What can we say? We are here because we love plants. You’re probably here because you love plants. We talk a lot about the plants we love, covet, admire, have watched grow happily in our gardens, tried and failed, the ups and downs of tending our own gardens and visiting others. It’s a happy place here, join us.
Every garden needs some big-ass leaves. Who couldn't use a little big-leaf eye candy to kick off the short work week? Tetrapanax 'Steroidal Giant' is kicking off the parade up top. The Plume Poppies are really bringing it this year. A Rodgersia podophylla at a garden...
We get a lot of people searching plant lust for serrated leaves, and I often wonder, are people seeing some jaw-dropping Melianthus out in the world, and searching for the name? I can see it, because that plant is always love at first sight. Or are people searching...
All the “how to” websites will tell you silver foliage is a great addition to the garden because it cools things down and plays nice with the hot colors. Then they go on to show photographs of plants that are actually grey, white or blue. I have nothing against those...
I bought a peony at a plant sale where it was labeled "Woodland Peony." That should mean it is Paeonia obovata, although I tend not to 100% trust plant labels that don't include a latin name. I can't speak for all P. obovata since I just have the one, but this plant...
I remember nervously sharing my garden with a famous friend, she was generous with the compliments and over the course of her visit took several photos, a few of which ended up in her book, Lawn Gone! One of her comments stuck with me, it was about how I’d paid...
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...
It’s one of the best known meme’s for garden bloggers – the 15th of each month is given over to photographing (and sharing) what’s blooming in our gardens. Even a foliage lover like me can be seduced by a few flowers now and then. Flowers are fleeting, but foliage is...
Geez Louise, the first half of April has been a blur. Time flies when you're spring planting. The Portland forecast has temperatures in the 80s this week. Too soon! The cooler, rainier days have been perfect for transplanting, weeding, and watering in new seedlings,...
Xera Plants' small retail shop in Southeast Portland is always good for an armload of fabulous plants, but last weekend was double worth the trip since Roger Gossler of Gossler Farms was in town with a truckload of newly leafed out beauties, saving me the two hour...
Usually, March is a month for noses pressed to windows, impatiently waiting until it's warm enough, dry enough, late enough to get out there with a shovel and start the frenzied rush of spring chores. Spring's early arrival in the Pacific Northwest changed the pace of...