LAIRD GARDEN THEN AND NOW

Our residence is located on a corner lot in midtown Arcata. When purchased in 1988, the property was minimally landscaped in old school north coast style with lawn, woody tree-size rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, juniper, and lilac. A few of these original shrubs remain intact, however most landscaping viewed today was planted during the 1990’s in the English cottage garden style.

GLORIOUS ROSES

Presently, there are over 100 roses growing on the property. Shrub roses include David Austin’s Pilgrim, Jude the Obscure, Jubilee Celebration, Young Lycidas, Teasing Georgia, Grace, and Lady Emma Hamilton. Roses Albertine and Sparrieshoop climb against the house. In the H Street border, Austin’s Leander presents a stunning coral display, Molineaux blooms as a tree standard, and Climbing Eden is trained against the chimney. Other Old Rose varieties also punctuate the landscape.

ROSE COURT COTTAGE COURTYARD

The courtyard entrance to Rose Court Cottage showcases an array of fragrant roses, namely Austin’s Golden Celebration, Ellen and Pat Austin, Evelyn, Eglantyne, Gertrude Jekyll, Benjamin Britten, Mary, Constance Spry, Sophy’s Rose, Lady of Shalott, and Port Sunlight. Claire Jacquier blooms abundantly atop the cottage pergola perfuming the courtyard during May and June.

WAVES OF PERENNIALS

The street-facing beds feature waves of valerian, linaria, hardy geranium, alstroemeria, ixia, bergenia, lace-cap hydrangea, campanula, foxglove, and erigeron. White birch trees (betula pendula) weep magnificently on 13^th Street and a white dogwood flowers in spring.