A quick trip to Seattle’s Woodland Park Rose garden showed that the June gloom was not beneficial to organically grown roses in 2012. There were fungal diseases and sparse foliage on display. Valiantly the roses showed their colors, still a delight even in their struggle against time and weather. One exception to the insufficient shrubs was the new introduction Sunshine Daydream. Leaves glossy, green, full, … Continue reading Woodland Park Rose Garden
Deer inhabit almost every part of the American continent. They are adaptable and may change their feeding preferences over time. During times of hunger, deer will eat almost any plant to survive. Following is a list of plants that are usually deer, and rabbit, resistant. Annuals Alyssum Alyssum Calendula Calendula offininalis Dusty Miller Senecio cineriaria Floss Flower Ageratum houstonianum Lemon grass Cymbopogon citratus Licorice Plant … Continue reading Deer Resistant 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
Originally posted on Words and Herbs:
The flowers of Pulmonaria come in various shades of pink, purple, and blue. There are also white ones (e.g. Sissinghurst White), and a true blue one (Blue Ensign) which has plain green, not variegated, leaves. I have even seen a scarlet red one. They self-seed and hybridise, so the white and blue may eventually change colour. But I don’t… Continue reading Pulmonaria Honey
In this book I finally found an answer to my question ‘Why do some trees bloom so early?’ Early spring is a hard time, when the wind and the snow keep trying to disturb those beautiful spring flowers. In When Perennials Bloom—An Almanac For Planning and Planting (2008), Tomasz Anisko states “Blooming may be timed so the flowers are more visible to the pollinators. In forests, … Continue reading Book Review—When Perennials Bloom by Tomasz Anisko
Rainyleaf 