This isn’t about the design of a new garden; this is all about an existing one. As the garden ever changes, much can be said about how it grows and develops character. Then there are the spaces that do not age gracefully; the overhaul of a garden is a different approach than the construction approach […]
horticulture
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Conservatories, Greenhouses, Cold Frames and Sunrooms
In the 1980s I worked for the Tacoma Park District at the W.W. Seymour Conservatory and at the Point Defiance Greenhouses. We had a little gift shop at the conservatory with plants for sale. Occasionally we would get a customer who wanted advice on selecting a houseplant. The person wanted a plant but would admit […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Herbal Stillroom Revival
Gardens in early American colonies were not for ornamentation; they were planted and worked for provision. Specific plants were grown to provide food, soaps, perfumes, insecticides, dyes and medicines — all the things needed to take care of everyday life in the home. The luxury of going to the corner drug store or market to […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Crunchy, Sweet and Delicious Apples at Harvest Time
My experience with apples did not extend much beyond Fuji, Honey Crisp and Jonagold before attending the Peninsula Fruit Club’s Fall Fruit Tasting Show this October at the Silverdale Community Center. I was thrilled to see 175 different types of apples grown in Kitsap, plus pears, grapes, kiwi and nuts brought from club members’ gardens […]
Posted inGarden
A Primer on Buying a Hobby Greenhouse
All gardeners have a wish list: new plants to try, a load of compost delivered, a potting shed, etcetera, but there is one thing that always seems to top the list — a greenhouse. Imagine how the midwinter blues melt away as you walk through the doors of this warm, humid haven for plants. It […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Use Nature as Inspiration for Pruning
I hope you’ve had many opportunities to get out into some of our wilderness areas to experience nature untouched by human hands. Did you marvel, as I have, at the overwhelming beauty of these natural landscapes? Nature is a very gifted designer and landscaper, indeed. I strive to follow her example, although a garden, by […]
Posted inFeatured, Home
The Captured Garden
In the summer of 1829, Dr. Nathaniel Ward placed the chrysalis of an adult sphinx moth in an enclosed glass container so he could observe the moth’s emergence. The soil he placed in the container sprouted seeds and spores, as natural soils will do. He fully expected the germinated plants to die off in the […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Plants for Year-Round Interest
When selecting plants for landscaping, you’ll find several types for extending interest in the garden for more than three seasons. Roses, hydrangeas, hardy fuchsias and conifers are just some examples. In this video, you’ll see Lacecap hydrangea, Rosa glauca, Abies koreana ‘Horstmann’s Silverlocke’ and hardy Fuchsia magellanica ‘Aurea.’ Here’s how they add yearlong interest in […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Fall Fashion for Container Gardens
The days are getting shorter and the mornings have a misty coolness to them. Now that fall is officially here, it’s time to change out summer color plantings and potted color gardens. It is much like changing your wardrobe for the season; the summer clothing gets put away and out come the sweaters. So it […]