Sense of Place in the Garden

Jonna Semke
Oct 2
3 min read

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 of place makes a garden feel authentic and grounded, not generic. People travel the world to experience landscapes that look and feel different from one another. We don’t want every garden to look alike—we want each region to celebrate what it has to offer.

When your Seattle garden or Camano Island landscape reflects the local climate, scenery, and plant life, it resonates more deeply. It feels “right” because it celebrates where you live.

Native Plants: Grounded in Our Region

This is why I love working with native plants. Once overlooked, they’re now making a well-deserved comeback. Many have found their way into mainstream nurseries, but countless treasures remain tucked away in small specialty nurseries you may not have heard of.

I keep a growing list of trusted local gardens and parks to visit on my Resources page. Exploring these places is one of the best ways to discover plants and ideas that can give your garden a sense of place.

Beyond Natives: Ornamentals That Belong

Creating a sense of place with plants isn’t limited to natives. Our rainfall patterns (not just the amount, but when it falls), temperature swings, and elevation all shape what thrives here. Many plants from regions like New Zealand, Tasmania, South America, or other parts of North America integrate beautifully into a Seattle or Camano Island garden.

Lately, for example, I’ve been captivated by hardy perennial fuchsias—not the annual bedding types, but the varieties that return year after year and flower endlessly through the season. They bring long-lasting beauty and adapt well to our climate.

Microclimates: The Hidden Layer of Place

Another layer of “place” is your microclimate. What does that mean? Simply put, it’s the set of unique conditions in your garden.

Maybe your yard sits in a shady hollow that stays cool and damp, or perhaps you’re perched on a hilltop with blazing sun in front and deep shade behind. Microclimates can even shift within a single corner of your property, influencing what thrives where.

Understanding your microclimate is one of the keys to choosing plants that will not only survive but flourish.

Celebrate What You Have

Above all, find delight in what you have. I often think of it like curly vs. straight hair—people always wish for the opposite, but the magic comes when you embrace what’s naturally yours.

Celebrate our region’s wet winters and dry summers. Plant for all seasons:

Winter bloomers to feed Anna’s hummingbirds
Spring bulbs for a burst of color
Summer perennials to thrive in long days of sun
Fall foliage from maples and conifers for rich texture

Look up to the mountains, take in the towering conifers and broad-leaf maples, and walk the shoreline. Revel in it—then bring that inspiration home, or let us help you create a garden that reflects your own sense of place.