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Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, a look back
It's (finally) time to wrap up my posts on our 2021 trip to Southern California. Somehow I've saved my visit to the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden for last. This is a fabulous small botanic garden in the...
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Christmas weekend storm follow-up
It's been a long time since the Portland area experienced a winter storm like the one that hit Christmas weekend. The low at my place was 19F, but the fact we stayed below freezing for almost three...
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New Year, new mantelscape
As I've said many times; the only thing I love more than decorating for Christmas, is taking it all down when the season ends, which for me is Dec 26th. I am early to Christmasize, ideally things go up...
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Elk Rock Garden at the Bishop's Close; how I learned to love a PNW garden...
If you've ever had the privilege of visiting the Elk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close then you'll recognize this scene at the back side of the parking area.I've visited when the wisteria vine has lost...
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The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, have you visited?
If you're a frequent flyer reader you've no doubt read a few posts where I gush over the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, Washington.My first visit to this garden was in 2016. I...
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The ferns at RSBG, another reason to visit!
Tucked within the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden is the fern stumpery. "The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden (RSBG) features the world’s largest public stumpery, with ferns spilling over...
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The Jungle Garden, a book review
When George Lowther recommended Philip Oostenbrink's book, The Jungle Garden along with my book, Fearless Gardening, and Jimi Blake's A Beautiful Obsession in a video (watch it here), I knew it was one...
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Kuzma / Halme garden 2022 visit
Worry not my faithful blog readers! The streak remains solid (going strong since 2011) and I have a post for you on one of my very favorite gardens; that of my friends John Kuzma and Kathleen Halme. My...
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The stock tank pond: scheming on what comes next
Once again, it's time to rethink the stock tank pond. Frequent readers may recall that I've been doing battle with marauding raccoons for several years now, they're a constant source of frustration....
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You can't take her anywhere!
I don't remember when or where I learned of the unwritten rule that says you don't take photos of your fellow gardeners with their bums in the air, but honestly it's a good one; do unto others and all...
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Winter interest in my garden
There was a vintage-style card going around a few years ago that read: "My Garden Kicks Ass" Well, I have to say if the criteria is winter interest, my garden really does kick ass. No, it's not Zone 9...
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Winter horror in my garden
Here we are, back in my garden. On Wednesday I shared photos of the good stuff, today it's time to look at the not so good. First subject, my big Agave weberi in the driveway, that's it on the far...
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NPA Study Weekend, Tanya Bednarksi and neighbors
All of my posts this week are from the 2022 NPA Study Weekend which took place in the greater Seattle area last June. The garden we're visiting today is on the backside of the Mt Baker neighborhood,...
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NPA Study Weekend stop: the Daggetts
My next garden stop on last June's Study Weekend adventure was at Susan and Jerry Daggett's garden...From the event guide: "We moved into this 1920 Craftsman-style home at a very well-traveled Mount...
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NPA Study Weekend; Daniel Sparler and Jeff Schouten’s Garden of Exuberant Refuge
Of all the gardens on the NPA Study Weekend tours this is the one I was most excited about seeing. I don't remember exactly when I became aware of Daniel Sparler and Jeff Schouten’s garden, but I knew...
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What we do for our plants! (bonus post!)
Yesterday's blog post included dozens of photos of the magic that is Daniel Sparler's plant collection—many of them in containers. As I edited down my photos I realized there was no greenhouse on the...
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Agave week begins...
I discovered this "agave decoration" in the shade pavilion greenhouse last week when I went to shut the doors and turn on the heat before our most recent cold snap. I'd have thought a crow had dropped...
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Agaves in my 'hood; part two of Agave week
A little backstory on agave week. I, and many others I know, have experienced some pretty serious damage on our agaves this winter, agaves that haven't shown damage in previous (maybe even worse)...
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Agaves around town, the final chapter of Agave Week
Here we are again, more agaves! My completely random and unscientific survey of how Portland agaves are doing post-December storm begins again at this building in SE Portland, home to the "Attitude of...
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Turkey tails aren't always where you think they'll be
I don't think they qualify as turkey tails when they're this big, I want to call this shelf fungus/aka bracket fungus. It was as hard as a rock.These however are turkey tails! "Trametes versicolor; the...
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