This Sketch of the Week shows the design for a mounded planting bed that surrounds a patio. The patio was already in place, but the owners wanted a little bit of privacy from the street, and to shrink their lawn area. We'll check in on how this garden is doing further into Spring. -Erin ... Read More
Sublime Garden Design at the NW Garden Show- People’s Choice Award
Like many of my fellow Seattleites and garden nuts, I spent a couple days at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show last week. During this time, I tried to pick up on the garden zeitgeist for the year, but this year it was difficult to detect. Unlike last year, when vertical gardens were all the rage, this year there were hardly any to be seen. There was still an emphasis on edible gardens, as evident in the seminar titles. And a plethora of Hellebores. But overall, this year felt like it was struggling to find definition, and find a cause. Nevertheless, there were some impressive gardens. I always like to predict who the People's Choice Award will go to, and this year it was a tie (in my ... Read More
Winter Hardscape Installation, Ballard
Last week we installed the hardscape for a client in Ballard which included a stone patio and pea gravel chiminea area. We watched the weather reports and chose a couple days without rain, though the temperature was still in the 40's. (Experiencing the weather during this great first week of February makes it seem like we should have waited, but we didn't and it was fine!) The previous night it had gotten below freezing, so there was frost everywhere, including the sod we were supposed to take out. The guy who rented us the sod remover was skeptical that it would function properly, but it wasn't a problem at all, because with just one night of freezing temperatures, only the first inch of ... Read More
Striking Winter Plant Picks
These three plants have caught my attention this winter because they are each striking in their own way. I like to keep track of the way a plant looks all year round so that I can recommend a variety of winter interest plants for my clients' gardens. The Yellowtwig Dogwood is a well known choice for winter gardens, along with its similar variety, the Redtwig Dogwood. This is a plant that will lose its leaves around November, and be completely bare by now, in mid January. A great plant pick to go against the backdrop of a solid evergreen, or to poke out amongst shorter shrubs. This grass, Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' is often chosen for its architectural qualities- tall, ... Read More
Installing Hardscape & Planting in Winter in Seattle
We've had such a mild winter this year (2011-2012) in Seattle, so its tempting to get out in the garden and start planting and installing hardscape. Is it a good idea? It all depends on if there are freezing temperatures or snow in the forecast, so at best you can play it by ear. Here are some things to consider and steps to take: Check your soil's moisture level- dig down a bit, grab a handful, squeeze it in a ball- if it stays together when you toss it in the air, its probably too saturated to start planting etc in it. If it falls apart easily, then it's ready for planting and hardscaping. If you've had success with the above, then its also likely that your ground is not frozen, ... Read More
