summer bloomers

Stylish Sedums and Succulents

Stylish Sedums and Succulents

Hardy Sedums come to us from across the globe and have adapted perfectly to almost all arid, and even higher elevation, locales.  Modern Succulents, of all kinds, have been bred into a massive array of...

Captivating Coneflowers

Captivating Coneflowers

Now that we are in the heat of the summer, perennials like Coneflowers are blooming and providing important benefits to our pollinators.  Personally, I have a number of these cultivars planted in my own landscape and truly enjoy their…

Crape Myrtles In Washington

Crape Myrtles In Washington

Speaking as a self-proclaimed “plantaholic” who likes just about all things with foliage, fronds, or needles, one plant I started to salivate over in the 1990’s was Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia sp.).  For us in northern latitudes, these mythical plants were uncommon and were perceived as…

Variety Is The Spice Of Life

Variety Is The Spice Of Life

It’s funny how the meaning of some words can change over time.  In a garden setting, having a “diverse” collection of plants is generally a good thing.  One could say that the gardener embraces “diversity”.  Likewise, if that same gardener “includes” many different genera in the landscape, you could state that the gardener embraces “inclusivity”.  Now, before you get your hackles up, I have no intention of…

These Late-Blooming Shrubs Are Worth Waiting For!

These Late-Blooming Shrubs Are Worth Waiting For!

August can feel like a long time to wait for a some plants to finally put forth flowers, all while the rest of the garden might be blooming its head off.  On the other hand, by the time we get to August, our gardens can conceivably start to look kind of tired and bedraggled, and having a few plants that are just coming into bloom can be a very good thing.  I have often said that in the Pacific Northwest you can find a plant blooming every day of the year…