This is just a quick reminder that spring rains in western washington can deceive us into thinking our soils are holding enough water to sustain our plants. It may be gray and drippy for days on end, but the rainfall totals may not be significant enough to keep your soil moisture levels consistent for your […]

One of my clients who lives in a woodland setting recently wrote in to ask:
 ”What are the names of the dogwoods you mentioned (when we last met). (The nursery) had a lot, but it was hard to tell if they were the ones you mentioned.”
Response:
Two nice twig dogwoods for you to consider are:

Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’: Yellow […]

Yesterday I spent most of the morning running to wholesale nurseries for clients. Yes, I hold a retail plant license. Many of my clients have limited time. Some are working moms. Others are world-travelling executives. Some just don’t drive. You get the picture. They might love trips to the retail nursery, but sometimes it just […]

I know it’s taken me a lot of words in part I of this piece on moving trees to get to actually sharing a tree moving experience, but I do think it’s important to discuss why we might move a tree and the variety of caveots associated with tree placement and relocation. Sure, every situation […]

Quite often my clients struggle with inherited gardens that include desirable plants that are just in the wrong location. What was once a small shrub near a foundation may have grown into a small tree that now encroaches on windows and building sidings becoming access paths for rats to rooftops. A random tree may be […]

Last summer my husband and I built a small water feature in a decorative container for our back patio. It was the first one either of us had constructed, and it was a great learning experience. About a month after it was built, my mom came to visit and fell in love with the bamboo spigot […]

The last week has been really busy for my garden coaching business. I’ve been all over the greater Seattle area, working hand-in-hand with clients to help them prepare their gardens for the active growing season. I’m returning to see many clients who started working with me last fall, and the progress in each of their […]

Yesterday I returned to Seattle from Virginia. I’d spent two weeks visiting family after speaking at the Maymont Garden Show. During that time, I was amazed by the flip-flopping weather. We went from 75 one morning to frozen ground by evening. We went from clear blue skies one morning to wind and rain that made […]

February is a busy month for gardeners. We’re out evaluating what we plan to do in the next year. We’re digging up plants to move them. We’re pruning and cleaning. The days become noticeably lighter and lighter as February progresses. And, a few warm days remind us that spring is just around the corner. Winter […]

For the past several years I have participated with the Northwest Flower and Garden Show as a volunteer, an attendee, and as an award-winning show garden designer. This year I’m looking forward to attending the show and volunteering once again.
The construction of the show begins at the Seattle Convention Center on Saturday, February 16th. By […]