We happen upon gardening inspiration all the time–an exciting new plant combo spotted on an apartment balcony here, a master gardener’s open garden tour there. We love to share the latest sights that have us seeing new plants and old plants in new ways.
Turns out the grass isn't always greener. I'm always saying, look at those lucky Californians, they can grow all the super cool stuff. But the drought and water shortage--not so lucky. I enjoyed an article on Annie's Annuals & Perennials' blog this week. Nursery...
Holy smokes, a year goes fast. It seemed like forever when trying to sell our Alameda house. It was a good house, and we loved living there for 33 years. (We bought it when we were twelve.) But then came ranch fever--due in part to property-tax shock--and we packed...
I’m curious, have you ever been tasked with writing a description of your garden? On the surface it sounds simple, but then emotion gets in the way. All those things you see (they’re out there in the future, you can see them clearly), that others might not. You need...
"Sometimes I believe in as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Alice Oh my goodness. I thought I was way out in front of gardening season this year. And now it's already Hortlandia time. Oh sure, I've got it on my calendar, but I also thought today was...
I wish I had more to report in the way of progress in the Sea of Juniper bed, but alas, forward ho is stalled. Everything takes so much longer than I think it will. Between the remaining juniper stumps and the weather, it's not going as fast as I had hoped. I always...
A combination of green and burgundy foliage is key to the look I want in my garden. The mix is relatively easy to achieve in the summer months, when dark foliage from deciduous, herbaceous and not-quite-hardy plants is everywhere. While there are still a few reliable...
Oh, sure, I meant to get around to taking it out, but at twelve feet wide and forty plus feet long, it was such a daunting task. And the bids, holy cow, multiples of thousands. And so I talked about it the way I'd talked about Megan wanting to play the harp when she...
Has this ever happened to you? A plant shows up in your garden. You don’t remember planting it, and it’s not an obvious weed – in fact there’s a lot to like about this newbie. You might even let your imagination run wild (as, ahem, I may have done), and dream for a...
Is it just me, or is everyone surprised beyond pieces that the garden resurrects each year? It's so exciting to see there are actually plants growing out there. I planted several Tetrapanx papyrifer this past fall that came from Ron Wagner before he moved to...
Everything looks fresh and fabulous--like miracles before our very eyes. A walk around the neighborhood brings no end of spring thrills. There's a Sambucus a few doors down from Red Buds, likewise brilliantly pruned. I didn't get a good photo, but when the light...