Book Review—Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway
I first heard about this book when a friend told me I had to read Gaia’s garden! She said the garden layout and design described were unlike anything she had ever heard of before, and she loved it! After several other endorsements from friends, I bought a copy and have thoroughly enjoyed it. This book shows us how to take all those fragmented parts of … Continue reading Book Review—Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway
Little Known Edible and Useful Plants for the Northwest
This week I attended the Focus on Farming Conference in Snohomish County as a volunteer with the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association. I was lucky enough to hear a talk by Dave Boehnlein of Terra Phoenix Design. His concept of permaculture was easy to understand. To create systems and landscapes that provide things other than aesthetics. He suggested some new plants for this permaculture approach. … Continue reading Little Known Edible and Useful Plants for the Northwest
Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan Sugi’
If you saw this scrawny little Japanese Cedar at the nursery, you probably wouldn’t look again. It’s top-heavy, oddly shaped and strange. Not the perfectly symmetrical conifer that most people are looking for. But if you waited a few years you would be in for a real treat, for this ugly duckling will transform into a swan! A graceful and full Japanese Cedar with a … Continue reading Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan Sugi’
Big Leaf Maple
The Big leaf Maple of the Pacific Northwest has an impressive leaf size. I always notice them in the fall when they are strewn on the ground after a storm. They are big! Big enough to provide layers of mulch for the year and subsequently provide big headaches to the person holding the rake. Too bad they don’t fall in the summer, we could use … Continue reading Big Leaf Maple
The Sourwood Tree
There are more than Maples out there. More than Magnolias and Dogwood trees. Believe it or not, more than Flowering Cherries! Most people go tree shopping and they are headed to find one of these four common trees in the Pacific Northwest. Every once in a while they search out something special from their past. They say things like ‘when I was young we had … Continue reading The Sourwood Tree
Rainyleaf 