While enjoying Broadway, you may notice the patches of flowers planted along the sidewalk — all bursting with color, no matter the season. These “pocket gardens,” as they’re called, are a large part of downtown Seaside’s inviting charm. The 100 or so pocket gardens — some big, some small — fill spaces along Broadway, Holladay Drive, Columbia Street and Avenue A. There’s a rhyme and reason for every annual, every perennial, every herb and every grass in these gardens, planted, designed and maintained by local landscaper Pamela Fleming and her small team. Here’s how to start enjoying the beauty. As you depart the Visitors Bureau at Highway 101 and Broadway, cross the highway and walk down Broadway toward the ocean. You’ll be strolling through the historic Gilbert District, the oldest remaining part of downtown Seaside. pocket garden walking tour 1 THE MAROON GARDEN (In front of 734 Broadway) Once the site of the First State Bank, the building here has maintained its stately facade. Fleming chose purple asters, plum heuchera and purple penstemon for this pocket garden to play off the building’s maroon trim — one of the many ways she uses a garden’s colors and textures to complement its surroundings. 2 THE APOTHECARY GARDEN (In front of Beach Books) Years ago, this location was the site of Seaside’s drugstore. Paying homage to the previous occupant, Fleming planted a garden of plants that not only are attractive but have medicinal properties, such as salix, a willow whose leaves can be soaked to make a tonic to relieve pain and fever, and witch hazel, widely known for easing inflammation and soothing sensitive skin. 3 THE TAVERN GARDEN (In front of Bridge Tender) Just over the bridge, you’ll see a wine-colored smoke tree with tobacco planted at its base. Look carefully to spot nigella, nicknamed Love-in-a-Mist, which Fleming jokes can be found in a tavern. And she’s planted thyme because “that’s what you lose if you stay in a bar for too long.” 4 THE EDIBLE GARDENS (In front of Dooger’s) Much of what you see planted in the pocket garden in front of this favorite spot for fish ’n chips actually is edible, including oregano, lavender, rosemary and fennel. The colors in the garden reflect the bright orange and blue of the Dooger’s sign. 5 THE ASIAN GARDEN (In front of China Collection) The building at the corner of Broadway and North Edgewood Street, across from Dooger’s, used to look much different. It had a red roof, similar to those in San Francisco’s Chinatown.This inspired oasis focuses on texture — a coastal pine, boxwoods, grasses and rock. While the red roof is gone, the building does house an Asian gift shop. 6 MORE EDIBLE GARDENS (In front of Pig ’N Pancake) Here, the menu expands to include blue101 Visitors Bureau BROADWAY OCEANWAY ROOSEVELT DR HOLLADAY DR NECANICUM RIVER OCEANWAY N. COLUMBIA ST EDGEWOOD ST S. FRANKLIN ST N. PROM PACIFIC OCEAN 1 2 3 4 6 5 7 8 berries, melissa lemon balm, lovage (tastes like celery), sanguisorba (tastes like cucumber) and borage, a blue star-like flower that can be used in salads, desserts or cocktails (again, tastes like cucumber). Go ahead — pick a small leaf, rub it between your fingers and then smell it. 7 THE CHOCOLATE GARDEN (In front of Phillips Candies) Sorry, no sampling here! This Willy Wonkaesque space is filled with chocolate geraniums, coco grass, chocolate cosmos and stewartia, a tree with a striking brown bark. 8 THE SEAVIEW GARDEN (At the Turnaround) As you approach the ocean, you’ll notice that the pocket gardens change. The plants have a lower profile to survive the strong winds, and they’re naturally resilient to salt air. Here you’ll find a pocket garden tucked between the Seaside sign and the statue of Lewis and Clark, where grasses and heathers of all different colors create a rich tapestry, and bright-pink sea thrifts and lavender add pops of color. Make sure to take a photo at what’s arguably Seaside’s most iconic location. seasideOR.com 9
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