Learning in Bloom gathers the active side of the garden — where curiosity meets practice. This is the working record of what I’m growing, testing, and discovering right now, from individual plant notes to small-scale experiments and ongoing lessons that shape how I understand the garden season by season.
By January, the garden looks like a pause: bare stems, frozen soil, and the one patch of green that refuses to quit. That is where the work really shows. The evergreens keep their shape, softening corners and holding the structure together until the growing starts again. These plants are the quiet scaffolding of the garden, […]
Evergreens That Work for You Read More »
inkberry holly Common Name: Inkberry Holly (Shamrock) Botanical Name: Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’ Hardiness Zones: 4-9 Height: 3-4 feet Spread: 3-4 feet Foliage: Dense, glossy, small smooth-edged leaves; stays green year-round Bloom: Tiny white flowers spring; black berries persist into winter Growth Rate: Slow to moderate Light: Part shade preferred; tolerates morning sun Soil: Acidic, evenly
Plant Profile: Inkberry Read More »
What Sparked My Curiosity I found myself standing in the garden in late November with a bag of decade-old seeds, wondering how anything ever managed to grow before humans got involved. If seeds require this much planning and precision — cold stratification, careful spacing, labeled rows — how did entire ecosystems survive without us? The
Toss First, Ask Later — The Experiment Read More »
heuchera Common Name: Heuchera (Coral Bells) Botanical Name: Heuchera spp. Hardiness Zones: 4-9 Height: 8-18 inches Spread: 8-18 inches Foliage: Mounding; copper, caramel, plum, silver, chartreuse depending on variety Bloom: Tiny bell-shaped flowers on slender stems, late spring to early summer Growth Rate: Moderate Light: Partial shade; morning sun preferred Soil: Well-drained, organic, slightly acidic
Plant Profile: Heuchera Read More »
Jump to the Tools Mentioned The Small Things That Keep the Garden Running Gardens may be shaped by the big decisions, but the daily work depends on the small, ordinary tools that rarely get credit for how much they actually do. They are the things I reach for without thinking, the ones that end up
Essential Garden Tools: The Small Things That Keep My Garden Running Read More »
What Sparked My Curiosity The idea began, as most of the good ones do, with a simple conversation. My sister was visiting a tulip farm when the woman there mentioned that she plants her bulbs inside mesh onion bags to keep the squirrels out. It made perfect sense to me. The mesh is strong enough
Mesh Onion Bags: One Small, Clever Structure Read More »
Opening Observation Every spring, when the Kingsblood tulips open, I think back to high school lawns in Skagit Valley, when students would use spent tulip petals to make campaign art on the grass. Reds for the letters, yellows and whites for the outlines. It was temporary and messy and absolutely beautiful. Those petals came from
Plant Profile: Mayflowering Tulip ‘Kingsblood’ Read More »
Opening Observation Although I grew up where tulip fields were part of the spring landscape, someday I’d still like to see the ones in Holland — those miles of color that seem to blend straight into the sky. Until then, I make do with my own small tour at home. The Perennial Delight mix feels
Plant Profile: Perennial Delight Tulip Mix Read More »
Opening Observation I grew up in Washington’s Skagit Valley, where tulips weren’t a novelty; they were a season. Spring meant rows upon rows of color stretching to the horizon, fields so bright they looked painted against the gray. I never dug bulbs myself, though one of my best friends did. She was known for how
Plant Profile: Fosteriana Tulip ‘Flaming Purissima’ Read More »
buckwheat Common Name: Buckwheat Botanical Name: Fagopyrum esculentum Hardiness Zones: Annual — all zones Height: 2-4 feet Spread: Varies by seeding density Foliage: Heart-shaped green leaves, red stems Bloom: Small white flowers, mid to late summer Growth Rate: Very fast — germinates in 3-5 days Light: Full sun to partial shade Soil: Poor to average,
Plant Profile: Buckwheat Read More »
crimson clover Common Name: Crimson Clover Botanical Name: Trifolium incarnatum Hardiness Zones: Annual — all zones Height: 12-36 inches Spread: Spreading mound Foliage: Bright trifoliate leaves, soft texture Bloom: Deep crimson flower spikes, spring through summer Growth Rate: Fast Light: Full sun Soil: Poor to average, well-drained; fixes nitrogen Water: Low to moderate Opening Observation
Plant Profile: Crimson Clover Read More »
Opening Observation A field of memory, right in the yard. Some flowers bloom from nostalgia. For me, tulips are one of those. I grew up in Skagit Valley, Washington, where tulips weren’t just a springtime decoration, they were a cultural event. The Tulip Festival marked the season as clearly as the scent of fresh soil.
Plant Profile: Darwin Hybrid Impression Tulip Mix Read More »