The Pacific Northwest has an ideal climate to grow all sorts of berries, from strawberries and blue berries to black berries and raspberries and 2016 once again is bringing gardeners several new flavors to choose from.  Here are my picks for this year.

Remember how I said that January was a slow month in the garden, sort of like idling where the engine is running but we aren't really going anywhere?  Well, February is when we move out of neutral and shift into first gear.  There is a whole lot going on this month so let's get to it.

Northwest gardeners have a unique opportunity this time of year, it’s called bare root season and it only lasts through the end of March.  Here is what it is all about…

There’s no point in letting the politicians have all the fun.  I too can put together a synopsis of this past year and make predictions for this coming year, so here goes nothing...

Okay folks, here’s the deal… There isn’t a day that goes by that a customer doesn’t come into my garden center and ask me how they can achieve year around interest in their garden.  My reply is always the same, “Come to the garden center once a month, buy something that looks interesting to you and in 12 months you will have year ‘round interest in your garden”.  So to make this as simple as possible I have decided to give you a monthly list of plants I think you should have in your garden to keep things from being boring.  I call them my Boring Yard Busters or BYB’s for short.  Here are my recommendations for January...

I know what you are thinking… Can’t this guy just kick back for a month and give us a break?  No need to get too worried, January is a pretty laid back month for the garden.  Here are some thoughts to ponder...

I first penned this piece in 2001 and 15 years later it still feels relevant.  It’s encouraging to know that the true attributes of a “real gardener” haven’t changed.  Enjoy!

December 21st is what we officially refer to as the Winter Solstice.  This day has the ignominious distinction of being the shortest day of the year (in the northern hemisphere).  Of course while every day is essentially the same length (24 hours the last time I checked) the 21st has the fewest number of daylight hours.  This day is synonymous with coldness, darkness, dormancy but it is also associated with celebrations of renewal, hope, generosity and introspection.  It is the beginning of the return of the sun.

Truly, I say unto thee, it is better to give than to receive, especially when it comes to gifts for the gardener.  There is no better feeling than sharing the joy for a special plant, tool or book with a fellow gardener knowing, or at least hoping, that the recipient will derive as much pleasure out of the gift as you have received owning the very same thing.  If I was giving any of you a gift this is what I might consider:

Need a break from all those chores I left you with last week?  Can’t face moving one more bale of compost?  Tired of raking the never ending litter from that massive wind storm?  Take a break and go have some fun looking for gifts for the gardener in your life, even if it is only you.  Here are some ideas to start with…