Uncategorized – Chadd G Hippensteel

Cedar Garden Trellis Takes Iterations, Support System to Build

Our simplistic cedar trellis design. Read on to see how we arrived at this layout!

Four years ago, a client hired me to accent her front entryway, adding a single granite post. While there, I was inspired by the naturalistic setting — the stone wall and meadow character — and when I returned later that year, by her really neat perennial gardens. I wondered how I could combine the two.

Perennial gardens with a subtle metal trellis, foreshadowing the project I would eventually do.

The following year, we transplanted a Honeysuckle vine and planted a Peach tree in the side yard. A tiny-yet-effective meadow borders the yard here too— a 10×40’ swatch of Bluestem grass. The grasses are lovely, but offer plain, near view of the homeowners’ house from the road and neighboring property. After only one season, the trellis bent and my client contacted me to build a sturdier structure.

The peach tree is planted! The stone edge encircling is common to all the clients’ perennial beds.

After one season, the Honeysuckle bent the trellis. It was not offering any screening.

I was inspired by an old farm arbor I saw driving one day. It complimented the meadow nicely and I imagined the vibrant impression it would make with a vine twined atop it — similar to my clients’ perennial gardens. Creating a trellis that would obscure the view, yet blend with the surroundings and stand out became a challenge of simplicity.

A garden arbor is like a three-sided trellis, here set in a mowed pasture.

To kickstart the concepts, I made match-stick models. After iterations of wooden frames, we still didn’t have a concept. It took two in-person discussions and a four-month winter hiatus to arrive at a simple layout reusing the old metal trellis, and adding two more metal screens.

Cedar posts, sans the cross members, give the simplistic three “panes” design its definition. The trellis will support a thriving Honeysuckle vine.

We installed the trellis with little hiccups, setting each post in concrete. I will always remember the homeowners dog nipping our shovels. The trellis adds a warm, transparent, and yet focal point to the naturalistic border.

This design was years in the making, though I did not know it. Seeing the meadows, gardens, and other trellis designs informed my subconscious and eventually, lead us to a style that suited her property.

The Honeysuckle will slightly obscure the view, offering the homeowner a shade more privacy.

I could not have done this design if I didn’t have a positive supporting cast. The materials came from a local Maine mill, known to me as “Dewey’s.” My dad Mo- drove to Dewey’s, helped me cut the materials, layout the concept, and even got special cable clips to attach the metal screens. The client was exceptionally patient and I am grateful for her commitment to the project.

Like vines, we all need support. To continue growing, sometimes we need to rebuild the support systems we matured beyond.

The next time I go to design a trellis, I would ask the client about their style and price point… and ensure I have helping hands available.

My dad, Mo-, adjusting the side beam to be square.

The Simple-yet-Wonderful Patio

When I came to Des Moines, Washington—just four miles south of the Seattle-Tacoma airport, I had no idea the subtle charm of a couple patios would get me.

The Doghouse has lots of charm, from the waitstaff to the potted house and outdoor plants.

Everywhere I looked at the Doghouse, I found reminders to enjoy life. Potted Coral Bell plants, a patio with a rope fence, and a sign that just said, “Relax.” It was a helpful reminder.

I was surprised to happened upon the local Columbian micro-culture. Not the take on local river gorge flavors I expected, instead the menu featured empanadas, all types of sausages, and other spicy flair like hot dogs with cream cheese, flayed and fried. The chef, a Columbian woman who described the nearby Marina walk as boring, reminded me that your personal quest for freedom is a part of our voice as Americans that must persist.

The all-natural beef hotdog of all hot-dogs, or “perro caliente” in Spanish.

Considering the repercussions of a Pablo Escobar government in the 1990s, the “Chef,” we will call her, moved to Seattle. She began with few friends, no family, and no English, working furiously to support herself as a dry-cleaning operator. For the next thirty years—and many jobs later—she learned to love the joys of the region. Her parents joined her here recently, emigrating from Columbia even when things have calmed down politically. I suppose a “flat” two mile walk is a letdown to some, especially those fleeing known drug-cartels, embracing brightness and vibrancy at every turn, and making one’s life their own. When I came to the park, though, I found a very peaceful place to sit and reflect on the nature of the Pacific Northwest.

A barge in the background reminded me of the nautical history of Seattle.

Astoria, my first history lesson on the Pacific Northwest, is a settlement founded by John Jacob Astor at the mouth of the Columbia River to establish a foothold for his Pacific trade empire. It was inhabited by Native American tribes, who were wary to trade with Astor’s emissaries and their Scottish competitors. After one especially egregious incident, when one crew sent to establish trade separate from the fort abandoned their large trading vessel, and exploded it in an attempt to keep weapons from native Indians— as they boarded it. While I don’t know the dark post-colonial history of Seattle, it has its own twisted past.

Des Moines, Roughly 4 miles southwest of Seattle airport, is a historical marina and port town. One day, in 1947, a UFO descended upon a ship captain, spilling hot metal onto his boat, injuring him and killing his dog. Later, a man in a black suit came to warn him there would be repercussions if he talked about the incident. This began the “Men in black suits,” legend that has persisted to today!

A mural dedicated to the 1947 DES Moines UFO incident.

Contemporary Des Moines, according to a local walking her dog with her husband picking up litter to prevent micro-plastics from getting in the ocean, is a sleepy small town. Often, people don’t know it, save to drive through it while taking a break from the I-5. It’s historically had a summer carnival called Waterworks, with Ferris-wheels and the like, though, and a new initiative is being led by landscape architects to re-engineer the waterfront into a park. A Saturday farmers-market is the show I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

A stairway park proposed for the Des Moines Marina area, replacing a barren slope and an empty utility lot.

In my own micro-experiences, I’ve seen some humble instances of simple landscaping that make me want to improve my own outdoor pad. A bench, a few paving patterns, and a potted plant can be all it takes to make a stint outside the difference maker.

An Adopt-a-spot can be a relaxing overlook.

The entry to the Marina Inn, with surprisingly humble yet effective patio area.

Sometimes all you need is a plastic Adirondack chair near the beach!

Designing Pollinator Gardens at Lawn & Forest Edges

If you’re interested in growing a pollinator garden, make the lawn and woodland edge part of the plan. These areas are perfect spots for sustainable gardening that offers long-term benefits for both the environment and your space.

The lawn area is interspersed with Canadian Anemone and Ajuga.

Lawn Area as Pollinator Habitat: When people ask me what to plant in their yard for pollinators, my first recommendation is always the lawn. Consider adding flowering species and letting it grow. Simple additions like Dandelions and Clover (though not native, both are highly beneficial to bees) make a difference. Dandelions are easy to grow and offer early nectar, while Clover is a longer-lasting bee favorite — both species support hungry overwintering pollinators. #nomowMay

If you want to go native, you can’t beat Canadian Anemone. This beautiful white-flowering plant thrives like Clover and is similarly a great nectar source. Golden Alexander is an alternative to Dandilion that blooms early and produces a yellow flower that native bees go nuts for. Self heal (Prunella vulgaris) is a fantastic purple flowering groundcover. An alternative to Ajuga (or Bugleweed), it is native and easily grown from seed.

Woodland Edges for Pollinators: Remember the woodland edge! Designing a garden that infiltrates the edge of your woodland area provides lasting benefits for your entire yard. More native plants = more pollinators, as long as the overwintering insects have shelter. #leavesomeleaves

Consider my Favorite Woodland Edge Plants: Strong rooted, rhizomatous plants like Wild Raisin, Rosy Meadowsweet, and Aster spread easily and outcompete invasive species. Mix groundcovers, shrubs, and perennials in clusters of 3-5 to create a thriving, pollinator-friendly garden.

A forest edge pollinator planting deisgn. Let it grow!

Adam’s Needle (Yucca): This dry soil loving perennial is perfect for sun to part-sun open forest edges, adding structure with its towering flower stalks.
Wild Raisin, Rosy Meadowsweet, and Aster: These lovely native plants are excellent in a range of soils, including droughty ones, will spread over time and will enhance pollinator habitat in your garden.

Design for Pollinators: When designing a garden, think about your space: open forest areas, forest edges, meadows, lawns, and shade spots all support pollinators in their own way. By planting strategically, you can create a haven for these important plants and insects.

** Ready to transform your yard into a pollinator paradise? Contact me today to discuss your vision, explore options, and create a beautiful garden for the future! **