Where in the world is Dan Hinkley?

To put it simply, Dan Hinkley can be described as a horticulturist extraordinaire.  I first met Dan many years ago when we began creating magazine stories together and we have become close friends.  At that time, he was running Heronswood, a most fabulous plant nursery that I just loved to visit.  Dan was passionate about plants at a very early age and it was that passion that propelled him through college and graduate school, earning degrees in ornamental horticulture and horticulture education.  He found work teaching about horticulture and also worked in private estate gardens.  But, Dan’s personal calling was to study and grow exotic plants and dreamed of having his own nursery one day.

When the time was right, Dan began to travel the world in search of rare plant species.  Those travels are better described as extremely thrilling escapades that have taken Dan up and down the highest mountain peaks and through the thickest forests and jungles, searching for just the right plant material.  He eventually built Heronswood along with his partner, architect Robert Jones, near Seattle, WA.  There he grew only those plants that held his interest.  Heronswood became very well known among serious plant collectors, including myself.  Unfortunately, that nursery was eventually sold and has since closed, however, Dan’s passion has not waned.  He keeps very busy writing amazing books and essays, lecturing to garden groups and schools, and makes frequent guest appearances on television shows like my own.  He also continues to traverse the globe and is presently in the mountains of Taiwan hoping to discover new species. You may read about his travels at DanielHinkley.com.

Despite Dan’s absence Robert was so kind to have us for a most delicious Thanksgiving dinner.  These photos were taken at their home, designed and built by Robert.  They call their home and its amazing gardens Windcliff, as it sits on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound.   

Kevin Sharkey in the Hinkley/Jones garden on Puget Sound

Here I am enjoying the autumn foliage in Dan’s garden

Dan mulches his gunnera plants with gunnera leaves.

Cotinus “gloria” , a magnificent smoke bush with giant leaves and vibrant color

Mt. Rainier is SO majestic. Robert and Dan designed the house and garden to take full advantage of the view.

A nest of bald headed eagles on the property

Cyclamen carpet in the garden

Brined, roasted turkey

Family recipe for a casserole of string beans

Here I am with Robert Jones in front of the succulent 22-pound organic turkey

Another Jones family favorite, cranberry Jell-O mold

A vegan salad for the vegetarians

Sweet potato marshmallow casserole - an American favorite

My daughter Alexis and one of the Jones nieces

The warm AGA stove was also the buffet, I kind of miss using my AGA

Beautiful furnishings, warm wood paneling and a spectacular antique glass chandelier make a special dining room

Alexis checking out the buffet

A portrait of the Jones family women, including myself

All shoes are left at the door “Japanese” style.
Beautiful carpets and floors are spared wear and tear - garden dirt and road silt are left at the door.

Comments

[Bill (From Northeast Harbor, Maine)]

Wonderful post and fabulous pictures, Martha (and company) of your Seattle Thanksgiving visit at Dan and Robert's! (Having once lived in the western US/Rocky Mountains area, had I not moved to Maine, I most certainly would have moved to the Pacific Northwest, Washington State and the Seattle area - where I have some very dear friends).

You must ask Dan (when he comes back from his travels) to do a "MARTHA" segment someday from his and Robert's own and magical "Shangri-La" and gardens ... and perhaps even take a side trip up to Victoria, BC (having High Tea and Scones at the Empress Hotel, of course ... the western version of Acadia's Jordon Pond's) and visit Victoria, British Columbia's breathtakingly beautiful Butchart Gardens! Have a wonderful holiday season ahead!

Cheers,
Bill
Northeast Harbor, ME

[James Semmel]

Leaving shoes at the door is certainly healthier for their carpets, but consider that the Japanese themselves are healthier in general. Most people think that their lower cancer risk is related to healthier food, but here's a thought: Their healthier bodies are related to healthier feet. Better feet means better posture, which is so important for the proper functioning of the human body. Just a thought!

[Trish]

You must have Dan on your show again soon! I was so impressed with him when he toured the grounds with you at Skylands and shared his knowledge about every plant he came across. Amazing! I also enjoyed seeing his home in your magazine not too long ago. I bet he really misses Heronswood Nursery. The Thanksgiving buffet looks scrumptious! Trish

[Margie]

How funny, I wonder when everyone selected the shoes for their Thanksgiving outfits they would have guessed the shoes and not the outfit would make it to Martha's internet blog.

Were there leftovers?

[Tracy]

The high heels have to belong to Alexis! She has the best style!

[Cheryl Peterson-DeGeer]

Thank you for sharing your birth certificate and Baptismal certificate on today's program. Indeed, they do exemplify your thoughtful and conscientious Mother. May I also extend my deepest sympathies at your bereavement. She was the best of my memories of all the great teachers I had throughout my life: in grade school, college, graduate school, and life. And like you, my Mom was always the greatest teacher I've ever had. I hope you find many forgotten and treasured memories during this time of loss, as I did. My Mother was in my care (hospice) when she passed away three years ago (the day after Thanksgiving). And here's a treasure from amongst her things: a magazine about a young woman who left her powerful job as a broker to devote her energies on creating a beautiful catering career! She was inspired by the beauty you created from the very beginnng. God be with you and your daughter at this time of sorrow.

[IamSusie]

I'm not completely convinced that Martha really writes these blog entries, but those personal photos with really bad lighting, just like my own seem really authentic.

That vegan salad looks delicious and I'm not even a vegan!

[erika]

It looks as though you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My family also had a great Thanksgiving thanks to you once again. Last year I came across the one reciepe were you talked about cooking the turkey with white wine and cheese cloth and it turned so golden brown and was full of juices it was such a great taste last year and this year as well. I also thank you for sharing the photos as well they were very nice you have lovely friends as well as family.
sincerely Erika

[Andrew Ritchie]

I adore Dan's important work and loved the glimpse inside his home a few years ago in one of the magazines.

(I love that jellyfish chandelier!)

Thank you for sharing these photos.

-Andrew

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Your Thanksgiving Day on Bainbridge Island looks like a trip to Shangrila! You look so relaxed that it is easy to see you were having a great time. Dan Hinkley is an icon and I hope you will have him on your show when he returns from Taiwan. These photos are really great and I know you took them on Thanksgiving Day because it was sunny that day and the air quality was so poor there was an air quality alert just short of a burn ban. It rained the following Sunday and the air quality improved. Love your blog. Jan

[Linda Lasota-Alaska]

It was wonderful to see the great pictures of Robert & Dan's home, gardens and Thanksgiving feast. It was good to see Robert enjoying all the festivities, but I did miss seeing his cousin Patti and daughter Annie in the pictures. I find it very interesting that across the nation advice columns, blogs and even Miss Manners are concerning themselves with the 'take the shoes off' worries. In Alaska, all shoes are left at the door, no matter if you are healthly or not, have culture or not, you just don't track in the outdoors. Most people don't think twice about taking off their shoes, it is not normal to leave shoes on inside a home in Alaska! Thanks again, for the great pictures.

[Barbara Brandt]

Martha,

Thank you for the beautiful pictures and commentary that will forever be an important part of our Jones Family Thanksgiving Commemorative Album! We were all delighted that you, Alexis, Kevin, and Charles were able to share the day with us.

Best wishes,

Barbara Brandt

[Peggy Dowdy]

My granddaughter was so thrilled to have Thanksgiving dinner with you this year. She has sent me pictures. Usually she is here in Arkansas at my home. I missed her but glad she had the experience of a lifetime with such a "kind lady." She will be a freshman at Harding College this fall (academic scholarship) - hopefully she will be as successful as you - You have blazed the way for many young girls.

[Haley Whaley (Woodinville,Wa/Jacksonville, Fl)]

Its hard to believe that that huge mountain has a resort near the top of it. Its Paradise! Paradise, Wa. My sister inlaw spent a summer working there. There is no other place like it!

[Ann M]

Living in the Puget Sound area, I have been lucky to have visited Heronswood several times before it closed. How that broke my heart! No more Open Garden Days at Heronswood and the opportunity to listen to Dan's humorous garden lectures. My own little garden has several plants purchased from Heronswood - mostly from that terrific sale table.
I'm sure that his new "creation" looks equally fantastic and I'm jealous that you have been able to see it up close. Thanks for sharing!