This time of year presents the perfect opportunity to discuss plant hardiness and perceptions on our climate’s growing zone. Following the cold spell last week, it may be time to…
Find Your Balance Between Neat and Natural
Overcome the “Dead of Winter” in your Garden
We're Over The Hump
50 Shade Of Yellow - The Sequel
It should be no surprise that in the last few weeks of the year I would take one more opportunity to promote the allure and value of golden foliaged plants. As we move into the dark months of the year, these beacons of light become absolutely essential in keeping our interest in the garden. This hit home for me the other day as I…
50 Shades Of Brown
First off, my apologizes to writer E.L. James for riffing on his popular novel title “50 Shades of Grey”. I rather doubt that my comments here will ever make it to the big screen. Just the same, the month of December in my garden is a pretty steamy mix of tan, brown, or black (and all the shades in between) emanating from foliage, seed heads, and bark, and frankly, I find it pretty stimulating…
On Being "Thank-full"
Daylight Saving Time — Can we please just make up our minds?
It was 20 years ago in the spring that I wrote my first diatribe about the ill effects of daylight-saving time and how, while I love being on daylight-saving time, it is the change that gives me so much grief. The same can be said for the fall when we go back onto standard time. I don’t know how you feel about all of this, but I still feel the same as I did 20 years ago and for me the…
Yes, We Do Need To Reduce Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
In a recent letter to the editor in the Everett Herald, the author claims that because plants need carbon to function it is insane to be attempting to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. They detail the delicate balance between plants that take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen and animals that take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. So far, so good. But then they say that reducing carbon will reduce the plant population since photosynthesis will be restricted - this is where I have to disagree…
With April Fool’s Day this week, I find myself reminiscing about a fabled article from the legend himself, my esteemed predecessor at Sunnyside Nursery, Mr. Steve Smith. The Whistling Gardener pontificated about the mythical “wonder shrub” for April Fool’s Day many moons ago - luckily…