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Jude the Obscure
If your city has a public rose garden, this should be an excellent time to visit it. In Portland, we have The International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park and it should be at, or near, peak...
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Lacewings
When I am carefully looking at the plants in my garden, I often marvel at what I see and what I would have missed if I had not taken the time for a closer look. The eggs of lacewings are so beautiful...
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Hartlage Wine: An Easy-to-Grow Deciduous Shrub
Calycanthus raulstonii ‘Hartlage Wine’ We don’t have many flowering shrubs with flowers quite like the shape and color of the Hartlage Wine here in the Pacific Northwest. This vigorous shrub’s...
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Summer Vegetable Seeds and Seedlings
Whether you are planting summer vegetable seeds or seedlings (young transplants), this is probably the peak time of year for many summer vegetables and flowers. Here in the Pacific Northwest the soil...
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Water Features in the Garden
Memorial Day is the traditional weekend for me to clean the water features in my garden and make sure everything is working as it should. The sound of running water is a delight in a garden and can be...
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Amaranthus ‘Joseph’s Coat’
It is not too late to plant some summer flowers and foliage plants from seed. I am always surprised that more people don’t plant Amaranthus ‘Joseph’s Coat’ as it is very easy to grow from seed, likes...
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Hazelnut Shells as Garden Pathways
This past week, I have been spreading hazelnut shells on the pathways in my garden. In many parts of the country, there are agricultural crops that produce an agriculture bi-product after processing....
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Garden Art: Pottery People
As I visit other gardens this summer, I am, of course, interested to see what plants they are growing, but I also like looking for garden art. I think garden art can often reflect something of the...
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Melianthus major
This is a great time of year to visit other gardens and I try to always try to visit some that are new to me. Seeing how other gardeners use plants can make me think of new plants that I can use in my...
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A History of Growing Roses
June is the month when, in most areas of the Pacific Northwest, roses will be at their peak bloom. Portland, Oregon calls itself “The City of Roses” and the Portland Rose Society is celebrating its...
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Red Tiger Plant
The intricate coloring of the Abutilon ‘Red Tiger’ – aka Red Tiger Plant – would be hard to duplicate unless it was an art piece created in stain glass – Photo by Zack Stack This past January I...
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Canna ehemanii
Canna Ehemanii – Photo by Rich Baer I am always on the lookout for new plants and several years ago, looking through a catalog for Old House Gardens, I came across Canna ehemanii. This canna dates back...
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Water for Birds in the Garden
With summer here and many parts of the Pacific Northwest having warm days and little or no rain, it is important not to forget to supply a source of water for birds in the garden. In my own garden, I...
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Banana Plants in Oregon!
Banana Plants in Portland – Photo Courtesy of Kathy and Harvey Anderson In the late 1990’s, I was surprised to learn there was a banana plant that was hardy enough to thrive in Portland, Oregon. Yes, I...
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Use Garden Mulch To Reduce Summer Watering
July in my garden means lots of color, and flowers that attract hummingbirds are an added bonus. I always like to have some large planters and several years ago purchased some wrought iron plant stands...
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Golden Spirit Smoke Trees: Prune To Fit Your Container Garden
Sometimes a plant that we think of as growing to 15 feet in height or more, can actually be kept quite small by severe pruning. I have a Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’ (Smoke Tree) growing in a pot...
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Growing Okra in Oregon?
Okra in Oregon – Photo by Susanne PopeOn my weekly radio show, I not only get questions from gardeners, but I often get comments and information that others want to share. It is especially interesting...
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Janet’s Lettuce from Seed
When I visit other gardens I am often intrigued by things I see other gardeners do. Janet Livesay, in Lake Oswego, Oregon, had a planter that fit over the railing of her deck. She used Black Gold...
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Late Summer Gardening Tips
Now that the spring season is over and we are already into August, I wonder “where did the summer go”? With so many things going on in the spring and early summer garden, now is certainly the time to...
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Pistachio Hydrangea is the Winner
At the recent Farwest Show (national nursery trade show held in Portland, Oregon), there was a section call “New Varieties Showcase”. New and recently introduced plants were exhibited and participants...
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