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.
Last spring, after hauling several awkward (and heavy) containers up from the basement, my husband Andrew proclaimed: “you really need to stop buying agaves and buy more aloes, they’re nicer.” I have to admit he’s right, aloes have considerably less-lethal spikes than...
Here it is, one day past Christmas, and I think it's almost Spring. Apparently, the weather gods have other ideas. Colder temperatures are forecasted this week, but it's a decent today. High overcast and an occasional peek of blue. I managed a quick garden stroll and...
I’m a prolific idea generator—and some are decent ideas, at that. But I have a bit of trouble realistically estimating time required to implement my ideas, especially amidst the pesky business of life. Without fail, I think: this holiday season will be different. I...
Last summer a small group of Portland garden bloggers played host to 80+ bloggers from around the world. It was a wonderful opportunity to show off our city and its amazing gardening community. In that group were the publisher and editor of my two favorite...
Winter is a great time to appreciate year round punch. The bones of a good tree, fruit laden shrubbery, spiky plants scoffing at cloudy skies. The bark of Crape Myrtles, Stewartias, and Japanese Maples, ooh la la. Confiners busy on double duty, sinewy structure...
As a native Portlander, I get a little defensive when people say things like "It must rain there all the time." My city-defending instinct first kicked in when I was a kid visiting family in Connecticut, and someone asked if we got snow year round. Somebody got me a...
Visiting botanical gardens is the main reason to travel, right? Right. Sometimes my traveling companions do not understand this fact. While my sister was spending a year in Rome, I went for a visit. Our first day in Rome, she gave me a very nice tour of the city along...
You know the saying “good fences make good neighbors?” Well, I believe good fences also make good gardens. When we first moved to Portland the house we rented had low (3ft) tall fences in the back yard, as did the next few houses in line. No privacy, and no...
This week is a good reminder to be thankful if you are one of those lucky people who experience a rush when you see a great garden. Not everyone feels that way about plants, which seems like such a shame. I remember as a kid, running into the living room on...
Throw a wee winter storm my way, and apparently I’m done with the garden. I thought I'd be better, get out there and do this and that. Then I told myself, it'd be a good time to turn my interest toward indoor plants. Some challenges have ensued. But outdoors, the...