Building the Northwest Flower and Garden Show
The Environmental Horticulture Program at LWTech has been involved in helping build the gardens at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show for years now. It’s a mutually beneficial affair. The students get to rub shoulders with designers, learning about their design and helping in the creation, and the garden designers receive assistance during the 3 1/2 day build with the students and alumni putting in … Continue reading Building the Northwest Flower and Garden Show
Parrotia Blooming
Like any good member of the Hamamelidaceae family, the Parrotia tree has a lovely winter bloom. It’s so small and often high up in the tree that it often goes unnoticed. Thanks to a keen student observation, we were able to enjoy this surprising little dash of color in our school arboretum this month. Parrotia persica is an all-around good tree. Glossy green summer leaves, … Continue reading Parrotia Blooming
A Promising Winter
January begins with fireworks and resolutions. The first day is bright and promising, but by mid-month we grow tired of the gloom, the ice and those dark after-dinner dog walks. Have you ever tried to pick up poop in the pitch black nothingness? It’s tricky. But a walk through the school arboretum reveals wonderful textures and surprising colors. It reminds me that the plants keep … Continue reading A Promising Winter
Germinating Lewisia
This is a difficult plant to grow. It tempts you with its beauty, it tricks you with its size. And then when you plant a seed….nothing may happen. And then nothing may continue to happen. And then one tiny little plant will emerge. Then nothing. Then 5 or six plants will show up. And then nothing. A few months later you might get one or … Continue reading Germinating Lewisia
New Zealand Seeds
Growing plants from seed can be fun but also frustrating. The fun part is when you have a tiny handful of specks and they turn into 63 plants–it’s botanical magic. The frustrating part is when you have a small collection from half way around the world and they just dissolve into a gooey mess, with not even a hint of a cotyledon. I’ve experienced both while trying to … Continue reading New Zealand Seeds
Rainyleaf 