Home gardeners and farmers look to the past and see their future at the National Heirloom Exposition. Heirloom vegetables —those open-pollinated varieties older than 50 years—have long been treasured by gardeners and farmers alike for their wide-ranging flavors, extended harvest times, and often odd-lot looks. This September, the niche horticultural pursuits of organic practices, seed […]
I recently attended a three-day plant-o-rama—a garden study weekend sponsored by the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon. Each morning, all 500-plus of us (some from as far away as England) gathered at the University of Portland to listen to horticultural stars like designer Nan Sinton, landscape architect Bernard Trainor, and edibles expert Jack Staub. Afternoons […]
What do Aga stoves, Sub-Zero fridges and Bosch dishwashers have in common with conifers? They’re all high end—and they all deliver. Right now, many summer borders are going over the top in a proverbial riot of blooms. They could use a bit of stability, form and balance. So, in the face of frolicking flowers, let’s […]
I love the unexpected look of vegetables growing with ornamentals. Several years ago when we visited Paris, I found many public gardens featured a riot of cabbages, lettuces and colorful beets, all corralled by classic clipped boxwood hedges. Fun. Yet, my own efforts to plant this way have been disastrous. Last year, I boldly grew […]
Nine Newcomers for Every Gardener’s Wish-List As a garden writer, I get to grow new plant introductions when they first come to market. But not all the freebies fare equally well in my garden. After a long cold Northwest winter and spring, here are the best and brightest. They not only survived—they thrived. Look for […]
April is the cruelest month, if only because that’s when slugs and snails start to proliferate. Usually, in this column I seek out an expert to follow, but as far as these slimy underleaf denizens are concerned, I am an expert. After all, I live in Eugene, Oregon, where every year we crown our own […]
Orchids stand apart. At flower shows these movie stars of the plant world gather under the lights, their jewel-tone speckled faces shining. But I confess— Orchidaceae’s astonishing allure has always passed me by. However, that changed last month, when my friend Ann Murphy, Director of Marketing for the Oregon Association of Nurseries, invited me to […]
Pest control starts long before the question- “What do I spray?” This month greenhouses take center stage in the gardening year. However, insects can come along with the show. I’ve turned to Sue Nicol, a Seattle consulting horticulturalist and arborist ([email protected]) for advice on indoor pest management. Sue says, the first question all greenhouse owners […]
One whiff of fragrant plants in winter and I’m transported far beyond the gray and white landscape outside my windows. The exotic aromas, redolent of the tropics, develop fully when captured within the enclosed walls of a greenhouse or sunroom. But I don’t want clashes of strong scents – think how your nose reacts when […]
I live with a family of non-gardeners. As the holiday time approaches, I can see my husband and grown children looking at me speculatively, gift-buying puzzlement in their eyes “What shall I get her that she’ ll really like?” So this year, instead of making them guess, I’m sharing my wish list. And I hope […]
Best Begonias Combine Beauty and Easy Care On a recent visit to Texas, I got lucky at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (www.fwbg.com). I had the good fortune to tour the Begonia Bank’s collection of rare and endangered plants. Affable begonia curator Deborah Garrett explained that their mission is to preserve begonias from around the […]
A Preview of the 2011 Winners from the Far West Show Ladies and gentlemen, start your plant lists! I’m a big believer in lists. After all, you wouldn’t plan a large party and then go to the store without a shopping list. Yet we arrive at nurseries on the first warm spring day without a […]
