Share my passion for all things gardening!
As gardeners, we aim to thwart insects and plant diseases, right? Well, one of the best tools we have is vegetable crop rotation. I know, crop rotation sounds like something farmers do, not small-time gardeners. And yet it makes a huge difference no matter what size your garden is. Why is it so important? Certain insects and diseases are common […]
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In 2014, my friend Pat Munts and I wrote the book, “Northwest Gardener’s Handbook,” for Cool Springs Press (more details on the “Books” page of this website). My task was to write the nearly 300 plant descriptions. Of all the annuals, the plant that just knocked me off my feet was Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus). What? You’ve never heard of […]
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I think (hope?) you’ll agree this is a pretty amazing bird photograph. It was a case of being in the right place at the right time. I was walking through a park one summer’s day. As I passed a large flower bed filled with daylilies, I heard a couple of rustling sounds. I suspected it was a bird but had […]
Read moreAs you have no doubt heard me say, I love growing veggies through the winter months in our cold climate! I live in Spokane, Wash., in USDA zone 4b/5. It gets very cold here each winter. I found I was really missing having fresh salad greens so I began researching and experimenting with doing this. And, of course, as a gardener, […]
Read more2015 was a great year for growing peppers! Well, I hope this won’t make you sad, but my column in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review is my last one for the 2015 garden season. But not to worry! I’ll be blogging away and posting to my Facebook page all fall and winter long! And you’ll start seeing my columns again […]
Read moreHere’s a link to my column in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: For homegrown greens in winter, think micro. I’ve been very excited to share this with you because it’s all about growing microgreens. What, you’ve never heard of them before? Well, neither had I until last summer while interviewing Peaceful Valley gardener Greg King about a different topic. I […]
Read moreHere’s a link to my column in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: Film puts power of soil on display. This one is about an amazing film called “Symphony of the Soil.” It is about the “skin of the Earth” (our soil), how it evolves, the different types, and the problems that are occurring from gardening and farming practices of tilling, […]
Read moreThe summer hoop house Here is a link to my column in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: Hoop house gets year-round use. You’ll recall that my husband, Bill, and I built a small hoop house in our garden last fall for the purpose of growing some salad greens through the fall and winter months. Well, I decided that it should […]
Read moreHere is a link to my column in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: Saving seeds an easy way to save money. This one is about a topic I’m very excited about: saving seeds. It’s a valuable skills all gardeners should have although I’m embarrassed to say it’s not something I’ve had much experience in. Fortunately, I’ve gone to a class […]
Read moreDrought-tolerant Helenium (a.k.a. Sneezeweed) Here is a link to my column in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: Low-water wonders. The topic is drought-tolerant plants, which I felt would be of interest to anyone who has been dealing with the heat and drought of this summer. It’s always a good idea to use drought-tolerant plants in our landscapes in order to […]
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