Tag: Perennials

Designing with Ball-Shaped Flowers ball-shaped flowers

Designing with Ball-Shaped Flowers

I love designing with ball-shaped flowers.  Don’t get me wrong, I also adore spire-shaped flowers (click here if you missed that post!) However, there’s something about spherical shapes that always makes me smile.   Maybe its because the lollipop shapes tend to be more playful?  Or maybe its because the symmetrical, round balls are such a […]

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 […]

Lupine Meadow at Lake Tahoe lupine meadow

Lupine Meadow at Lake Tahoe

Every few years, when the conditions are just right, this meadow is filled with thousands and thousands of lupines. I just so happened to be visiting Lake Tahoe during this magical time and wanted to share these photos with you.    This naturally occurring meadow is located just a few miles from Tahoe City, and […]

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 […]

Four Fab Faves for the Fall Garden (say that one fast three times!) designing pollinator garden

Four Fab Faves for the Fall Garden (say that one fast three times!)

Fall is taking its sweet time showing up where I live in Granite Bay. As I currently write this, it’s late October and a way-too-hot 87 degrees outside, but my garden is loving it. Insects and hummingbirds are everywhere, buzzing from plant to plant, storing up as much energy as they can before cold weather […]

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 […]

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 […]

The Sacramento Historic Cemetery’s Native, Perennial, & Rose Gardens

The Sacramento Historic Cemetery’s Native, Perennial, & Rose Gardens

I can’t believe it, but I’m coming up on the 2nd year anniversary since moving up north to Granite Bay from the Bay Area.  During the past two years, I’ve been having so much fun touring lots of public and private gardens in the area. It seems like a lot of my favorite gardens are […]

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 […]

Monarch Mayhem: joy and heartbreak in the garden

Monarch Mayhem: joy and heartbreak in the garden

Remember last year when I wrote about my daughter’s newly found passion for monarch butterflies? Well, I recently received this text from her: “Guess who’s back!’ Emily was thrilled to find two more emerald chrysalises hanging from her front door – a repeat performance of last spring!  (can you spot them?  It’s the teeny tiny bright […]

The Getty Museum’s Central Garden

The Getty Museum’s Central Garden

Two days ago I flew to LA for the day to visit my daughter, and on a whim decided to visit the Getty Museum’s Central Garden. While I’ve been there before in the spring and summer, I’ve never visited in the fall and was excited to see the seasonal changes. The Central Garden differs from many of […]