Spring is here—my favorite time of year—and I am amazed that I never planted big swaths of daffodils or tulips to make a grand splash at the entrance to our property. Instead, Bill and I planted rhododendrons and ferns, which are flourishing spectacularly this year.
Over the years, we’ve enhanced the milk barn annex area with small alpine plants, native flowering red currant, roses, and delicate maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum).
Working and welcoming in the gardens
We experienced a wonderful visit from the Pilchuck Rhododendron Society on April 30th just when our many rhododendrons and deciduous azaleas were beginning to bloom. Thank you everyone for your visit, for having lunch in the gardens and studio, and for buying some nice garden items and plants. I truly enjoyed meeting all of you and walking around the gardens with you.
We opened the gardens to the public on May 3rd, and we’ll be open Saturdays through the end of September, 2025. (Except for July 12.) We have been pleased that neighbors, new visitors, and repeat customers have come to visit. Even with abundant rain and very cool weather, the gardens are looking lovely now. Ben has been busy cutting, trimming, and raking various lawns, moving plants out of the greenhouse, and setting up our fountains in the shade garden. Vicki, a great gardener and friend, has been hard at work too—trimming, weeding, and removing the rampant Alstroemeria aurea from the perennial border. She’s also been repotting plants, hanging them on the barn, and filling containers in both the Milk Barn window boxes and the cement planters in the Italian garden.
Refreshed Garden Galleries
Thanks to Dana for refreshing our garden galleries! She cleaned and painted the main gallery space, and brought out stunning artwork from storage by our local artists Diane Trevett, Deborah Knetzger, and Sherrill Hull.
NOTE: Bassetti’s Gardens will be closed Saturday, July 12, because we’ll be exhibiting in Lynnwood! Read on…
Friday & Saturday, July 11 – 12, 2025
Bassetti’s Boutique at the 2025 American Daylily Society National Convention
We are gearing up for a big boutique and will be selling art, gifts, gardening tools, and more at the American Daylily Society National Convention in Lynnwood, WA at Embassy Suites
Come shop the Daylily Convention boutique!
The convention Boutique and Plant Sale is open to the public exclusively on:
Friday, July 11 – Noon to 6 pm and Saturday, July 12th – Noon to 5:30 pm.
Embassy Suites 20610, 44th Ave. W., Lynnwood, WA
Peruse and purchase new artists’ boutique items including:
- Francesca’s flora, birds, and bees linen from Italy
- An array of new garden tools and Foxglove gloves
- Linda Covey’s glass art featuring bees, dragonflies, frogs, and daylily bowls
- Splash Fabric Items (made in Seattle)
- Rusty Birds
- Handmade wooden bowls by Poul Erickson
- Carved wood sculpture by Bob Swartz
- Mosaic earrings, necklaces, and butterflies by Artcycled Darcy Thompson
Other familiar artists will be represented at Bassetti’s Boutique, with some present to discuss their artwork or paint on-site:
- Judy Thomas: Fun crows on poles, birds on vases, cups, plaques, and nests
- Diane Trevett: Daylilies painted on beautifully constructed box frames, plus other paintings, prints, and new cards
- Deborah Knetzger: Various medium landscapes and plein aire paintings, plus daylilies
- Sherrill Hull: Illustrated book “A Different Kind of Dog” and bird paintings
- Evergreen Association of Fine Arts: Still life paintings
- Andrew Holmberg: New glass work
Historic landmark designation
I’m thrilled to announce that the King County historic landmark designation for our Highland Dairy Farm buildings was approved and awarded on May 22, 2025! More details about it will be added to the website soon.
That’s all for now! Hope to see you soon in Bassetti’s Crooked Arbor Gardens.
