Visit Marc-James Mews and tour Neal's Gardens.
Ask Marc for advice about when to plant your own container garden.

The Gardens at the Marc-James Mews, planted in Loving Memory  of  James F. Neal,  who passed away in July 2004.  Jim was an avid photographer and a great lover of the English Garden Style. He was deeply attached to Ecclesiastic Romanesque and Gothic Style in the garden. His passion was very instrumental in the development Neal's Wood, the Gardens at Marc-James Manor. His memory lives on in art, flower and song.

Much of the structure of the Mews Gardens is based on flowers and shrubbery
that Jim loved. We have elected to name the grounds Neals' Gardens, keeping
in balance with Neal's Wood, the former grounds of Marc-James Manor.

Beautiful Oriental Lilies photographed by Jim Neal July, 2003. 
These Lilies, Casa Blanca and Star Gazers, were transplanted into containers at
Marc-James Mews in 2005.
The Lily was Jim's favorite flower.

The challenge to recreate at the Mews much of the Marc-James Manor Gardens
came from the smaller physical confines. The body of the garden had to be contained.
We elected to use heavily glazed cobalt containers. Taking in consideration
the weather and, in particular the sky, rich, primary colors add much needed brightness
to the overall look of the garden.

This design approach afforded a greater variety of plants that might not work in a static
Northwest garden landscape. Container gardening allows one to move plants to follow the light, 
and to protect them from the cold and wind.

Although more labor intensive, container gardening yields a constantly changing landscape in a small area.

The Mary Taylor Arch, Installed in April, 2010 in Memory of Jim Neal
in the Abbey Ducis Courtyard.
To see more photos of the Courtyard click on 3 at the bottom of this page.

Some of Jim's Contained Asiatic Lilies in the
Abbey Ducis Courtyard. Photograph taken July, 2010

 Beautiful Primula Mahonia

A close-up view of winter pansies thriving along a Roman Stone Wall.

Primula Wanda popping up in an early un-groomed Springtime garden.

Stone frog resting in the moss.

The front view of the gate below photographed in July, 2009

A small grouping of Jim's Stargazer Lilies and
Monkshood (Wolfsbane) photographed at Twilight.
July, 2007


Red Peony In Morning May Light, 2007

Close-up of a rare red peony in late May, 2007.

Red Roses in the Mid-Summer Morning Light

A close-up of the Red Roses and Arbor

Tulips and Hyacinths viewed through the Lion's Mane Maple, Spring, 2010.

Camellia Japonica Finlandia, 2010

More Neal's Gardens displays:  1   2   3

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