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Gardening in the Rainy Zone.
Articles, Short Shorts and News
Index
- Garden Articles Index
(or scroll down) - Container Index
Growing ornamentals and edibles in confined spaces. - Garden News Index
Garden news, quick news for Pacific Northwest Gardeners. - Native Plants Index
All about Northwest native plants. - Article Archives
Here lies not quite dead older essays and articles. - Short Shorts Index
Flash essays, quips, quotes, photos and other short items.
Garden Articles
Going to the Mother Earth News Fair!
I am always looking for new ways to tweak my lifestyle to be more in line with how I want to treat the world in which I live.
May 31, 2013
Blueberries!
It is one of the easier food crops to cultivate and maintain in our Pacific Northwest climate...
May 7, 2013
Classic and Cute Rebels in the Garden
There are many plants in the aroid family to give flashy tulips and daffodils a run for their money.
May 2, 2013
Magic Bubbles
A garden fairy tale for children.
May 1, 2013
Spring has Sprung!
You know that spring is well on its way when fritillarias, trillium and other early spring treasures, push their way out of the soil.
April 12, 2013
Easter Exposed the Rebel
Can I love an early flowering aroid standing quietly in front of me on this sunny Easter weekend morning.
March 31, 2013
Moss — Do you Love it or Hate it?
If you live in the Pacific Northwest, moss is a part of life.
March 17, 2013
Come Sit Awhile — A picture series on garden seating.
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Mosaic, Stone, and the 'cretes
Artisans that work with stone, mosaic, and concrete produce some of the most amazing creative works of functional art.
March 14, 2013 -
Of Wood Grain and Driftwood
Seating of the wooden kind.
March 13, 2013 -
The Hot Seat
Colorful seating.
March 10, 2013
Frog Holler
During the early days of March, the Pacific tree frog choir begins tuning up their voices for the upcoming mating season.
March 4, 2013
Northwest Flower and Garden Show 2013
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Pillow Talk
A salute to the classic movie.
March 2, 2013 -
The Beachy Garden—Northwest Style
I live close to the Puget Sound in a seaside community, and pattern my home and garden in a relaxed, eclectic style, so this garden spoke to me.
February 23, 2013 -
Swiss Family Robinson Theme for the Children’s PlayGarden
The first thing you notice as you walk past the bamboo and palm trees and into the play garden are the fantastical ground level “tree house” structures.
February 22, 2013 -
From Romance to Murder and Into the West
I swear the first day I photographed the garden at the preview, the body was not present.
February 21, 2013 -
Enchanting Glass Structures in an Enchanted Garden
...along with punches of bright, spring green displayed in the cozy reclining patio chairs and benches.
February 21, 2013 -
Plant Geeks, Don’t Miss the Showing of The Lost Gardener!
Warm those engines up and get yourself down to this classic showing.
February 19, 2013 -
It’s California Dreaming, on a February Day
The garden titled California Dreaming had clean lines, scrumptious tile work and was stuffed to overflowing with plant material.
February 19, 2013 -
A Hobbit, An Arboretum and a Northwest Flower & Garden Show
What do a hobbit, Washington Park Arboretum, New Zealand, and middle earth have in common?
February 19, 2013 -
Over Two Decades of Flower Show Memories
Thanks for the memories-the Northwest Flower and Garden Show's Silver Anniversary!
February 18, 2013
Fern Garden and Stumpery — Part 2
In the spirit of the wild garden, I am using ferns, shade loving, evergreen plants, and Pacific Northwest natives.
February 5, 2013
Yard Garden & Patio Show 2013
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A Garden Show for the Ages YGPS 2013
Yard, Garden and Patio Show opened today with the sites and scents of the garden.
February 8, 2013 -
It’s Garden Show Time in Oregon!
Billy Derian from the DIY Network’s Extra Yardage is this year’s featured presenter.
February 4, 2013
My Oregon Winter Garden
My winter garden doesn’t have to be drab!
January 15, 2013
A New Lavender for 2013
Be on the lookout for this outstanding little lavender—Lavandula ‘Mini Blue’!
November 12, 2012
Designing an Autumn Garden Using Pink
How do I combine these vibrant, pink flowers with the muted browns, rusts, greens and oranges of fall foliage?
November 2, 2012
All I Want Is Spring Flowers and Autumn Glory
This viburnum is perfect for my space, especially because of the two seasons of interest I am looking for.
October 30, 2012
Fern Garden and Stumpery
I have some beautiful stumps from an old, apple tree with large, well-rotted holes perfect for some lovely little shade plants and ferns.
October 10, 2012
Huckleberries — Beautiful Plant, Delicious Berries
Family lore has it that huckleberries are especially abundant during a year with ...
September 17, 2012
The Pistachio™ Hydrangea
It will stop you in your tracks; at least it made me come back and look at it three times!
September 4, 2012
Crispy, Fried Plants!
No plant was safe from the rays of the hot summer sun.
August 25, 2012
'Tis the season for Lilies!
I was struck with how calm and restful a garden can be; dressed only in the varieties of green.
July 24, 2012
It’s Not Easy Being Green
I was struck with how calm and restful a garden can be; dressed only in the varieties of green.
July 6, 2012
Vashon Island Garden Tour 2012
It was a soggy day in paradise—the clouds were determined to empty all its vapor content onto our heads.
June 29, 2012
The Viscaya Garden & Nursery Experience
A trip to this nursery is like going on a fabulous treasure hunt.
June 15, 2012
Uprising Seeds—A Rising Star for the Northwest
Campbell and Goldberg trial 95% of their product to see how they grow in our region.
June 3, 2012
Flower and Leaf Collage
Could this be a belated Mother’s Day gift?
May 30, 2012
The Truth about Sow True Seed
We need more of these kinds of local companies, who care about their communities and strive to make a better world now and for the future.
May 27, 2012
A World of Camellias
Recently, I had the opportunity to identify several of the many types of camellias growing in my garden.
April 12, 2012
Flowers in the Snow
The snow on the petals makes it look like frosting on a birthday cake.
March 24, 2012
Is It Really Free?
With all the restrictions placed on this seed, I am left wondering, is it really free?
March 13, 2012
Is It Spring Yet?
Oddly, the snow is small, icy pellets, fitting perfectly into all the crevices of the paths.
March 12, 2012
2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zones from a Data Perspective
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map for 2012 is now available, causing a lot of discussion and grumbling among gardeners.
February 22, 2012
"Think Global, Garden Local" Is Theme for Portland’s YGPS
Portland, Oregon's Yard, Garden and Patio Show at the Oregon Convention Center.
February 16, 2012
NWFGS2012 — Children's Play Garden
As I walked through the door bidding me to go play outside...
February 13, 2012
NWFGS2012 — Resonating Sounds of Nature
A Beat of a Different Drum
February 11, 2012
Northwest Flower and Garden Show 2012
A Floral Symphony
February 7, 2012
The Cut Flower Market
As you would guess, the lilies and tulips that you buy in December are grown in a greenhouse.
January 25, 2012
Exciting Garden Entryways
A walk through some amazing garden entrances.
January 9, 2012
Hydrangea Sampler
Judge which ones you like best, because 'Little Honey', I can’t decide.
December 18, 2011
Chrysanthemums Signal Autumn and the Coming of Winter
To many, chrysanthemums signal the slowing down and ending of the growing season.
December 9, 2011
Meet the Meadow Border
Meadow marries mixed border for a sassy, grassy, drought tolerant garden.
October 14, 2011
Power Flowers
High-Voltage Hanging Baskets Light Up NW CoastalTowns
August 20, 2011
Best Plant in a Display Garden
I want to give some recognition to this spectacular plant. As I stood underneath the branches I couldn't help but be in total awe.
February 24, 2011
Seattle's Flower Show Tickles the Inner Child
Another wonderful garden extravaganza is the Northwest Flower and Garden Show.
February 2011
Chiastaphyllum, What's Not to Love?
Why is this wonderful six-inch high perennial not better known?
July 29, 2010
A Garden in Disarray
Life events can sometimes alter our lives, and our surroundings.
June 2, 2010
Top Ten Plants
Series: Garden writers from around the Pacific Northwest agreed to share with us a list of their top ten plants with a brief explanation why they made their list.
Top Ten Plant Lists:
- Charles Price and Glenn Withey
- Ciscoe Morris
- Kym Pokorny
- Lisa Albert
- Lucy Hardiman
- Mary Robson
- Scott Conner
- Wendy Tweten
Is It a Slug, a Fly, or a Wasp?
You see, a pear slug isn't really a slug, it's a sawfly.
March 9, 2010
Who's Spitting in the Garden?
Relax! It's just a tiny bug whipping up a white honeydew froth.
March 7, 2010
Winter's Secret Garden
The winter garden doesn't need to be a dreary reminder of the gray surrounding us.
December 28, 2009
Soil Conditioners Could Pose Asbestos Hazard
Among new products that may still contain asbestos are soil retention enhancers, particularly vermiculite.
February 25, 2009
Sweet on Corn
A challenging crop for the Pacific Northwest gardener.
August 6, 2008
Tomatoes in Pots
Lift them up where they belong!
May 6, 2008
Plants That Earn Their Keep
that plant's nice enough, but does it earn its keep in a small garden?
March 15, 2008
Pucker Up!
There's lots to love about growing lemons in the Pacific Northwest.
February 24, 2008
