Apple harvest time starts early in the desert Southwest.  In my low desert garden, it arrives precisely in the first half of June. As I mentioned in my earlier post, this year's apple harvest was to be a special one because for the…

Do you like flowering perennials?   I do.  I enjoy their soft texture, flowers, and the pollinators that come to enjoy their flowers.   Today, I'd like to share with you one of my favorite perennials that I have growing…

It's hotter than he**  (dare I use the word "hell"?) outside in June and while most desert dwellers can be found hibernating indoors enjoying air-conditioned temperatures in the 70's - you'll find a few of us darting outdoors to pick apples. While…

Whenever I look back on my garden travels, I find that my favorites tend to be the smaller ones with more of a personal feel.  Ones that I can take my time walking through without feeling like I have to hurry in order to see the entire…

Have you ever visited a garden that was not what you expected? I recently had the opportunity to visit a small 2-acre garden run by master gardeners Mount Vernon, WA in conjunction with Washington State University.  Photo: Pink…

Do you grow fruit in your garden?   For those of us who live in warm, southern climates, you'll often see a citrus tree or two in the growing in the backyard.   While I do have a lemon and orange tree growing in my garden,…

Do you have a neat and tidy front landscape?  One where plants are pruned neatly and at the right time of year.  Where drip lines are covered up and where there is never a weed in sight? Or maybe you would describe your front garden…

The last full day of our Northwest road trip began with a ferry ride yesterday. The ferry was to take us from Victoria to Vancouver. When we arrived for the ferry, approximately 60 minutes early, we got in line with our car -…

Our last day in Victoria was reserved for a visit to a very famous garden.  Butchart Gardens is the place to go for visitors to Victoria. Years ago, my in-laws took me and my husband, as a college graduation gift, to Seattle and…