Another Victorian gem!

Erythronium tuolumnense

One of dozens of clumps of this wonderful glacier lily dotted about Cameron Kidd's amazing garden: he's only lived in this house a few years--the garden is fully established and gorgeous in design: the plants contained herein are all grown to perfection. Cam is a plant breeder and a force to be reckoned with!

Primula marginata

Methinks Cam does a bit of feeding: this clump of primrose is pretty hefty for the age of the garden...or perhaps he started with a sizeable clump?

Or how about this monster P. x pubescens ('Freedom' perhaps?)

Viola sempervirens

The first time I've seen the "Redwood Violet" in a garden: I have a weakness for yellow violets (perhaps because they are less apt to be weedy?)

You'll see several views of the back rock garden: a tour-de-force! It's a masterpiece of rock work--using elements of crevice gardening, but not so blatantly stratigraphic. It has a naturalness that recalls the Japanese concept of "Shibui"--a sort of seeming effortless grace.

Even the rather extensive propagation area is trim and organized. A darn bar-raiser is that fellow!

And here he is himself, in a characteristic pose--showing some remarkable seedlings and explaining: a more patient, kind and wise person you would find it hard to match.  The shadow of my thumb in the lower left is a bonus! (I have always admired Alfred Hitchcock, who cleverly showed up in all his films!)

A stunning Iberis (he told me the name and I forgot). Every plant in the garden seemed to be placled perfectly and grow likewise...

Yet another view of Kidd's masterpiece.

Like all great gardeners, Cam goes through phases: he'd deep in his tulip phase, and entering an Allium phase! Watch out!

Even his lichens are frickin' perfect!

Helichrysum intermedium

I have a thing about Helichrysums: I'd love to have this grow this well for me.

Here you can see the crevice technique at work--not repetitive or obvious--but very effective.

A nice clump of Tulipa cretica, which comes from near my grandfather's ancestral home on the Omalo plateau.

Choice daphnes as well...

I believe this was a Boechera alongside a Sedum, a passion for which I share.

I was a week or two early for Lewisia tweedyi

Love the wag all these nestle with one another: I did find one weed in the garden (I think he left it for us to discover so we wouldn't be too crestfallen with the garden's perfection1)

Soldanella alpina

One doesn't often see Soldanellas in gardens!

Another in a shad piece of rockwork with Ramonda and maidenhair spleenwort nearby.

Primula vulgaris 'Cowichan strain'

More monstrous Primula marginata

And a perfect rhodo

A lovely pale hoop petticoat Narcissus clump

Cbriysanthemum hosmariense

The wonderful dwarf form of this shrubby Atlas daisy. Much hardier than the large form in my experience.

The garden viewed from the east side...

And a bog to boot--with some rare denizens.

A choice Lomatium (the disjunct form of L. grayi from Salt Spring and Galliano islands in British Columbia) that has been segregated into its own species: I saw this blooming in Paul Sprigg's garden: it's a stunning plant even showier than var. grayi. I hope it will prove hardy in the interior!

One of many delospermas (a special hybrid he produced). We'll talk about this anon...

Some last loving looks...

Oh yes, a special dry bed with some fabulous Acantholimon--another shared interest.

A few random Jovibarba on the right

Can't believe I didn't photograph Cam's Jovibarba plantings--he has hundreds (with thousands of seedlings coming on)--an incredible hybridization project with the choicest of semps.

A bit early for the lady tulip (T. clusiana) a horrendous weed for me, but not Cam: there is no justice!

He's not above a splash of color: and I didn't even photograph his extensive woodland gardens in front! Even so, I think you've gotten a taste of a young man who I believe is among the elite rock gardeners I've met anywhere in the world. Few combine art and science so well!

 I know there is a story behind this brick...I should have asked! I'm quite sure he couldn't possibly have been around to have painted it that year by any stretch of the imagination...perhaps he'll tell us!