Desert Arboretum
Visiting my family this week in St. George, Utah has been a lot of fun. The landscape is one hundred eighty degrees different than the Washington view. Here it’s red and dust, there it’s green and moist. Here it’s sparse and prickly, there it’s lush and mossy. The hot sun blazes too brightly in Southern Utah and in the Pacific Northwest it’s a soft warm … Continue reading Desert Arboretum
Akebia Vine
I’ve never met an Akebia I’ve liked. When I see them they aren’t very friendly. Twisting away, with a careless attitude. Floppy, struggling with health, spotty. Until this April when I saw the soft and secret flowers hiding under the five leaves. They were in shades of violet and white butter cream. Bursting open towards the spring sunshine. A lovely surprise. I was also … Continue reading Akebia Vine
Chihuly Garden and Glass
The Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit in Seattle is beautiful and rare. The colors, the delicate lines and the immense size of some sculptures captivated me from the beginning. Dale Chihuly is a Northwest native and has created pieces of art on display worldwide. I especially liked the outdoor garden, with the complementary plantings and design. It showcased creative pairings of sculptures and plants. Who … Continue reading Chihuly Garden and Glass
Rosemary
Rosemary is blooming true blue right now. Many flowers are described as blue, when they are actually purple, like the rose “Blue” Girl! There are a handful of beautiful blue blooms…meconopsis, delphinium and ceanothus…these have colors to match the sky on a clear summer day. But Rosemary is about the sea. The name is latin for ‘dew from the sea’ and brings to mind the … Continue reading Rosemary
Choisya
Choisya ternata, an evergreen shrub with fragrant spring flowers, what’s not to like? Actually, the foliage has a pungent odor, which I find invigorating, but others are turned off by it. I knew someone who decided to buy this plant, but after purchasing it and putting it in their car, the scent was so unappealing to them in the enclosed space that they promptly returned … Continue reading Choisya
Rainyleaf 