Shade can be a problem for many gardeners, especially if one desires sun-loving perennials or roses. Dortha Murker has created a spark of light and joy in a deeply shaded garden. Located at the terminus of a dead-end street near Lake Symington, her gardens bring the viewer a restful and restorative mood, plus an invitation to playfulness. She also manages to bring quite a bit of color into her garden. Murker’s skill at plant selection for a challenging situation is evident, as well as her keen sense of humor and whimsy for art pieces and sculpture.
Murker was the first woman journeyman electrician at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, beginning in 1991 with an apprenticeship as a maintenance electrician. She retired in 2017, then completed the Kitsap County Master Gardener training in 2018. While she started gardening in her mid-30s and worked for a few years at Rodgers Country Nursery and Gardens in Bremerton, she could now dedicate more time to developing her shady retreat.
A split rail fence at the street level is decorated with brightly colored fence toppers designed by artist Stephanie Burgess. Sporting popular Beatles lyrics and smartly decorated, these are placed throughout the front and back gardens as a repeating theme. Paved steps lead down to the front garden and patio area with a fire pit, but the visitor must stop to enjoy a waterfall along the way.
The waterfall was created from whiskey half barrels. Water flows from the spout of a suspended watering can, past a dancing frog sculpture and through several more levels of descent toward the patio. Murker removed a struggling lawn from this area but retained several large Douglas fir trees, which are nicely incorporated into the space. Painted bright blue, a curved metal bench mimics the shape of the tree trunks. The chartreuse foliage of Japanese forest grass edging a walkway complements the spots of blue.
A bubbling fountain, birdbaths and elevated planters create a peaceful perimeter to the spot. The creatively colored garden shed sports a mirrored window, adding more light among the shadows. Beneath it reads the phrase, “Once upon a time in a cottage small by a waterfall…” — reminding the visitor of some fairy tale.
Artwork is present everywhere in this garden. A large but simplistic sculpture of a cat begs to be petted. Between the back and front yards, large metal deer pose as if waiting their turn in the garden. The placement of the sculptures is strategic as well as humorous. One may spot the fish jumping in the pachysandra or the crow remaining permanently at the birdbath.
Murker uses colors of blue pottery throughout the gardens, reminding the eye to note something special. A turquoise-potted specimen of podophyllum “Spotty Dotty” is strategically placed to facilitate observation. In another direction, a rare celery pine, Phyllocladus trichomanoides, finds its place near a dark blue bubbling fountain.
The visitor enters the backyard garden through a creatively styled gate. Murker and her husband, Allen Tisthammer, wanted some lawn area for their dogs but struggled with the excessive shade for a successful grass lawn. Their solution was installing an artificial lawn, perfect for the pets while providing a lovely verdant area.
The “lawn” is surrounded by shrubs and perennials that thrive in diminished light, including a white flowering hydrangea, Rodgersia, a standard-form Rose of Sharon and several Japanese maples of various colors, forms and heights. Twinkle lights adorn a larger Japanese maple, enhancing the area in the evening. Woodland birds can be viewed as they visit a bubbling fountain and nearby birdbaths.
A small brick patio is bordered by a split rail-style fence, creating a room with a full-circle view. The spot was formerly a play area and sandbox when her children were younger. Now a sitting area, it has chairs to provide a resting spot for enjoying the view into the woods, the nearby beds of hosta, hellebore and euonymus or toward the green lawn space.
A decorated mailbox containing gloves and hand tools sits on a fence post, just in case a task needs to be attended to. Ferns seem to be sneaking in from the woods, and among them hides a rabbit sculpture. An evergreen clematis makes itself at home here. Murker’s design draws the eye upward and toward hanging baskets overflowing with colorful impatiens. A similar effect is managed by elevating a large begonia basket on a waist-high post. She has borrowed the view very successfully.
Murker and Tisthammer have installed night lighting effectively. Uplighting is placed to draw the eye to the plants’ form and supporting structures. An outdoor sound system enhances the mood.
At the back of the house is a large sunroom with a view of the garden and woods. Beneath the windows on the exterior wall, a long row of planter boxes is filled with pink wax begonias and blue lobelia. Even in the dappled shade, this area is lovely, creating a good spot for these annuals.
The backyard includes storage and potting areas, both enhanced with creatively placed plants and artwork. Wisteria and other vines climb upward, then stretch along the roofline. A mirror hangs above a birdbath basin, injecting reflected light into the shade.
Dealing with wildlife from the adjacent undeveloped area has been an issue that Murker seems to have managed. The backyard is protected with tall deer fencing, which is almost imperceptible, so the surrounding woods appear to be a continuation of the cultivated garden. A small pond contains goldfish protected by short fence material to keep her pets out. Frogs find a safe and convenient spot. Squirrels and possums might be drawn to this feature, but she has only once witnessed a raccoon trying its luck. The only fishing is done by a sculpture of a boy ready to get his catch.
Murker has been very successful with her design themes, creating a sanctuary that encourages peace and creativity. She has dealt with the challenges that heavy shade can bring to establishing a colorful garden by picking plants wisely and placing them strategically. Complementing these selections with water features, lighting and carefully chosen artwork has been done well. The result is an outdoor gallery of artistic creativity and a source of inspiration.
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