Tag: Succulents

One Window Box for Four Seasons window box design

One Window Box for Four Seasons

I love designing a window box for all four seasons.  Not only because window boxes provide yet another opportunity to plant, but because they’re a fantastic way to add vertical interest in the garden. When standing in line at the grocery store, I can easily pass by all the fashion magazines, except for articles like […]

Succulent People of the San Diego Botanic Garden san diego botanic garden succulent people

Succulent People of the San Diego Botanic Garden

While spending the day at the San Diego Botanic Garden, my favorite moment was walking around the corner and discovering I was in the middle of a party with life-sized Succulent People. Pat Hammer (who was also the Botanic Garden’s Director of Operations,) is the genius behind these incredible works of art.  She even made […]

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 […]

Making succulent pumpkins Succulent Pumpkin

Making succulent pumpkins

Without a doubt, fall is my favorite season of the year.  And making succulent pumpkins is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. Once I spot the first signs of pumpkins and squash adorning grocery stores (which happened this week, btw!) I’m like a kid in a candy shop. And […]

Repurposing trash into treasures for the garden

Repurposing trash into treasures for the garden

Annie Leonard, a proponent of sustainability, says ‘There is no such thing as ‘away.’  When we throw anything away it must go somewhere.’  This quote resonates deeply with me and is something I think about whenever it’s tempting to toss something that no longer has a purpose.  I love repurposed items in the garden. Things […]

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 […]

Garden therapy in the midst of trauma – a story and a giveaway

Garden therapy in the midst of trauma – a story and a giveaway

I’ve been home from my trip to New York for ten days now and have been excited to share with you some of the gardens I visited but life seems to have gotten in the way – for now, at least. On the last day of my trip, I received a phone call from Dan, […]

Pumice versus Perlite – Q & A pumice vs. perlite

Pumice versus Perlite – Q & A

Let me introduce you to the dynamic brother/sister team, Lexi and Austin Petelski, who own General Pumice Products. These young and dynamic gardeners own two California pumice mines and have offered to explain the differences between pumice and perlite. Those of you who love to plant succulents will especially appreciate pumice, as it not only helps absorb […]

A life changing journey for me and three gardens

A life changing journey for me and three gardens

It’s taken me several days to write this, as I just can’t seem to grasp that a year has already passed since I posted my glass pumpkin photo with the accompanying news of my cancer diagnosis. Some days it feels like it was a lifetime ago, while other days it feels like only moments have […]

Tantalizing Tillandsias tillandsias air plants

Tantalizing Tillandsias

It’s no secret that this past year has been a whopper for me.  During most of my chemotherapy treatments I was able to continue writing and public speaking, but it became increasingly more difficult as time went on. After my surgeries (6 total!) I needed to hibernate for awhile and take a break from everything […]