We saw this amazing tree today at the Washington Park Arboretum. I stopped by with one thought in mind—find Davidia involucrata, the Dove Tree or the Handkerchief Tree. I knew that it flowered in the spring or summer and wanted to witness this wondrous sight. We entered the visitors center and straight away asked where to find the Dove tree. The receptionist disappeared into a back room … Continue reading Davidia involucrata—The Dove Tree
We live with them, right next to them, yet most of us know so little of them. Side by side, leaning on a tree trunk, pulling off leaves, laying on the grass—-they’re our neighbors. We live on the same planet, soak in the same sunlight, yet most people don’t know how to grow them. “I need something for a dark shady covered porch with no … Continue reading Plants—Part of our Planet
Impatiens niamniamensis ‘Congo Cockatoo’ is also referred to as the parrot plant and is a tropical plant that can be grown as an annual here in the Pacific Northwest, or indoors as a houseplant. I have mine out for the summer, and eagerly look forward to having it share our home during the cold months. The flowers appear as little hooked beaks of fire red … Continue reading Congo Cockatoo Impatiens
This pretty herbaceous perennial is floppy in my garden. The pink tubular flowers are trying their best to show off from their horizontal view and the bees don’t seem to mind in the least. Flower colors of penstemon come in white, yellow, pink and purple. Height is between 8-24 inches and width 10-12 inches. Bloom time is now (Spring and summer). Grow “Beard Tongue” … Continue reading Pink Penstemon
The following rose care calendar is from the book Growing Roses Organically by Barbara Wilde. These suggestions are for zones 7 and 8. June: Monitor water needs, especially of plants in bloom, gather roses for drying and culinary use, deadhead repeat bloomers promptly, eliminate new rootstock suckers, prune once-flowering roses immediately after bloom, treat for insects and diseases if necessary, train new shoots on climbers … Continue reading Roses—What to do in Summer
Rainyleaf 