I first visited Mary and Harlan Courtney’s garden in late July 2022 and wrote about it here. It is a strikingly unique, materials-driven, artfully idiosyncratic approach to managing a slope, where the retaining infrastructure designed by Harlan is as prominent a feature as the plants.
I’d heard that the garden was to be included in a book, and The Spirited Garden was released this spring. After this June visit I ordered the book, which I highly recommend for the generous amount of photos and knowledgeable writing on 17 PNW gardens. Along with the Courtneys’ garden, PNW touchstones like Cistus are included. (If you’ve attended a PNW “Fling” garden tour, the book covers in-depth some of these featured gardens e.g. the Kuzma garden, but also includes rare treats such as a tour of Ann Amato’s home and garden sanctuary.)
This garden unabashedly wears its hardscape on its sleeve. Along with Harlan’s free-standing sculptures, there are painted culvert pipes, varying heights of undulating Corten retaining walls, experimental types of gabion. The engineered design solutions contain and counterpoint Mary’s adventurous planting, and any visit is an overwhelming eyeful.
Mary’s planting is wide-ranging and robust enough to balance the visually arresting hardscape. This June visit differed from the last one in July in that the cutting garden filled with cosmos and dahlias as well as mid-summer perennials were still gaining strength. This visit I was struck by all the stunning conifers that Mary had been planting that are large enough now to make a statement. You never know who’s going to be a conifer fan! A winter tour of the garden to see the conifers would present an entirely different mood, magical in its own way — especially if the surrounding meadow is dotted with the local herd of grazing elk.
Closing with a photo of the workshop. Thanks again to the Courtneys for opening their stunningly imaginative garden. More soon, AGO
Wow, I was so taken by the Corten steel beds and planters I didn’t pay attention to the plantings. I’m going back up for a re-read. I like how the big steel beds have smaller steel planters surrounding. The conifers must be the big stars in the winter, keeping it so green. The greenhouse project sounds so interesting, I look forward to seeing the update!
I’m not particularly a conifer fan but those sections were attractive. Like Tracy, I admired the Corten containers.
@Tracy, the Courtneys couldn’t find any local knowledge on geothermal-heated greenhouses, so they’re having to figure it out themselves. I’m looking forward to a progress report too!
@Kris, Mary told me she attended a conifer show a few years back and made these purchases. To my eye they look really at home here. The photo of the sulphur cypress doesn’t do it justice — what a beauty!
Wow, what a phenomenal garden. Love everything about this. Such a creative work of art.
@Deanne, this garden is loads of fun, glad you enjoyed it.
I visited this garden during the Study weekend in 2025, and missed so much of what you highlight here. In my defense, it was a super hot day, and late in that day. I have a new appreciation for its charms, thanks to your unique eye and plant knowledge. Thanks for opening my eyes!
This is a really eclectic garden with all that steel. It’s totally unique. I’d love to stay in that guest house too. Can’t wait to see the geothermal greenhouse. I took a course on how to do one but we just don’t have the right spot for all the trenching.