Today I had the privilege of visiting the beautiful VanDusen Botanical gardens in Vancouver, British Columbia. It’s only a few hours north of my home in Washington and what a great collection of plants! Here are a few preliminary pictures from this wonderful garden, including our botanical hero, Carl Linneaus, Calamagrostis and flying squid, and something I’ve wanted to see for a long time, the … Continue reading VanDusen Botanical Gardens
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, ten lords a leaping. Leaping plants remind me of tall grasses, especially those that shoot up between spring and summer. Grasses are so versatile. They provide contrast in both color and form in a garden. They provide movement when a breeze passes through. They have the most awesome names! (Calamagrostis? Helictotrichon? Schizachyrium??? … Continue reading The Tenth Day of Christmas—Leaping Plants
On the Ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, nine ladies dancing. Just as people can dance and move, certain plants possess rhythm and music in their movements. When a breeze sweeps by they may swing and sway. Some have a pattern and repetition just like the steps in a dance. Other plants seem to be decked out in costume, lighting … Continue reading The Ninth Day of Christmas—Dancing Plants
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Five Golden Plants. Dazzling, bright, sunshine, contrast, color, yellow, gold….Here are a few (I couldn’t pick just five!) that will make your garden worth it’s weight in gold. Continue reading The Fifth Day of Christmas—Five Golden Plants
I planted these containers for a client last fall. The topiary arborvitae was in place, but she wanted color for the winter (we are so lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest where we can have color in the winter!). I added heuchera, a variegated carex sedge, a small heather, variegated lonicera (bush honeysuckle), pansies and chrysanthemums. The mums didn’t make it beyond a few … Continue reading Four Season Containers
Rainyleaf 