Skinny Shrubs for Tight Spaces

When I realized that my post Skinny Conifers for Tight Spaces has been read over 40,000 times, it inspired me to create a  free booklet for my newsletter subscribers; Top 10 Skinny Trees for Tight Spaces, which expanded that selection to include deciduous and flowering trees as well as conifers. That too has been well…

Read More

Fearless Design- secrets to using bold color in the garden

The Northwest Flower and Garden Show is always a source of inspiration and this year was no exception. One display garden that really caught my eye was called Contained Excitement, designed by my good friend and former colleague Lori DeLeuw (Designs by deLeuw) and David Rogers (Issaquah Landscaping). This was their design statement: Here’s the…

Read More

4 NEW Easy Care Shrubs to Look For

I'm a lazy gardener. I want to enjoy my garden – not be a slave to it, which makes me really picky when it comes to selecting plants. You'd think by now that I'd have enough plants wouldn't you? Funny how we always find an excuse to go shopping come spring. Something has always been…

Read More

The Less is More Garden – Book Review & Giveaway.

I recently asked a group of gardening friends, if they could change anything about their garden, what would it be. The first – of many comments read " Make it bigger, much bigger! So many plants, so little space…" A common lament,  yet having a modest sized garden does not mean compromising on function, style,…

Read More

Lessons from Chanticleer – when a Path becomes an Experience

Have you ever visited a garden that literally took your breath away? The sun was barely cresting the horizon when I drove into Chanticleer Garden, affording the merest glimpse of what I would ultimately see. Although I had enjoyed slide presentations, photographic blog posts, and books on this unique place I still gasped a little…

Read More