The Sequim Botanical Garden Society has unveiled a new, freshly planted garden space in the terrace garden at Carrie Blake Community Park.

For several years, the garden was overflowing with peony plants that were gifted from a local peony farm. Some of the peonies are still there, but the garden club fundraised for the new garden by giving away some of the peonies in exchange for a donation.

The Sequim Botanical Garden Society is a nonprofit organization that partners with the City of Sequim to design, develop, and maintain the garden at Carrie Blake Community Park for visitors to enjoy. The group provides public education and visual demonstration of local home gardening practices.

According to the club, the new garden was designed to provide color and interest throughout all four seasons. There are trees (Eastern redbud, Coral Bark maples, Japanese maples and large hydrangea trees), shrubs that include several varieties of colors of hydrangeas and Japanese holly, and perennials such as Hot Lips Salvia, Fountain Grass and a variety of winter-blooming heathers.

“We knew we wanted to do some different styles of hydrangeas, because that’s not something we (had) in the garden and it’s a very popular plant,” said Gail Ditmore, who designed the garden along with Julie Malone. The garden is managed by longtime member Mary Crook.

The new garden was designed in coordination with New Dungeness Nursery. Owner and founder Doug Cockburn helped procure the plants and sold them to the group at wholesale prices, according to Ditmore, who owned a flower shop in the Tacoma area before retiring and moving to Sequim with her husband Dan five years ago.

“That just blew me away,” she said of Cockburn’s generous gesture. “He likes to do things for the community.”

Cockburn’s son Stewart, who helps run the family business, delivered the plants and assisted in the planting.

Volunteers and city employees, with an assist from New Dungeness Nursery, had the work done within two hours.

Ditmore and Malone coordinated with New Dungeness Nursery and garden volunteers to fill the garden space with more than 90 plants. Gary Butler, a member of the City of Sequim’s parks staff, was on hand to assist in getting the delivery truck across the grass without damaging the irrigation system, club members said, and he made sure the garden’s irrigation system would keep the new plants watered.

Working together with shovels, trowels, rakes and an auger, the crew had everything planted in just two hours.

In addition to the new collection of plants, the Sequim Botanical Garden Society added two metal arbors at the top of each set of stairs at the garden with the help of Butler and his crew. Two varieties of honeysuckle were planted so that the arbors will eventually be covered in honeysuckle, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.

Another change at the garden is an upgrade to the informational kiosk. It now showcases photos taken by the group’s photographer, Leslie Wright.

In a written announcement about the new garden, the Society thanked Hannah Merrill, the city’s parks and events manager, for the help she provided in bringing the project to fruition and for helping volunteers coordinate with the parks department for larger, important tasks.

The gardening enthusiasts have more improvements planned for the garden this fall.

“Since Doug gave us such a good price we’re going to be able to do more,” Ditmore said.

The large lavender sections will be redesigned, with the assistance of Victor Gonzalez of Victor’s Lavender Farm, and more partnering is planned with New Dungeness Nursery, according to Society members.

Anyone interested in volunteering can email info@sequimbotanicalgarden.org. For more information, visit their website at sequimbotanicalgarden.org or check out the Sequim Botanical Garden Facebook page.

Photo courtesy of Sequim Botanical Garden Society/ The refurbished garden is no longer overflowing with peonies, but some are still there.

Photo courtesy of Sequim Botanical Garden Society/ Gail Ditmore, left, who designed the garden with Julie Malone, shares a light moment under one of the garden’s arbors with Sequim Botanical Garden Society member and garden manager Mary Crook.

Photo courtesy of Sequim Botanical Garden Society/ Another change at the terrace garden is an upgrade to the informational kiosk at the garden’s entrance. It now showcases many of the photos taken by Leslie Wright, the Sequim Botanical Garden Society’s photographer.

Photo courtesy of Sequim Botanical Garden Society/ The 90-plus plantings at the terrace garden at Carrie Blake Community Park include several varieties of trees, shrubs and perennials.