One of our prettiest native shrubs, the red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), begins blooming in late February early March just in time for migrating rufus hummingbirds on their way north. Garden cultivars include ‘King Edward VII’ and ‘White Icicle’.
Read more →Our native Indian plum, Oemleria cerasiformis, is in full bloom in late February. A deciduous shrub in the rose family, it’s the first plant to leaf out in Pacific Northwest forests, usually in mid February, with the first flowers appearing soon after.
Read more →Spring is springing in the Pacific Northwest. One of the earliest signs of spring is the flowering of the native hazelnut trees, Corylus cornuta. It’s long golden catkins dangle from slender branches and catch the sunlight, lighting up the forest where it grows. Tiny female flowers are housed separately from the long, supple catkin filled with male flowers. The female flowers will mature into
Read more →On a tour of secret gardens in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Kathryn and I peek behind adobe walls for tantalizing glimpses of hidden treasures. Organized by the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens, the tour provides access to several small urban gardens not normally visible to passersby. A beautifully sophisticated yet rustic fence made of reddish twigs defines the boundary between the garden and the natural environment
Read more →Santa Barbara, California – a gardener’s paradise. While it may have heavy, clay soil, and little water, it has perfect temperatures for growing plants from all the “Mediterranean” climates of the world. The flora of South Africa, the west coasts of North and South America, Australia, and, of course, the Med itself make appearances here. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden displays the amazing diversity of
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