Admitting you’re wrong is difficult. For exhibit A see the recent discussion between me and Jeff over alternative nursery containers. We all like to think we’re open-minded but when push comes to shove we all end up like the Fonz on Happy Days when it comes time to say ‘I was wrrrrr… I was wrrrr…. … Continue reading How open-minded are you? No, really.
One of the things this blog can do is alert gardeners to the presence of new problems. This is one such instance. WSU produces Pest Alerts, and recently the Red lily leaf beetle has been found in the Seattle area. The state is monitoring the spread of this nonnative pest, so those of you living … Continue reading Pest Alert: Red Lily Leaf Beetle
Planting annual displays is not (at all) my favorite gardening pastime, but we do some "color" around our events building and along the garden entrance to make the area pop during our busy season. Those of you who install institutional or commercial color beds are familiar with the process – yank out last season’s annuals/tulips/whatever, … Continue reading Are you a “before” or an “after” mulcher?
North Creek Nurseries in Landenberg, PA is a marvelous, native-centric (but not exclusively native) nursery. North Creek is a wholesale propagator (sells liners to other nurseries for finishing). But if you can meet the $300 minimum, they’d probably be happy to fill your order. They have, among the usual liner sizes, a very neat product … Continue reading A great way to plant perennials “en masse”
When my day/week/month is going to heck in a handbasket, when faced with yet another impending-doom deadline, when the pile of folders on my desk grows so tall I can barely see over it… when the going gets tough, a little bit of cute can go a loooong way. So here ’tis: Thalictrum thalictroides ‘Pink … Continue reading Cute plant alert!
I like to say that my taste in music is eclectic, but it’s not really true. I like music that is known as classic rock (60s – 80s rock once known as pop) and I like music known as "alternative" (really a meaningless term — but I don’t invent the labels). The one band that … Continue reading Why I Don’t Worry Too Much about Trees Dying after Late Frosts
I had to laugh at Bert’s post about how warm it is in Michigan. Two days ago I drove to Vancouver BC from Seattle through a snow storm. Sigh. I’m already wishing I was back in Palm Desert…so today I’ll introduce you to The Living Desert, one of my favorite plant places to visit. It’s … Continue reading The Living Desert
I’m on vacation this week in Palm Desert, California – part of an annual ritual that I’ve enjoyed for about 30 years. Nearly the first thing I do while I’m down here is get away from the golf courses and shopping malls into the high desert mountains. Yesterday my daughter and I hiked Horsethief Creek … Continue reading Dry doesn’t have to mean dull!
One of the underlying tenets of ecology is the principle of competitive exclusion. This principle states that when two species compete for the same vital resource, the better adapted species will ultimately displace its competitor. Simply put, it’s survival of the fittest. More recently, some ecologists have suggested that nature’s not quite so brutal – … Continue reading Plants aren’t so cooperative after all
After several incredibly informative posts from Jeff, Bert, and Linda, I’m going to give you a break as I veer off into Useless-land. I’ve written posts previously regarding how important Valentine’s Day is for floriculture, most obviously the cut flower growers and florists. In past posts, I’ve suggested alternatives to the boring/overpriced/under-fragranced/outsourced bouquet of red … Continue reading [Return of] National Forced Affection Day