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The Garden of Bill & Cheri Hansen
We now come to the last garden on the Lassie and Outlaw tour of Northwest Perennial Alliance Open Gardens. We ended our July 27th adventure in Lakewood, about a half hour from where I live, in the...
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A Different Kind of Flower Gardening
On Saturday, it was cold but clear outside, perfect weather to do some odd jobs around the garden. However, I was teaching a class inside instead. This class was a blast, all of the participants...
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After the Storm
And after the storm, I run and run as the rains comeAnd I look up, I look up, on my knees and out of luck, I look up. Night has always pushed up dayYou must know life to see decayBut I won't rot, I...
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Cotoneaster Parneyi / Lacteus My Favorite Plant...This Week
Plants that produce ornamental berries, especially if they last through winter, make me go a little weak in the knees so when I saw these big clusters of red berries flirting with me from a table at...
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Flaunting my Ignorance Once Again.
When I was but a lad back in the Victorian era, one of my sisters had chrysanthemums that looked something like these at her wedding. Our little town didn't have a florist shop so cut flowers either...
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The Tropical Paradise Just up the Street
This time of year, it's just starting to get light when I go to work and dark when I return so I only wander around my own garden on weekends. Now that freezing weather has arrived and the abundance...
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The Cold Shoulder or The Toast Report
We've had a nice stretch of clear weather which means that the night temperatures have been in the upper twenties/lower thirties (F) which is chilly for us. For those of you in cold climate areas, you...
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Pernettya mucronata, My Favorite Plant in the Garden this Week
I love this plant so much that although my garden already has this beautiful specimen, I bought another last time I visited Vassey Nursery! What's not to love. The tiny rich green leaves are never...
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is a a special holiday for me because for the last 25 years, except for last year, I've hosted family and friends from Vermont, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. My favorite part is...
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November End of the Month View
It's hard to believe that November is almost over and I haven't done any shopping for Christmas yet. Yikes! My sister from Alaska did all her shopping for relatives in this area while she was here for...
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Good Bye Autumn
The last of the 28 Thanksgiving guests have gone, the house seems empty again, the pocket doors closing off space not necessary for two people. The entryway is still decorated for autumn.Although fall...
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Visiting Van Lierop Garden Market
No visit to Sumner, WA would be complete without stopping by Van Lierop Garden Market. Inside is a beautiful gift and florist shop full of wonders. The day was so nice that I wanted to be outside so...
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To Dumpster Dive or Not to Dumpster Dive, That is the Question.
The other day, I was visiting a nursery and parked around the side and saw this dumpster. I've parked by this thing a lot of times and never thought about its contents but this time, plants were...
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An Unexpected Garden Tour
On Saturday while driving between a couple of nurseries, this caught my eye. Even though it was raining, I had to pull over, grab my camera and explore from the sidewalk.So much winter interest AND a...
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A Little Plant Shopping at Windmil Gardens
The event space gazebo is looking lovely with evergreens and white pansies at it's feet.Bright red berries on a viburnum add seasonal cheer.Lovely gift choices for gardeners abound at Windmill even...
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Windmill Part Two: Euphorbia pulcherrima Anyone?
The Massacre of the Innocents is the biblical narrative of infanticide by Herod the Great, the Roman appointed King of the Jews. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Herod ordered the execution of all...
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How Tacomans Know it's December
A few years ago, something caused the S in Tacoma Self Storage's neon sign to stop glowing in December. The owners have decided to make it a tradition and now this lighted sign that can be seen from...
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So Then it Got Really Cold
Let me just begin by saying that I realize that cold is a relative term. Folks in Los Angeles are talking about crazy cold in the 40's causing them to put on gloves and hats while people in cold...
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In the Bleak Midwinter
Since I only get to see my garden in the light on weekends now that the days are so short, I venture out each Saturday to see what's been going on out there. On this particular Saturday, everything...
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Some Answers Come Quickly; Frday the Thirteenth part 7
You may need a soundtrack for what follows. Warning: The following images contain graphic depictions of plant death and may not be suitable for all viewers. After arriving home on Thursday evening,...
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