In early spring, it’s safe to say I’m in a state of ‘euphorbia euphoria.’ Clusters of otherworldly chartreuse flowers hover above many other perennials just emerging from winter, bringing much-needed color and nectar for hungry pollinators. But their flowers are just one of the many reasons they’re a staple in my zone-9 garden. They’re also […]
Today I’m sharing something I tried for the first time ever – how to refrigerate peony buds for months of blooms. And, as a bonus, at the end of this post I’ll share some amazing varieties with you that you may or may not have heard of before! What prompted me to try refrigerating peony […]
With spring upon us, I wanted to share my Top 3 Favorite Garden Tools with you. As a garden designer (and a garden fanatic!), you’d think I’d have every latest and greatest garden tool in my arsenal. But I don’t. I’m actually pretty low maintenance in this department, preferring to use just a few of my […]
Light and airy flowers, which I fondly call ‘bobbers,’ are one of the key components of a naturalistic garden. Despite their varying shapes (balls, umbels, spires, etc.), a common factor of these bobbers is their tall, thin stems that gracefully weave through and appear to ‘float’ above other plants. Their presence not only adds a […]
Nothing says ‘spring is on its way’ like seeing row after row of pretty primroses arrive at the nursery. The botanical name of a primrose is primula, which comes from the Latin word ‘primus,’ meaning ‘first.’ This is the perfect name for them, as they’re the trailblazers of the early spring garden. They’ll even bloom […]
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 […]
Pantone, the gurus of color, have chosen ‘Peach Fuzz’ as their 2024 Color Of The Year Normally I don’t pay much attention to trendy colors, because at the end of the day I’m going to plant what makes my heart sing, no matter the color! However, peach just happens to be one of my favorite […]
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 […]
Pink flowers for the fall garden aren’t usually the colors gardeners think of, which is such a shame! When combined with fall’s traditional colors of orange, yellow, and red, the color pink can result in unexpected stunning color combinations. I was recently discussing this with a client who was so surprised that her ‘Sheffield’s Pink’ […]
I can relate to this woman – swap out her lush green hillside with California’s crispy brown hills, and the picture would be complete. Even the most avid gardeners can struggle with how to wake up the late summer garden after a long, hot summer. August through September can be a tough time for […]
Today I’m sharing a delicious elderflower cordial recipe, compliments of my elderberry tree. But first, a little info about this magnificent native plant that I inherited when I moved here seven years ago. Several elderberry varieties are native to the West Coast, but mine is a sambucus mexicana (commonly called Mexican Elderberry or Tapiro.) This […]
Designing a modified meadow in my new garden has been one of the most challenging yet most rewarding things I’ve ever created. Also known as meadowscaping (a popular trend that replaces traditional lawns with a native, slightly overgrown, prairie-inspired garden), my ‘modified’ meadow fits into this category, yet with a twist – hence the ‘modified.’ […]
