Share my passion for all things gardening!
I recently received an excellent question from a reader asking about the hardiest roses one can grow, particularly in regions with very cold winters. Here’s Marcie’s question: “In a recent posting, you mentioned roses that grow well in cold climates with something about the kind of root system they have. I live in Eastern Iowa and our winters can be […]
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To borrow a line from Joan Rivers, can we talk? I’m sure many of you are thinking about starting your tomato plants in the next week or so. Let’s see a show of hands. Yup, a lot of you are getting ready to plunk tomato seeds into flats or pots. Well, if you live in a colder climate (i.e., zone […]
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The 2019 Seed Summit was a roaring success. What, you never heard about it? That’s because it’s an annual event I hold with my best gardening buddies each January. We gave it a name a few years ago. And we also like to joke that the flags were raised and delegates were in attendance! (except we were missing 3 delegates […]
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Cool Plants for Cold Climates: A Garden Designer’s Perspective by Brenda C. Adams (Snowy Owl Books/University of Alaska Press, 239 pp., $35) I have found a book geared for those living in a colder climate. Especially those who have a tendency to let their heart govern their plant purchases! I’m sure you know what I mean because I often suffer from the same […]
Read moreEach year, the Spokane County Master Gardeners host this special series of classes on a wealth of useful gardening topics. I wanted to make sure you are aware of this 12-week course because it’s a wonderful opportunity for those with all levels of gardening skills, even beginners! The classes are scheduled for Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon, starting on January […]
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One of the questions I’m frequently asked is about the camera I use to take my garden and bird photographs. I actually use two main cameras to get the job done. They’re probably a lot less fancy than you’re envisioning! For regular garden shots and especially for zoom shots of birds and critters, I use a Canon Powershot SX50HS. This […]
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This morning, I posted this photo on my Facebook page and Instagram feeds. I wanted to post it here in case you don’t follow those accounts. As you can see, my insect hotel has a bit of snow on it. I hope my little solitary bee buddies are tucked in for the winter. I built this insect hotel last April, […]
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Every so often, I mention the hoop house in my garden. It seems like the least I could do is give you an update on the vegetables growing inside it. I’m growing ‘Vates’ kale, 3 kinds of lettuce, spinach and — amazingly enough — celery. More on that in a moment. The origin of our hoop house (For a quick […]
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I’m often asked how to keep deer out of the garden. And folks specifically want to know how my husband Bill and I keep them out of OUR garden. Our deer fencing is usually difficult to see under normal conditions. But it sure is obvious when it’s covered in hoarfrost! When I looked out my front window yesterday, I realized […]
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Have you heard the term “crop rotation” before? Chances are, you’ve discounted the notion of it because you’re not a farmer. Well, crop rotation applies to humble vegetable gardeners like you and me because it is an easy way to ensure the health and productivity of our gardens. If that caught your attention, you’ll be happy to hear that I’ve […]
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