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 »
The Season Starts with Memory I grew up in Skagit Valley, home to one of the most well-known tulip festivals in the country. The festival has grown significantly over the years, drawing such large crowds that traffic has become a major challenge. But once you get there, the miles of gorgeous blooms nestled in the
Fall Bulbs: What Nobody Understands Until You Explain It 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 »
Context and Curiosity I came to buckwheat looking for a helper, not a harvest. The back edge of my yard, where the property meets the easement, has been a quiet mess for years. Between the trees and the buried utility lines, previous owners had left it to its own devices. Burdock, in particular, had taken
Buckwheat as Living Mulch Read More »
coral sunset peony Common Name: Coral Sunset Peony Botanical Name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Coral Sunset’ Hardiness Zones: 3-8 Height: 2-3 feet Spread: 2-3 feet Foliage: Upright, neat, deep green; holds shape through season Bloom: Early spring; semi-double; coral pink fading through apricot and blush to ivory Growth Rate: Slow to establish; long-lived once settled Light: Full
Plant Profile: Coral Sunset Peony Read More »
Bare Soil Is an Invitation Bare soil is an invitation. That was one of the first things I learned when I began gardening. If you do not decide what grows there, something else will, usually something stubborn and opportunistic. In my case lately, that has been burdock. When I moved back to this area after
Bare Soil Is an Invitation Read More »
Opening Observation Astilbe has followed me for years, in catalogs, garden centers, other people’s yards, but somehow never home with me. I have put them in my online cart more times than I can count, only to trim them out at the last minute. Not yet, I would think. No good place for them. This
Plant Profile: Astilbe Read More »
A bright start to spring A bright, cheerful daffodil is a great way to see the garden start to come alive. A Golden Harvest comes early and lights up the garden when everything else is still half asleep. It’s one of my husband’s favorites. Daffodils are one of his favorites because they’re unapologetically cheerful, bright,
Plant Profile: Trumpet Daffodil ‘Golden Harvest’ Read More »