid 'Quartz Rose'beard tongue
75Penstemon x hybrid 'Husker Red'beard tongue
76Gaultheria procumbens 'Winter Splash'wintergreen
77Lysmachia 'Persian Chocolate'loosestrife, moneywort
78Penstemon 'ChaCha Cherry'
79Euphorbia hypericifolia 'Breathless Blush'baby's breath euphorbia
80Erysimum x linifolium 'Bowles Mauve'wallflower
81Allium molylily leek, golden garlic
82Campanula garganicaAdriatic bellflower
83Campanula garganica 'Dickson Gold'Adriatic bellflower
84Lobelia fulgens 'Queen Victoria'Queen Victoria lobelia
85Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Burgandy'fan burgundy lobelia