Category: Garden Tips

They’re in style in lots of gardens with their feather-like blooms, however what are the origins of astilbe flowers? Historical past of Astilbe Flowers Grown as prized ornamentals in gentle shade, the origins of astilbe lead us again to Japan, who first distributed the blooming crops within the late 1800’s. They shared the white flowering japonica species.  China then launched the davidii species with pink blooms. Impressed by potential he noticed within the plant, George Arends started to cross the species from his nursery in north Germany. There he experimented with methods to additional dwarf the plant and add extra spiky blooms.  The astilbe was then grown primarily to be compelled into bloom indoors and as an inside plant. Arends began together with his hybridization efforts within the early 1900’s. Cultivars ‘Queen Alexander’ and the light-colored ‘Peach Blossom’ had been his first two distributed cultivars and are nonetheless discovered for... Read More

Because the outdated proverb says, “Take time to odor the roses.”  I at all times inform folks it’s the little issues in life that rely most. For me, many of those little issues could be discovered within the backyard. Watching the wind carry a leaf by means of the air, swaying backwards and forwards like an imposing dance till it gently falls to the comfortable earth under. Catching a glimpse of hard-working pollinators buzzing or flitting about from one flower to the subsequent. Perhaps it’s nothing greater than a easy five-toed impression within the soil, the backyard’s response to an unstated nighttime customer. And, after all, smelling the roses, some having scents so beautiful you’re immediately swept away to distant lands, although your toes are firmly planted the place you stand. And who couldn’t love a rose? They’re among the most stunning flowering vegetation you’ll be able to … Read More

Coastal California has a Mediterranean climate — mild and wet in winter, hot and dry in summer — and it pays for a gardener to work with what nature offers. Planting native plants and flowers cuts back dramatically on the amount of water your garden requires. That doesn’t mean irrigation isn’t required, however. I tend to offer a bit more water than the plants need to survive, but do my best to keep the water in balance with their needs. Garden Hose for Watering the Garden It is a really great idea to install a drip irrigation system, and I’ve written about it a number of times. But every time I try putting one into my garden, something disrupts the process. Once it got blocked, twice accidentally chopped (by me) as I dug up soil. And another time some animal chewed up the hose. So, I use the … Read More

When you think about it, seeds are pretty amazing. Inside a tiny shell, seeds hold the essence of life. Suspended until conditions are right for germination, seeds can renew a species ravaged by fire or flood.  Each winter, when I start my vegetable plants, I’m always astonished that a mere tablespoon of seeds will grow into a mass of vegetation which fills my garden and produces bushels of veggies. And one of the most amazing seeds I’ve grown is the sunflower. Seeds come in all shapes and sizes. From tiny celery seeds to the large pits and nuts of avocados and walnuts, it seems like the larger the seed, the taller the plant. Yet, in comparison with other species, sunflower seeds are quite small for a plant that can grow quite large.  Sunflowers from Seed So how tall can sunflowers grow? According to Guinness World records, the tallest sunflower … Read More

I don’t currently grow roses. I live in deer country, and I don’t have a tall fence because I love watching the deer wander through my yard (and of course, trimming my lawn on their way through).  I’ve learned, via trial and error, that our deer don’t eat zinnias, daisies, rudbeckia, and echinacea. Oddly, they leave hollyhocks alone, at least until they go to seed. Yuccas are beautiful (and deer-proof).  We’re gradually transitioning our lawn from regular turf to blue grama and buffalo grass, since deer don’t eat prairie grass. They can, however, nibble on any native forbs that pop up amidst the grass. So, as long as we have deer, roses are out of the question.  I admit it makes me a little sad, because I love roses and they do well in this high desert climate. My mother had beautiful roses, and I feel a little teary whenever... Read More

About two years ago, my partner and I decided that while we loved Western Washington, specifically our home in Seattle, the commute times, sheer volume of people, and increasing costs meant it was time to relocate. Since much of my family was there, it seemed like a no-brainer to move back to my hometown of Spokane, Washington on the eastern side of the state. But Pacific Northwest gardening isn’t the same across the board and I was in for a big surprise. Gardening in My Zone Now I hadn’t lived in Spokane for 32 years – thirty-two years of getting my garden groove on in a temperate climate. Thirty-two years of never having to pull bulbs before winter, of infrequent watering, and of absolutely adoring the vast selection of plants that can easily be grown in such a mild climate. Also, thirty-two years of living in a big city … Read More

When it comes to roses, many gardeners either love them or hate them. Prone to disease and covered with sharp, spiky thorns, I can definitely understand why some flower growers avoid this plant at all costs. Still, the plants produce a profusion of brightly colored and highly scented blooms.  Roses in the Garden Growing as a shrub or delicately climbing over arched trellises, established rose bushes are a sure thing of beauty. In my personal opinion, every garden should have at least one rose. While most rose bushes are grown for their ornamental value, many lose sight of the fact that roses are actually quite multifunctional. In my urban backyard, I have a very small planting of roses. Like so many others, I had initially purchased the plants as ornamentals. As a cut flower grower, I knew that the long stemmed roses would look beautiful in a vase. … Read More

Garden fails may be disappointing, or even embarrassing, but they are totally normal. Yes, you can learn a lot from books and classes, but you only really learn how to garden by trying it. Trying can inevitably mean failing. Even those of us gardening for years still make mistakes in the garden. Take heart from that fact and get back out there to try again.  Rose Garden Mistakes I make mistakes in the garden every year, including big ones and little ones. Roses, however, are always high on my lists of failures. The truth is that roses don’t have to be hard to grow. They have a difficult reputation, but once you learn what they need – through trial and error in my case – they’re reliable bloomers.  Here’s what I didn’t know about growing roses when I decided I would grow some just because I always wanted roses … Read More

I love all succulents. What’s not to love? They come in a range of unique colors, shapes, and sizes. Their fleshy leaves and stems are delightful and so different from other plants. They’re sturdy and tough. My absolute favorite is any cactus, and if I had to describe myself in a succulent, that would be it.  About Cactuses To choose cactus as my spirit succulent means feeling a sense of kinship with thousands of species. All cactuses evolved to grow in dry conditions, from the driest regions of the world to those areas prone to drought.  They come in a huge range of sizes and shapes and are all flowering plants. As a houseplant, a cactus is pretty easy to grow. It requires good sunlight and a little water, mostly in spring and summer. It’s tough not to succeed with a cactus in a container, but it is possible both... Read More