Francoa ramosa is one of my favorite perennials for dry shade. I’ve had them grow equally happy in fairly deep shade to bright shade, requiring little water once established. In fact, in my zone 9 garden, they’re evergreen, dying back a bit to form a tidy green mound before starting the show all over again […]
I LOVE ornamental oxalis in the garden! Before you all think I’ve lost my mind, I’m not talking about the horribly invasive oxalis weed that threatens to take over lawns and gardens everywhere. I’m talking about the many varieties of colorful and well-behaved ornamental oxalis hybrids. The ornamental varieties often get overlooked in the nurseries, […]
I’ve yet to see a garden that doesn’t have at least a few planted containers included in its design. Whether artfully placed near the front door, grouped on the back patio, or perhaps incorporated into a garden bed, containers are beloved by gardeners everywhere. When I plant containers in my own garden, they’re often serving […]
I’d like to introduce you to my new obsession , which my husband lovingly calls my Foxtail Lily Frenzy (aka: eremurus ‘Oase’.) I’ve wanted to write about these for months, ever since I bought the tubers at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show this past February. But every time I sit down to write, I […]
Side yard makeovers are some of the most popular posts on my blog, and for good reason. (you can see why here and here)! First, though, for those who aren’t quite sure what a side yard is – they’re the long and narrow sections of your garden that flank one or both sides of your […]
I love a good Top 10 list, don’t you? Well, here’s one from me – my favorite Top 10 deer-resistant, spring-blooming plants for your garden! Limiting this post to only 10 of my favorite spring-blooming plants was certainly a challenge, especially considering they also needed to be deer resistant to survive the hungry hordes […]
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 […]
Lavenders for all four season? Yes (though maybe not for super cold climates – but read on…) Lavenders are one of my favorite low-water, low-maintenance perennials for zone 9 garden. After designing gardens for 20 years now, I’d have to say they’re in at least 90% of my gardens – and for good reason! […]
It’s been pouring rain for days now, which is the perfect time to talk about creating a rain garden. Even though many plants are still deciduous, patiently waiting for warmer weather, there’s still plenty happening right now to talk about its late winter-early spring charms. Besides, if you’re like me, I love taking a peek […]
While there aren’t any camellias that bloom non-stop from fall through spring, I know of an easy way to have months of wow-factor blooms as early as September and ending in April (and maybe even May). It’s simple – make sure to plant a combination of tried-and-true sasanqua and japonica varieties. First, I have a confession. […]
Hello again everyone! I hope you’re ready for some pretty fantastic small space gardens, and some pure FANTASY! Here’s Part 2 of my Northwest Flower & Garden Show Recap (click here for Part 1.) Every year, I look forward to one of my favorite garden show displays – the City Living Patio Gardens. In this display, TEN […]
WOW – what a whirlwind week it was at Seattle’s Northwest Flower & Garden Show! For several years now, I’ve flown to Seattle to speak at this event, and without a doubt, it’s one of my all-time favorite garden shows. Inspirational demonstration gardens, tons of top-notch vendors selling things I can’t find anywhere else, […]
