Sustainable Garden Practices Demonstrations:

Added to 2005 Garden Tour were a focus on the alchemy of stewardship and good gardening practices designed to enhance the cultivated garden, while preserving the natural world. This feature of the garden tour was the result of collaboration with the Bainbridge Island Watershed Council and the Natural Landscapes Project, in conjunction with local and island experts and organizations dedicated to education and preservation. Learned practical techniques and reasons to garden responsibly, experienced through a series of fun and interactive demonstrations that took place in four of the five gardens on 2005 Garden Tour. The demos took place through out the weekend.

Garden One: Wildlife in the Garden and Pond
Bainbridge Island Watershed Council
Natural Landscapes Project

With the pond as classroom, learned techniques for designing a landscape that doubled as a wildlife habitat - alive with bird songs, frog calls, and more. Meet the Pacific tree frog - the year 2005's Bainbridge in Bloom "poster child" - and train your ear to decipher the different sounds that it and other local frog species make. See native pond plants and observe tiny pond creatures up close. Learned some basic how-to's from Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest by Russell Link, and planed ways to welcome birds, butterflies and more into your garden, your "habitat."

Garden Three: Healthy Trees
Bainbridge Island Watershed Council
Ribeiro Plant Lab, Inc.
Jim Trainer - Treez, Inc.
Bainbridge Island Forestry Commission

During the recent and dramatic makeover of this garden, great care was taken to protect the large, established trees on the property. Learned why and how that was done and what tolerance for earth-moving trees really have. Also, observed techniques for designing water features to avoid damage to roots and find out important questions to ask about the compost you plan to spread around trees. By inspecting cross-sections of trees that had to be cut down elsewhere on the island, saw how certain fungi weaken trees. Island resident and international consultant on plant health, Dr. Olaf Ribiero, l shared how to keep your trees healthy. Jim Trainer answered all your questions about trees.

Garden Four: Water-smart Gardens and Lawns
Natural Landscapes Project
Lawn Jockey

The year 2005's threat of drought reinforced the value of conserving water. This garden was a testament to the practicality of amending with compost to reduce water use and even to improve turf – despite the dry summer climate of the northwest. Learned about the connection between soil and plant health and techniques for using compost to boost sustainability. Nick Penovich of Lawn Jockey revealed the relationship between natural soil amendments and lush, water-smart lawns.

Bainbridge Disposal has generously donated the waste disposal and recycling program for Bainbridge in Bloom Garden Tour 2005. In this Garden #4, they also presented a demonstration that features composting techniques.

Garden Five: Managing Invasive Plants
Natural Landscapes Project
Bainbridge Island Weed Warriors

The rich variety of garden "rooms" that inhabit this scenic two and one-half acre property were a great inspiration. This landscape reflected both the struggle and the victory of conquering Himalayan blackberry, yet remained a living laboratory for controlling English ivy. Learned techniques for managing invasive plants from Weed Warriors, a local organization dedicated to managing aggressive plants that threaten native habitats.

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