Oh sure, Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Steroidal Giant' may be eating the neighborhood. But it's got it going on with the quiet explosions. Take care, have fun, and don't leave home without your mask, please. Cheers
Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Steroidal Giant’: Articles from The Editorial Side
all sprinklers on deck
This is nuts. It's been a year of extremes--all over the world, and all in the wrong places. It's rough on a gardener's constitution. Don't you think? I broke down and bought a new sprinkler a few days ago. In my rich fantasy life, I'd imagined a single sprinkler head...
The unifiers
Well designed gardens are known for their sweeps and swaths of the same plant. Onesies are frowned upon -- plant in groups of threes, or better yet five or even seven. But how can I possibly have room for all the cool plants if I do it that way? Thus I’ve resigned...
Tetrapanax, don’t make me sorry!
Oh boy, talk about a good thing, and perchance too much of it? The jury is out. But if year one is any indication, Flamingo Park, we may have a problem. These plants were gifts from Ron Wagner, a guy who packed his bag, and I mean singular bag, and headed for...
fall garden in the pacific northwest
I know they're numbered, but in these last decent days of fall, there are some fine looking plants in the garden. The shaded brick planter on the north side of our house has exceeded all expectations. It's under the eaves, and needs to be watered year round, but I'm...
More from McMenamins Kennedy School
Last week I shared the spiky side of the Kennedy School gardens, but there is so much more to see! Walking the grounds is always a mix of checking in on old friends, to see how they're doing, and discovering new things. Sometimes I have a pretty good idea what they...
thank you rain gods
The big winter weather joke around the Pacific Northwest is a forecast calling for "snow on the valley floor." That's the Willamette Valley we talking about, and we hardly ever get snow, at least on the northern end. Those of us who grew up here are always rooting for...
color by nature
I'm on a color toot. After patrolling the garden to check, "dear-dog, do-I-have-to-water-again-today?", it occurred to me that my inside color inclinations are mimicking what's going on in the yard. Even though there's still plenty of hot headed our way, a couple of...