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Design Insight
Clear thinking, field-tested perspective, and the realities behind successful gardens.


Pollinator Gardens in Seattle and Camano Island | Lakamas Landscape Design
Pollinator gardens can be far more than flower beds. In Seattle and Camano Island, thoughtfully layered landscapes can support bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and seasonal ecology while still feeling intentional, refined, and deeply beautiful.

Jonna Semke
1 day ago5 min read


The Glory of Blue: Native Delphinium and Camas in Seattle, the Eastside, and Camano Island
In early May, the garden resolves into blue. Native delphinium and camas bloom together across Seattle, the Eastside, and Camano Island—one of the most distinct seasonal moments in the landscape, where color, ecology, and design begin to align.

Jonna Semke
Apr 303 min read


Song of Spring: Spring Garden Sound in Seattle, the Eastside, and Camano Island
Spring gardens begin with sound. In Seattle, the Eastside, and Camano Island, birds, insects, and amphibians create layered soundscapes that reveal how a garden is functioning.

Jonna Semke
Apr 95 min read


Designing for Lean, Dry Soils in Seattle, Camano Island, and the Eastside
Many landscapes in Seattle, Camano Island, and the Eastside have fast-draining soils that are often treated as a problem. In a winter-wet, summer-dry climate, these conditions can be an advantage—if planted correctly.

Jonna Semke
Mar 304 min read


Early Spring Bloom Sequencing in Seattle and Camano Island Gardens
Landscape designers often think in terms of bloom sequencing, arranging plants so that one species comes into flower as another begins to fade. This creates continuity in the garden and ensures that seasonal change feels intentional rather than abrupt.

Jonna Semke
Mar 55 min read


When to Design a Garden in Spring in Seattle and Camano Island
Spring is when the garden comes back into focus. Here’s how to approach design timing in Seattle and Camano Island without rushing the process.

Jonna Semke
Feb 234 min read


Wildlife-Friendly Garden Design in Seattle and Camano Island
A wildlife-friendly garden is not simply a garden that feels natural or slightly untamed. Some landscapes genuinely support birds and beneficial wildlife. Others unintentionally create shelter for rodents and nuisance species.

Jonna Semke
Jan 303 min read


Why Your Garden Needs a Fine Gardener
A designed garden is like a novel with its first chapter complete. The rest depends on the gardener who takes it from here.

Jonna Semke
Dec 12, 20253 min read


Winter Beauty: Deciduous Trees and Shrubs in the Seattle and Camano Island Garden
Discover how deciduous trees, shrubs, and groundcovers create winter structure in Pacific Northwest gardens. Part 3 of our Winter Design Series.

Jonna Semke
Nov 30, 20252 min read


The Best Time to Design and Plant a Garden in Seattle and Camano Island
Winter is a slower season for installation—but a perfect season for design. With foliage down and structure exposed, we can observe what the garden actually needs: better flow, stronger winter interest, improved habitat, or new planting spaces. It’s also the ideal time to take measurements, gather inspiration, and finalize concepts so installation can begin right when the planting season opens.

Jonna Semke
Nov 30, 20253 min read


Japanese Garden Hardscape Elements
A dry creek bed symbolizes a stream in a Japanese Garden at the Seattle Arboretum Japanese-inspired hardscape design integrates seamlessly with Pacific Northwest landscapes because both styles celebrate natural materials, restraint, and a deep connection to place. Mossy boulders, rain-textured stone, filtered woodland light, cedar, and seasonal water movement already echo the atmosphere of traditional Japanese gardens. When adapted with regional plants and geology, these elem

Jonna Semke
Oct 26, 20252 min read


Sense of Place in the Garden
What is a Sense of Place? As a landscape designer, one of my guiding themes is creating a sense of place . This concept can mean many things—the surrounding plants and natural features, the street you live on, the architecture of your home, or even the views beyond your property. In this post, I’ll focus on one of my favorite aspects: the plants that shape and reinforce that sense of place . Why Sense of Place Matters Mossy Bigleaf Maples in the Hoh River Valley A true sense

Jonna Semke
Oct 2, 20253 min read


What's in a Name?
The story behind the name of Lakamas Landscape Design

Jonna Semke
May 1, 20252 min read


Unique Landscape Designs with Native Plants
Are you looking to enhance your outdoor space with unique landscape designs that feature native plants from the Pacific Northwest? Look no further than our landscape design company, where we specialize in creating stunning outdoor environments using plants indigenous to the region. My backyard native plant meadow in Seattle, based on a Garry Oak meadow At Lakamas Landscape Design, we understand the importance of incorporating native plants into our designs. Not only do these

Jonna Semke
Aug 5, 20241 min read


Expert Landscape Design with Native Plants: Transform Your Property
Lakamas Landscape Design uses native plants in our landscape designs to elevate the beauty of your property and contribute to the preservation of unique ecological diversity of the Seattle and Camano Island region.

Jonna Semke
Aug 5, 20242 min read


Native Pacific Northwest Plants: Your Landscape Design Solution in Seattle, Camano Island, and the Eastside
With a keen eye for design and a we We can help you create a landscape that is not only visually stunning but also environmentally friendly.

Jonna Semke
Aug 5, 20243 min read
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