Tag: Foliage

Kubota Garden – lessons in form and shape Kubota Garden

Kubota Garden – lessons in form and shape

Visiting Seattle’s Kubota Garden is like taking a masterclass in the study of form and shape.  Located in the middle of a quiet suburban neighborhood, it’s somewhat of a surprise to find this secret gem of a garden nestled among its residential neighbors.  In the garden is a memorial stone dedicated to the creator of […]

Winter berries in the garden

Winter berries in the garden

Winter berries in the garden are a treat for gardeners craving color during these cold and rainy months, but more importantly for hungry birds.    Winter berries are filled with sugar and fat for birds, helping them to withstand freezing temperatures and sustain them during their migration. Even as I write this, the shrubs and […]

Transforming a side yard from Blah to Beautiful Transforming a side yard

Transforming a side yard from Blah to Beautiful

I originally wrote this post about transforming a side yard eight years ago.  However, I’m re-writing this in honor of my friend who created this magical side yard, and who recently unexpectedly passed away. I often highlight this garden in various presentations, and it’s always a HUGE hit with the audience.   In fact, this garden […]

Euphorbia euphoria

Euphorbia euphoria

Once the blistering heat of summer arrives (any day now!) my euphorbias will take center stage in the garden. Their heat-loving quality is just one of the many reasons why they’re a staple in my garden. They’re also extremely drought-tolerant, they’re awful tasting to gophers, deer & rabbits (thanks to their irritating sap), and they […]

Top 15 Favorite Orange Flowers

Top 15 Favorite Orange Flowers

It’s that time of year again when our homes and gardens are decked out in orange and black, and mine is no exception. And what better occasion than Halloween to talk about one of my favorite colors in the garden and share with you my top 15 favorite orange flowers! Awhile ago, I wrote about […]

Glaucous & Purple – a color combo that adds some ‘oomph’ to your garden glaucous foliage

Glaucous & Purple – a color combo that adds some ‘oomph’ to your garden

I bet many of you are thinking ‘what the heck is glaucous, anyway?’ Well, according to Webster, glaucous means:   1.  of a pale yellow-green color, or of a light bluish-gray or bluish-white color       2. having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a frosted appearance and tends to rub off And […]

Gardening on Steep Slopes Tiers-Slopes-Seattle Gardens

Gardening on Steep Slopes

Gardening on steep slopes is problematic at best.  Ever try and plant, prune, or deadhead on a steep hill?  NOT fun. I should know.  I’ve spent the past 2 years working in my new garden , trying to tame a pretty slope that has caused me to shed a tear or two in frustration. And […]

Taking ‘gardening is therapy’ to a whole new level

Taking ‘gardening is therapy’ to a whole new level

At one time or another, most of us have said ‘gardening is therapy,’ right?   But seeing an actual therapeutic garden work its magic right in front of me is a whole different experience. Recently, my mother and I visited my mom’s cousin, Carol, to see the incredible garden she helped create for her adult daughter, […]

I’m a caladium convert

I’m a caladium convert

I’ll admit it – I’ve never given much thought to caladiums.  But having trialed several this year (thanks to the generous folks at Classic Caladiums) I can proudly say I’m a Caladium Convert! Similar to coleus, they come in a psychedelic array of color combinations,.    Caladiums, however, seem to have more of an air […]

Designing a garden for Sunset magazine. No pressure!

Designing a garden for Sunset magazine. No pressure!

A few weeks ago, Johanna Silver (Sunset Magazine’s Garden Editor) reached out and asked if I would be interested in designing a garden for a forthcoming article, with the emphasis on using plants from Sunset’s new Western Garden Collection. Hmmmm….tough decision.  Let me get this straight, I thought, design a garden for Sunset?  Where I […]