When you are a plant nerd like me, there is no end to the list of plants that fall into the category of “most favorite”. There are many characteristics that can make a plant qualify for that most coveted classification, such as….
These Late-Blooming Shrubs Are Worth Waiting For!
August can feel like a long time to wait for a some plants to finally put forth flowers, all while the rest of the garden might be blooming its head off. On the other hand, by the time we get to August, our gardens can conceivably start to look kind of tired and bedraggled, and having a few plants that are just coming into bloom can be a very good thing. I have often said that in the Pacific Northwest you can find a plant blooming every day of the year…
Making ‘Sense’ Of ‘Scents’
As a garden center owner for over three decades, I have seen all types of gardeners come in to shop for plants, and without exception, regardless of their level of skill, there is one common habit they all exhibit. Show them a pretty flower and they will immediately plunge their schnozzola right into the heart of it to see if it has fragrance - we have all done it, myself included…
Abelia - It's One Tough Cookie
4 New Fabulous Ninebarks To Brighten Up The Garden
The Many Faces Of Evergreen Euonymus
We are fortunate, in our mild northwest climate, to be able to enjoy a wide selection of broadleaf evergreen shrubs - some of which will actually grow into small trees… The genus Euonymus, with several available species, is one of my favorites and yet another option that gives us a variety of choices in foliage size, color, and growth habit…
The Many Faces Of The Genus Viburnum
Dwarf Lilacs - Compact, dependable & even re-blooming
Itoh Peonies - The Best Of Both Worlds
I first fell in love with Peonies back in the early 70’s when I was stationed in Petersburg, Virginia with the US Army. I was driving out in the country one afternoon when I came upon row after row of these incredible plants covered with pink, red or white blooms that looked like carnations on steroids…
One useful plant more and more local gardeners are discovering is the Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), an evergreen shrub with spectacular flowers. We are borrowing this beauty from…