Tranquility base …

In an aging neighborhood near Gonzaga University, Master Gardener Carolyn Starner created a secluded oasis of beauty and tranquility.

Seventeen years ago Starner purchased a 1928 bungalow. Though the house and yard had been neglected, two old maples that towered near the sidewalk sold the home to her. Those trees were part of a yard that begged for a gardener’s touch.

“I designed the gardens to fit the house,” she says. “Everything here could have existed during that era.”

Starner fashioned a public shade garden around the two maples.

“My home and gardens are low-maintenance so I can travel, read and do other things besides working in my garden,” she says.

Hydrangea embrace the maple trees, and ferns, hosta and an 18-inch boxwood hedge surround them. A trellis and gate covered in Baltic ivy lead to her private shade garden. The ivy stays green all winter, giving Starner and her husband, Duane, seasonal color as well as seclusion. She replaced the neglected front lawn with concrete pavers. The shape of the path matches the shape of the dropped eaves on the front of the house. Starner created a lush, green retreat by varying the textures, shapes and sizes of the plants.

“I think it’s calm, but interesting,” she says.

A Buddha perched over a woodland pond gives a subtle Asian feel to the surroundings, and the mellow sound of wind chimes adds to the contemplative atmosphere. A hammock swings gently in a warm summer breeze.

“I can lie in my hammock and gaze at the canopy of trees or read,” Starner says.

The south-facing garden is always in shade.

Rhododendrons flank the front porch, where two inviting benches beckon. There are several seating areas throughout the gardens.

“Because my house is small, I use my garden as a living room,” Starner says.

Tall trellises covered with climbing roses and Virginia Creeper adorn both sides of the bungalow.

“I use a lot of vertical elements,” she explains. “I garden in such a small space, this gives me more room.”

The backyard gets most of the sun. Starner pointed out her lone patch of lawn is a rectangle surrounded by concrete borders – that way the grass stays out of the gardens.

A small goldfish pond sits next to the back patio. Perennial beds filled with lavender, roses and lilies line the grassy area. Lilacs, dogwood, cherry trees and magnolia offer soothing shady spaces.

“In the spring my trees and shrubs flower,” Starner says. “And in the summer my perennials flower.”

A concrete angel with outstretched wings rests in front of a trellis covered with pyracantha. Hand blown glass flowers peek out among the brilliant orange daylilies and soft blue delphiniums.

Starner put her degree in interior design to use while creating her gardens, making the most of her lot.

“This is a handmade garden,” she says with a smile. “I built the trellises and fences and laid the flagstones and bricks.”

Starner’s garden has become a peaceful refuge.

“I have such a busy life,” Starner says. “I need a place to go to rejuvenate my spirit.”