Autumn Chaos
Great Outdoors
Native Gardens
I had a great time at the Arena Stage last weekend seeing Native Gardens, their current play. It was the perfect event to attend with some designer friends. I spent the whole play thinking of simple compromises for the two couples, and I also really wanted to see the left garden cleaned up! They never did sweep up the debris, but there was a happy ending nonetheless.
It’s Fall Planting Time!
It’s fall planting time, and the garden centers are bursting with wonderful trees and shrubs. On top of that, I just received my Colorblends catalog in the mail yesterday. Colorblends is my favorite place to order bulbs, and I’ve had great success with all of the items I’ve ordered from them. They will ship to you at the appropriate planting time, so you don’t have to worry about putting them in the ground too early. Important note- they do sell out of the most popular items, so if you see something you really love, don’t hesitate to get your order in!
Finally Made it to Bloedel Reserve
The approach to the Bloedel house.
Double-file spores marching along the fronds.
Even the bridge details are considered.
I finally made it to the Bloedel Reserve. We had a wonderful time walking the paths and enjoying the quiet. There are no signs or plant labels to read- one simply wanders through. It was a truly relaxing experience and I would gladly go back. Anyone who lives locally can buy an annual pass and walk the grounds as a regular activity. Delightful.
My Mother’s Garden
David Austin roses grow incredibly well in the Pacific Northwest. My mother has a garden full of them. I’m growing my first in Virginia, ‘Gertrude Jekyll’, but I don’t think it will ever reach this level of splendor!
Cicada Moment
I took advantage of the cool weekend weather to do some weeding and clean-up. Of course, I had to share the garden with these creatures, who apparently have hatched off-cycle due to the hot weather we’ve had. This is the first time I’ve seen live cicadas as opposed to their empty shells scattered around. They’d be almost cute if it weren’t for those red eyes!
American Wisteria is the Best Choice
We planted this Wisteria frutescens at the corner of my neighbor’s porch about 5 years ago. It is such a gorgeous and reliable bloomer. If the idea of Wisteria makes you nervous, just be sure to select the American variety. It doesn’t get nearly as big as the Asian varieties and won’t end up pulling down your structures over time.
New Yellow Rhodies in My Garden
I’m so excited that these new yellow rhododendrons are opening up in my garden. They’re supposed to be a “compact” variety, which I hope means I won’t need to prune them back much. I don’t normally plant rhodies or azaleas in small gardens because I don’t really like their form over time, but the pale yellow of these felt like daffodils so I thought I’d give them a try. So far, so good, but if they get big and leggy, they’re moving to the back garden!
I Love Rain?
Rain, rain, you’re messing up the work site in my front lawn! But we need you, the plants are happy, and it’s a great time to get beautiful photos. This one is from my neighbor’s front yard, which is always pretty as a picture.
I Heart Plastic Adirondack Chairs
You know all those charming photos of colorful outdoor furniture you see in garden magazines? The French bistro chairs or the hand-crafted, marine-grade-painted wood benches from New England? Well, these aren’t them. These are the molded plastic Adirondack chairs you see in the grocery and hardware stores, and you know what? I love them! They are ridiculously comfortable, made in the U.S.A., and the epitome of “cheap and cheerful.” Don’t knock ’em till you’ve tried ’em. And now I must create a new Tag for “plastic furniture.”