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 [...]
Regularly I contribute gardening articles for publication on WSNLA.org and KPLU.org websites. This month the topic is gardening for year-round color. Read more about adding year-round interest to your garden here. In this article I’ve shared everything from observing gardener behavior and those behavior’s garden results to how to add specific colors and fragrances to [...]
This winter I’m acutely aware of plants that are providing winter interest through berries, blooms, fragrance, colorful foliage and interesting texture. Many clients keep talking about how boring their gardens are when everything is “dead”. I remind them that most isn’t truly dead but instead is growing actively underground. This provides them some relief that [...]
I found the information sheet on the tomato that I’ve grown indoors this winter and about which I wrote in an earlier post. The cultivar is called ‘Red Robin’, and it is designed to handle low light conditions. I found a bit more information online from another person who grew it indoors. It seems as [...]
So can we all agree that the tomatoes from the grocery store, especially in winter, just don’t live up to our expectation of what a tomato should be? If you agree, read on.
I’ve always wondered if it were possible to keep annual vegetables going indoors, in the dreary, sunless Seattle winter. This fall I met a [...]
WSNLA invited me to write an article for the Kplu.org and WSNLA.org information websites on the subject of gardening in the winter. Read more here if you’re interested in tips for gardening and caring for gardening tools now in order to make your garden lower maintenance for spring and summer.
btw: I have no idea who [...]
As I walked from my driveway into my back door, I received a two-fold reward for my efforts in building winter interest into my garden.
First, I heard the distinctive chirp of a hummingbird. I couldn’t find him with my eyes, but was in my garden. I have lured him with my plantings and my lack [...]
Although the temperatures in the greater Seattle area are hovering somewhere above freezing but below 50 degrees, weeds are still quietly establishing themselves in gardens throughout the area. If you can get out there and remove them now, Spring garden care will be much easier as your weed population will be significantly reduced.
Grass weeds are [...]
We’ve had a very cold and wet winter in Seattle, so my winter garden clean up chores have been on hold for a while now. My clients and readers know that I encourage everyone to get out and work in the garden in winter. In winter we need to get fresh air. We need the [...]