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Hardy Hibiscus
We often think of Hibiscus as tropical plants from Hawaii and other warm weather states. While this Hibiscus can be grown there, it will not survive our winters and gardeners often plant this and...
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Late Summer Foliage Color
Here it is, mid-September and in the Pacific Northwest, and the weather has been warm with little or no rain. This is the time to visit gardens and observe what is performing well at this time of...
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Cup and Saucer Vine
Cobaea scandens, or Cup and Saucer Vine, is also called ‘Cathedral Bells’ and when I see one in a garden, as I did recently, I wonder why we don’t see it growing here more often. The common name comes...
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Iochroma ‘Royal Queen Purple’
We have many pots on our deck and I always like to try some new plants each year. This year I planted Iochroma ‘Royal Queen Purple’ using Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil and the results...
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Plants for Great Fall Color
From mid-September through October, here in the Pacific Northwest, we have an abundance of plants for great fall color. Whether it is foliage, stems, bark or flowers, the color array is almost...
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Ideas for Native Plants in Home Gardens
Whenever I hear someone speak of ideas for native plants in home gardens, it always makes me wonder what is considered “native”. I live in Oregon, so when a gardener tells me about native plants in...
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Tips For Winterizing Plants
It can be a bit difficult to shift gears and start thinking about winterizing plants, especially after we had such a dry and warm late summer and fall here in the Pacific Northwest. Recently we have...
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Evergreens In the Garden
Quite often when we think of evergreen plants or use the word ‘conifer’, we think of something large like a Douglas Fir, Colorado Spruce or similar tall tree. It is true, these are evergreen plants and...
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Growing Orchids Indoors for Winter Color
In spite of the internet and so much information coming over it, one of the last holdouts for actual paper catalogs must be the garden seed companies. When they start to arrive in my mailbox (a real,...
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Container Gardening Tips For Growing Tomatoes and Berries
It is always fun visiting garden shows to see what plants for container gardening are new and which are being promoted by nurseries for the retail customer. Some plants are not really ‘new’ but are...
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Container Gardening For Versatility And Variety
Of all the many gardens I have visited with plants in containers, the most unique one that stands out in my mind is a garden in NE Portland. In this garden, the front of the house overlooks the roof of...
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Pacific Northwest Spring Garden Picks
Rhododendron ‘Sir Charles Lemon’ is a striking spring beauty with trusses of white flowers decorated with dark anthers. Here in the Pacific Northwest our spring season has been phenomenal. Of course...
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Peonies & Iris, Oh My!
The lactiflora peony ‘Madame de Verneville’ is a fine old French cultivar. (image by Carol Adelman) As I mentioned in my April article, the spring season in the Pacific Northwest has been phenomenal...
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June 29: The Darcy Garden in Portland’s 2013 Open Garden Tour
Photo of the Darcy Garden thanks to Doreen Wynja and Janet Loughrey. The Garden Conservancy and Hardy Plant Society of Oregon have co-sponsored this year’s Open Garden Tour of Portland, which will...
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Tried and True Early Summer Flowers
Hartlage Wine sweetshrub of one of several resilient early summer bloomers in Mike’s garden. Unseasonably warm weather continues here in the Pacific Northwest, and the plants are responding to it. In...
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Garden Tours, Garden Makeovers and Summer Hydrangeas in Bloom
The brilliant white flowers of Snow Queen oakleaf hydrangea will brighten any summer garden, day or night. (Photo by Jessie Keith) It has been a busy summer with many exciting activities! Aside from my...
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Garden Water Features and Carnivorous Plants
A hummingbird cools its feet on the edge of Mike’s favorite garden water feature. In the Pacific Northwest, weather continues to be warm to hot with little or no rain. We have had a few sprinkles, but...
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September Garden Gems: Crape Myrtle, Dahlias, Salvia & Lespedeza
Bountiful fall dahlias shine in the cool weather. What a glorious time of year! Summer is over and autumn is here. The garden is still looking good with lots of color from summer annuals that are still...
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Brugmansia, Burning Bush, Bulbs & Cleome in the Autumn Garden
Burning bush is truly fiery in fall, but be sure it is not an ecological menace in your area. Last week when I saw my neighbor Janet working in her garden, she wanted me to see her blooming autumn...
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Cool Season Color & Container Specimens
Oxydendrum arboreum (sourwood) is often overlooked but deserves to be seen in more gardens. Warm and sunny fall days have continued here in the Pacific Northwest through mid November. They have given...
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