Top Perennials for Summer Pots

When I design container gardens nothing is safe! I explore everything from dwarf trees and slow growing shrubs to groundcovers, annuals and even houseplants (although I wait until night temperatures are stable at 55' or above for those). I also include a lot of perennials in my designs; both evergreen and herbaceous types as they…

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Succulent Safari

  From Seattle to San Diego; three hours and a world of plants away. My husband Andy and I were working in southern California last week, basking in the warm sunshine. Whenever time allowed I would scurry off with my camera to take photos of the incredible landscapes that relied heavily on drought tolerant succulents. Everywhere I…

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Deer Resistant, Easy Care Annuals

    You know the scenario; there's a space in the border. Which of course being a conscientious gardener means you have a duty to fill it. Such a dilemma typically results in hastily scribbled notes, a few iPhone snapshots for reference and hours of pondering. Your favorite gardening books, magazines and blogs all offer…

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New Easy Care Shrubs for 2015

Gardening in deer-prone country is so frustrating. As a designer I envision grand plant and color combinations in my mind – only to struggle to then find deer resistant plants that fulfill those criteria of shape, color and form. As a result I feel as though I'm working with a very limited plant palette at…

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Container Creations – inspiration for Spring!

The nurseries are filling with the colors and scents of spring, the birds are singing and I find every excuse to be outside working in my garden rather than sitting at a computer. It's a time of anticipation – what 2015 new releases will growers ask me to trial this season? What color combinations shall…

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